Kurtis Carsch, an assistant professor of chemistry at The University of Texas at Austin, has been awarded the 2026 Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The fellowship program, which has been in place since 1988, recognizes 20 early-career scientists and engineers each year, providing them with substantial flexible funding intended to promote innovative research.
Carsch stated, “The funding from the Packard Foundation will allow my group to pursue ambitious research that enables materials with permanent voids to be practically used. But more broadly, the support will allow us to explore offshoot projects that may turn out to be promising, and that we needed the independence and flexibility to follow through.”
His research focuses on the design of new molecules and materials aimed at solving key challenges in chemical separations and synthesis. This includes creating porous materials for separating and storing isotopically distinct molecules for applications in nuclear energy and medicine, as well as engineering porous solids adaptable for energy applications.
This year, each of the selected fellows will receive $985,834 in unrestricted funds over a period of five years. Nancy Lindborg, President and CEO of the Packard Foundation, noted, “At a time of significant uncertainty in the research landscape, flexible, long-term support for early-career researchers matters more than ever.”
The fellowship program was inspired by David Packard’s commitment to enhancing research at universities, recognizing the foundation of the Hewlett-Packard Company, which he co-founded, on breakthroughs from academic institutions. Since its inception, the Packard Foundation has distributed more than $550 million to support 755 scientists and engineers from 55 universities.
Richard Alley, chair of the Packard Fellowships for Science and Engineering Advisory Panel, emphasized the importance of supporting researchers at early career stages, stating, “What is exciting about supporting researchers at this early stage of their career is that some of their most important discoveries are impossible to anticipate.”
Carsch joins fellow UT Austin faculty members recognized as Packard Fellows in recent years, including chemical engineer Brian Belardi (2023), chemist Devleena Samanta (2024), and mathematician Maggie Miller (2025).
Carsch has previously received several accolades, such as the 2026 Beckman Young Investigator Fellowship and the 2021 Beckman Postdoctoral Fellowship, indicating his distinguished status in the scientific community.
