MIT Students Awarded Prestigious Hertz Foundation Fellowships in 2026
The Hertz Foundation has announced the recipients of its esteemed fellowships for 2026, with three current MIT students and one new graduate student among the honorees. The fellowship offers five years of comprehensive financial support, including a scholarship and full tuition equivalent, enabling recipients to engage in pioneering research. This year’s MIT-affiliated fellows are Annika Marschner, Alvin Q. Meng, Zachary S. Siegel, and Matthew Wanta.
Philip Welkhoff, a Hertz fellow and director of the Gates Foundation Malaria Program, co-led the selection process. He expressed admiration for this cohort’s boldness in tackling new challenges and pushing scientific boundaries. “Everyone has demonstrated tremendous creativity, determination, and vision,” Welkhoff noted, emphasizing the potential for significant innovation through the Hertz Fellowship’s support.
Beyond financial assistance, fellows gain lifetime access to Hertz Foundation programs, including events, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Since 1963, over 1,300 fellows have emerged from this program, contributing to advancements in diverse fields such as medical therapies, global defense, and space exploration.
Annika Marschner
Annika Marschner, a 2026 graduate in mechanical engineering, will begin her doctoral studies at MIT this fall. Her research has focused on developing technologies for biointerfaces and bioinspired systems. Notable projects include the creation of a stereoscope-compatible tabletop incubator and a filamentary bioprinting system in collaboration with ETH Zurich. Marschner’s undergraduate thesis aimed to enhance the speed and dexterity of bioinspired robotic limbs, and she plans to continue her work on hardware and control systems for assistive medical and surgical robotics.
Alvin Q. Meng
Alvin Q. Meng is a doctoral candidate in inorganic chemistry at MIT, investigating the interactions that define chemical structure and reactivity. Under Professor Daniel LM Suess, Meng’s current research involves the study of iron-sulfur clusters. Originally from Tianjin, China, Meng earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Virginia, where he explored the synthesis of dihaptocoordinate tungsten complexes. His work contributes to expanding the understanding of unusual dinuclear species and their applications.
Zachary S. Siegel
Zachary S. Siegel, pursuing a PhD in electrical engineering and computer science, works at the intersection of robotics, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. A Princeton University graduate, Siegel’s research has focused on Bayesian inference as a model for human goal prediction. His doctoral thesis aims to develop machines that mimic human-like learning by integrating robotic planning and Bayesian reasoning. At MIT, Siegel collaborates with experts Leslie P. Kaelbling, Tomás Lozano-Pérez, and Joshua B. Tenenbaum.
Matthew Wanta
Matthew Wanta, a new graduate student in operations research at MIT, graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. His work has involved machine learning in autonomous systems, including projects with the DEVCOM Armaments Center and the U.S. Special Operations Command. Wanta’s contributions to computer vision and probabilistic modeling have advanced quality control in defense manufacturing and autonomous air search operations. An Astronaut Scholar, Wanta is now an Army officer in the Cyber Corps.
These MIT-affiliated fellows are part of a select group of 19 Hertz Foundation Fellows chosen from across the United States, recognized for their potential to drive future scientific and technological breakthroughs.
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