Penn State professor Lauren Zarzar has been awarded the 2026 Schmidt Science Polymath Award. She is recognized for her work as a mid-career scientist exploring innovative research methods. Zarzar was selected as one of eight researchers from over 150 applicants, contributing to a Polymaths community of 43 scientists across nine countries.
Zarzar specializes in materials that can respond to their environments, particularly studying droplet behavior in fluids. Her findings could lead to advances in pollutant removal and medical applications. She expressed her gratitude for the award, which she believes will enable her to explore new research avenues.
Her accolades also include the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, a Simons Foundation Pivor Fellowship, and a Penn State Distinguished Faculty Mentoring Award.
Prior to her role at Penn State, Zarzar was a postdoctoral researcher at MIT and holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Harvard, along with dual bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and economics from UPenn.
