5 engineering doctoral students selected as Purdue’s inaugural class of ARCS National Scholars

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Meera Doran, Maxwell Kawada, Shaiv Mehra, Peter Meshkov and Christopher Peter have more in common than their individual pursuits of doctoral degrees through Purdue University’s College of Engineering. Through a partnership with the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation and Purdue, the five have been named to the university’s inaugural class of ARCS National Scholars.

Doran, Kawada, Mehra and Peter are PhD students in biomedical engineering while Meshkov is pursuing his doctorate in electrical and computer engineering. As Purdue’s first ARCS National Scholars, each is eligible to receive $10,000 per year in unrestricted funds, renewable for up to three years.

“These Purdue scholars for 2026 were selected through nomination by their department based on their exceptional academic merit and research in high-impact and emerging technology fields that are essential to U.S. technological leadership and global competitiveness,” said Lauren Trondsen, director of fellowships for Purdue’s Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars.

Through a pact announced in March, Purdue’s partnership with ARCS represented the foundation’s first expansion into Indiana. Additionally, it reflected a shared commitment by Purdue and ARCS to strengthen the nation’s STEM workforce and accelerate discovery essential to economic resilience and global leadership.

Purdue also is the first partner university to have its PhD students receive awards directly from the ARCS Foundation. In some cases this year, the Purdue awards are named in honor of the donor who provided funding through ARCS. This year’s scholars and their research focus:

Meera Doran, Roche ARCS National Scholar Award

• PhD research: identifying the earliest signs of cardiovascular disease using cutting-edge imaging technology for predictive diagnostics
• Technologies involved: artificial intelligence

Maxwell Kawada, ARCS National Scholar Award

• PhD research: investigating the cognitive response to using AI and autonomy in surgical robots in high-stakes environments
• Technologies involved: advanced computing, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems

Shaiv Mehra, Bindley ARCS National Scholar Award

• PhD research: automating and autonomizing assistive robotic manipulation and mobility to improve independence of individuals with disabilities
• Technologies involved: autonomous systems and artificial intelligence

Peter Meshkov, Burton ARCS National Scholar Award

• PhD research: engineering a quantum spin liquid for advanced computing applications by mechanically straining candidate materials with nanoscale structures
• Technologies involved: microelectronics, nanotechnology and quantum

Christopher Peter, Burke ARCS National Scholar Award

• PhD research: identifying the neural mechanisms underlying multisensory integration during artificial stimulation to improve perceptual decision-making
• Technologies involved: artificial intelligence

Under the agreement, ARCS will provide ongoing private, unrestricted funding for Purdue doctoral students conducting research in high-impact and emerging technology fields identified as critical by the Council on Competitiveness, with each award providing three years of support.

Initial support is focused on biomedical engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering — fields that reinforce Purdue’s leadership in advanced computing, semiconductors and next-generation technologies while accelerating the university’s key priorities in One Health and Purdue Computes.

Other critical technology areas laid out by ARCS as future priorities include advanced computing, biotechnology, autonomous systems, advanced aerospace, microelectronics, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, industrialization of space and advanced manufacturing.

About ARCS Foundation

ARCS Foundation is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing U.S. competitiveness by providing financial awards to academically outstanding U.S. citizens pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) and medical research at 52 of the nation’s leading research universities. Since 1958 ARCS Foundation has awarded more than $148 million to over 13,000 scholars. ARCS scholars have produced thousands of research publications and patents, secured billions in grant funding, launched science-based companies, and played a critical role in educating and mentoring the next generation of innovators. More information is available at arcsfoundation.org.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a research institution ranked among the top 10 public universities in the United States. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. As a land-grant university committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free.