Two University of California, Irvine faculty members have been named 2026 Sloan Research Fellows by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Herdeline Ann “Digs” Ardoña, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Seunghyun Sim, assistant professor of chemistry, are among 126 early-career researchers to receive this recognition.
Ardoña’s research focuses on developing biomolecular systems and biomaterials that transmit and convert various cues at cellular interfaces. Her lab’s engineered materials can influence cellular behavior, probe biological processes, and serve as tissue models for disease study and drug screening. Recently, her team created molecules that form a matrix supporting lab-grown cardiac tissue. This material enables a technique called “paced by light,” where pulsing light induces heartbeats in the tissue at specific frequencies. The approach could improve understanding of heart disease progression and drug effectiveness.
“I am honored to have been selected as a fellow by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation,” Ardoña said. “I am forever grateful to our past and current lab members whose accomplishments are recognized by this fellowship. We are excited to continue developing macromolecular biomaterials that direct or probe signal transduction processes in excitable cells.”
Originally from Valenzuela in the Philippines, Ardoña holds degrees from the University of the Philippines Diliman and Johns Hopkins University, with postdoctoral work at Harvard University. She is affiliated with UC Irvine’s Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry. Her accolades include an NSF CAREER Award, Hellman Fellowship, Kavli Frontiers of Science Fellowship, ACS Polymeric Materials Early Investigator honor in 2025, and inclusion in Chemical & Engineering News’ Talented 12.
Vasan Venugopalan, chair of UC Irvine’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering who nominated Ardoña for the fellowship, said: “Professor Ardoña is one of the brightest and most promising early-career researchers I have met in my academic career. Her work is destined to make a positive impact in chemistry and chemical engineering, with applications in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.”
Sim was honored for integrating biological components with synthetic polymers to create new materials that incorporate living cell functions. She also co-leads projects at UC Irvine’s Center for Complex and Active Materials focused on out-of-equilibrium living systems.
Her laboratory develops engineered spores capable of programming functionalities within materials; these spores can withstand harsh environments such as dehydration or oxidative stress. Such spore-containing materials could be used instead of enzymes or chemical catalysts—potentially resulting in scalable, recyclable products.
“I am grateful to the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for selecting me as a 2026 fellow,” Sim said. “I appreciate the contributions of my team and the support I receive from fellow faculty members at UC Irvine.”
Sim earned undergraduate degrees from Seoul National University in South Korea before completing her doctorate at the University of Tokyo; she later held a postdoctoral fellowship at Caltech.
Alan Heyduk, chair of UC Irvine’s Department of Chemistry who nominated Sim for the award stated: “Professor Sim is a pioneer in a field that brings chemistry and biology together to create entirely new materials and substances with a variety of functions. To be recognized by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is validation of the value our society puts on cutting-edge scientific research.”
Sloan Research Fellowships provide $75,000 awards for equipment purchases or other professional needs determined by recipients themselves. The fellowships are considered highly competitive indicators both for individual achievement among young scientists in North America as well as institutional strength.
Since its founding in 1965—including this year’s honorees—67 UC Irvine faculty members have received Sloan Research Fellowships.
UC Irvine participates in NCAA Division I athletics under its Anteaters teams according to its official website. The university has earned Carnegie classification for very high research activity according to its official site and operates within the larger University of California system as noted online. It emphasizes advancing knowledge through research, education, public service with inclusive excellence per university resources, engages internationally through collaborations and programs, and holds accreditation from WASC Senior College & University Commission according to official information.