APS Elects Ten Indian American Researchers as 2026 Fellows
The American Physical Society named ten researchers of Indian descent to its 2026 class of Fellows, recognized by their peers for contributions to physics.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Physics
Ten Indian American researchers were elected 2026 Fellows of the American Physical Society, an honor given for contributions through original research, technological innovation, education, or service. Fellows are elected by their peers, and no more than one half of one percent of APS members, excluding student members, are chosen each year.
Why it matters
The fellowship is one of the society's highest recognitions, and the small annual cap makes each selection a notable marker of sustained achievement in the field. The class spans astrophysics, soft matter, materials, plasma physics, fluid dynamics, and industrial and international physics, reflecting the breadth of American physics research.
Ten researchers were elected, and the APS caps Fellows at no more than one half of one percent of its members, excluding student members, each year. The overall size of the 2026 class beyond these ten is not specified in the source.
The players
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is a major professional organization for physicists in the United States that awards fellowships to members recognized by their peers.
Sukanya Chakrabarti
Sukanya Chakrabarti is an astrophysicist at the University of Alabama, Huntsville, recognized with the APS Division of Astrophysics Fellowship.
Sujit Datta
Sujit Datta is a researcher at the California Institute of Technology recognized with the APS Division of Soft Matter Fellowship.
Venkat Raman
Venkat Raman is a researcher at the University of Michigan recognized with the APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Fellowship.
Laxminarayan L. Raja
Laxminarayan L. Raja is a researcher at the University of Texas, Austin recognized with the APS Division of Plasma Physics Fellowship.
The details
Sukanya Chakrabarti of the University of Alabama, Huntsville received the Division of Astrophysics Fellowship, and Sujit Datta of the California Institute of Technology received the Division of Soft Matter Fellowship. Other honorees include Bharat Jalan of the University of Minnesota, Deep Jariwala of the University of Pennsylvania, Abhishek Kumar of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Ramakrishna Podila of Clemson University, Laxminarayan L. Raja of the University of Texas, Austin, and Venkat Raman of the University of Michigan.
Timeline
2026: Ten Indian American researchers elected APS 2026 Fellows.
Field Context
The APS Fellow program, which caps annual elections at no more than one half of one percent of members excluding students, sets a deliberately narrow bar for recognition in U.S. physics. This year's class of ten Indian American researchers spans multiple APS divisions, forums, and topical groups.
The fellowship recognizes contributions through research, technology, education, and service, which can translate into new methods and tools that reach students and industry. Readers interested in the work behind these honors can follow the individual research areas of each fellow.
The takeaway
Recognition by peers in the American Physical Society is awarded to only a tiny share of members each year, making the 2026 class a clear signal of significant contributions across physics. The range of divisions represented shows how broadly the honor spans the discipline.
Further reading
For related coverage of research honors and discoveries, see Physics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The American Bazaar.
