Illinois is home to some of the most innovative, impactful research in the world, and each year we spotlight the faculty who are shaping what comes next. Welcome to the 2026 edition of Researchers to Know.

Researchers to Know is an annual recognition from the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC) that honors faculty from Illinois universities and research institutions whose work is driving discovery, solving real-world problems, and opening new paths for innovation.

This year, the cohort grows to 15 researchers from eight institutions across the state. Their work spans disciplines from biomedical science and engineering to public health, agriculture, climate, and data science. Together, they show how discovery moves from the lab into communities, industries, and everyday life.

This year’s theme: “Still Building: People, Persistence, and Progress in Illinois Research”

What fifteen Illinois researchers reveal about how discovery gets built. The 2026 honorees remind us that breakthroughs rarely happen overnight. They are built by people who keep asking questions, keep collaborating, and keep moving their work forward, laying the foundation for what Illinois research will achieve next.