Seven faculty and alumni from the University of California have been named recipients of the 2025 MacArthur Foundation fellowships, commonly known as “genius” grants. The fellowships recognize individuals whose work has made significant contributions to their fields. Each recipient will receive an $800,000 grant with no restrictions on its use.
The 2025 group includes six UC alumni and one current faculty member. Their areas of expertise range from astrophysics and evolutionary biology to filmmaking and interdisciplinary art. The MacArthur Foundation’s vice president of communications, Kristen Mack, said, “The 2025 MacArthur Fellows expand the boundaries of knowledge, artistry, and human understanding. They focus our attention on microbial worlds and distant stars, community vitality and timeless traditions, sacred and improvisational music, and shared histories of our time on Earth. With virtuosity, persistence, and courage, they chart new paths toward collaborative, creative, and flourishing futures.”
The UC recipients are:
– Teresa Puthussery, a neurobiologist and optometrist at UC Berkeley, recognized for her research into how neural circuits in the retina process visual information. Puthussery said, “It wasn’t until they started reading out a description of my work that I was convinced that they had called the right person. It’s certainly just really unexpected, and so humbling and gratifying.”
– Kareem El-Badry, an astrophysicist and UC Berkeley alumnus, now an assistant professor at Caltech. El-Badry’s research addresses the formation and evolution of stellar and galactic systems. He said, “I appreciate that both awards [Sloan and MacArthur] come with minimal restrictions, giving me the opportunity to explore new or potentially risky projects that would be harder to get funded through a federal grant. At all stages in a research career, I think it’s important to look for opportunities to branch out and try something new.”
– William Tarpeh, a chemical engineer and UC Berkeley alumnus, is working on sustainable methods for recovering chemical resources from wastewater. Tarpeh stated, “I am honored to be included in the MacArthur community of leaders committed to understanding and improving our world. This award is a testament to my community — the students and postdocs who took a chance on a new lab with a unique mission, my mentors who sharpened my skills, my colleagues who inspire me with creativity and dedication, and my family and friends for their endless support. I am excited to continue the work of redefining wastewater and creating circular, sustainable methods for improving quality of life while protecting the environment for generations to come.”
– Garrett Bradley, a filmmaker and artist who graduated from UCLA, is recognized for her work blending documentary, narrative, and experimental film. Bradley has said, “I’m not just entering somebody’s life, and I don’t see them as subjects. I get to know people, and I let them get to know me.”
– Gala Porras-Kim, a two-time UCLA alumna, is known for installations that explore how cultural artifacts are understood in museums. Porras-Kim stated, “To me, it’s always been more interesting to look at the framing of historical material than the objects themselves.”
– Toby Kiers, a UC Davis alumna, is an evolutionary biologist whose research investigates symbiotic relationships among plants, fungi, and microbes. Kiers often presents her findings in economic terms, suggesting that microbial systems offer lessons for human supply chains.
– Tuan Andrew Nguyen, a multidisciplinary artist and UC Irvine alumnus, focuses on histories of war, displacement, and resilience through films and sculptures. Kevin Appel, chair of the UC Irvine Department of Art, commented, “Tuan’s work embodies the spirit of critical imagination that defines our department, weaving together art history and activism into profoundly moving narratives. His commitment to storytelling as a form of repair and resistance has inspired so many of our students and colleagues. This recognition is deeply deserved.”
Since the inception of the MacArthur Fellows program in 1981, over 100 UC faculty and alumni have received the fellowship. In recent years, UC-affiliated individuals have made up a significant portion of recipients.
