2025-2026 ARCS Scholars Award Celebration Recap

A group of ARCS Foundation scholars and leaders pose together indoors during the annual scholar awards celebration.

The Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Atlanta held its annual Scholar Awards Celebration on November 12. Dean Kimberly Jacob Arriola of Emory University’s James T. Laney School emphasized the impact of ARCS funding in supporting research and scholars.

“Organizations like ARCS Atlanta matter because they remind us that scientific leadership depends not only on technology or infrastructure but on people—scholars, educators, and visionaries whose work ensures progress,” Dean Arriola noted in her speech during the awards ceremony.

ARCS Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit that supports outstanding scholars in Georgia whose research may lead to advances in science, engineering, and medical research to benefit society and enhance our overall quality of life.

ARCS scholars at Georgia Tech, Morehouse College, University of Georgia and Emory ARCS are leading the way by publishing groundbreaking research, securing competitive grants and patents, and mentoring the next generation of scientists.

“The scholars’ achievements reflect not only individual brilliance but also the power of collaboration. Their achievements show us what becomes possible when talented students are given the resources, community and confidence to pursue bold ideas,” said Arriola.

Stats and facts:

  • This year, fifteen Emory scholars were selected, and over the years, a total of over $2 million has been awarded to support Emory scholars.
  • In fiscal year 2024, Emory faculty and researchers secured over $1 billion in extramural funding, a record that underscores the university’s position as one of the nation’s leading research institutions.
  • From AI-powered cancer imaging to HIV drugs that extend life for millions, the Emory research enterprise continues to grow in both scope and impact.

Congratulations to the 2025-2026 ARCS Atlanta Scholars:

  • Riley Hughes, a PhD student in Chemistry at Emory, is developing new methodologies to monitor Alzheimer’s disease progression and treatment effects.
  • Maya Levitan, a PhD student in biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech, is helping to develop a targeted drug delivery platform to treat lymphedema.
  • Justin St. Cloud at Morehouse College, is conducting research on the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly autism spectrum disorder.
  • Breanna Timani, a Comparative Biomedical Sciences PhD student at the University of Georgia is conducting research focused on understanding the molecular requirements for Zika virus infection in different cell types, as well as understanding how Zika replication is impacted by varying temperatures.