CEMS Alum Benjamin Magruder Named 2026 Schmidt Science Fellow

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (03/27/2026) — The Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science is proud to announce that Benjamin Magruder (Ph.D. ’25, Chemical Engineering) has been named a recipient of the 2026 Schmidt Science Fellows award. Magruder joins an elite cohort of 32 emerging scientists dedicated to breaking down barriers between disciplines to accelerate positive global impact.

During his graduate studies, Magruder was advised by CEMS Department Head Kevin Dorfman and was a member of his research group. There, he focused on computational polymer physics, using self-consistent field theory to model how block polymers self-assemble—a process in which molecules organize into intricate, highly ordered patterns. These specialized nanomaterials have applications in lithography, membrane filtration, optics, and more. Ben was especially interested in how to make network phases in thin films, which was part of the NSF-funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). In the course of that work, he published collaborative papers with MRSEC investigators Vivian Ferry, Chris Ellison, and Mahesh Mahanthappa. 

Magruder also made significant contributions to the PSCF open-source software, which was developed by David Morse. In addition to his MRSEC collaborations, Ben also co-authored papers with Profs. Frank Bates and Tim Lodge. His interdisciplinary work and community leadership earned him the Amelar-Lodge Fellowship in 2024.

Congratulations on this well-earned accomplishment, Benjamin Magruder! To learn more about his fellowship and research plans, read his profile on the CSE website.