Northwestern chemist receives Brown Investigator Award
May 18, 2026
Julia Kalow will study how polaritons can alter organic reactions
Kalow, an associate professor of chemistry in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, is one of eight researchers selected for the 2026 award program and the first Northwestern faculty member to receive the honor.
“Julia’s selection as the first Brown Investigator Award recipient from Northwestern is a significant milestone and a reflection of the exceptional creativity and ambition of her research,” said Omar K. Farha, chair of Northwestern’s Department of Chemistry. “Her work exemplifies the kind of bold, fundamental science that can open entirely new directions in chemistry.”
Established in 2023 by the Brown Institute for Basic Sciences at Caltech, the Brown Investigator Award program supports outstanding mid-career faculty pursuing research in chemistry and physics.