Announcing the 2026 MongoDB PhD Fellowship Recipients!

MongoDB's PhD Fellowship Program, launched in 2024, aims to foster collaboration between academia and industry to advance innovations in database software and operational data management, with a focus on areas such as AI/ML, distributed systems, cryptography, and database optimization. The 2026 fellowship recipients—Daniel DeLayo, Navid Eslami, David Chu McElroy, and Riki Otaki—are recognized for their research contributions, which include advancements in algorithms and data structures, high-performance and theoretically grounded database systems, distributed protocol design, and resource-efficient cloud-native databases. The program offers financial support, mentorship, and opportunities for collaboration with MongoDB experts, highlighting the importance of bridging theoretical research with practical industry applications. The selection process has become increasingly competitive, reflecting the strength of the research community and MongoDB's commitment to driving the next wave of innovation. The nomination window for the 2027 program will open on September 7, inviting PhD students with innovative ideas to apply.