Luca Nashabeh CC’26 and Christine Li SEAS’26 have been named 2026–27 Churchill Scholars. Universities may nominate up to two candidates for the scholarship each year; in a Columbia first, both nominees have received the award. They join a cohort of 16 Churchill Scholars pursuing graduate study in the science, math or engineering fields, along with two Kanders Churchill Scholars in science policy.

Established in 1963 at the request of Sir Winston Churchill, the Churchill Scholarship was inspired by Churchill’s vision for a U.S.-U.K. partnership that would support the advancement of science and technology in both countries. Selection committees seek applicants who exhibit exceptional academic and research achievement. The Churchill Scholarship provides funding for one year of postgraduate study at Churchill College, Cambridge.

Nashabeh hails from the San Francisco Bay Area; a Rabi Scholar, he is majoring in physics and mathematics, with a particular interest in condensed matter physics. His research in quantum phenomena in 2D systems has earned him recognition as a 2025 Goldwater Scholar. Most recently, Nashabeh worked with physicist Liang Fu, a professor at MIT and a leader in the field of topological quantum materials.

Outside of research, Nashabeh is involved in the Columbia University Airplane Club and the Columbia Society of Physics Students; he is also an avid cook. As a Churchill Scholar, he will work toward a MASt in mathematics; he ultimately plans to earn a Ph.D. in theoretical condensed matter physics.

Li is a computer science major who also grew up in Bay Area (as well as in Shanghai and Beijing). Her research focuses on quantum computing, and her work has resulted in three lead-author publications and multiple conference presentations. She has been a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow at Caltech; in her junior year she was a Visiting Student at Oxford. In addition to her research in quantum computing, Li also initiated a large-scale computational study of color across five centuries of art history, advised by Professor David G. Stork at Stanford.

Li has been a teaching assistant in the computer science department and has organized the annual Columbia Undergraduate Computer and Data Science Research Fair; she also has performed with Columbia Ballet Collaborative and served as the company’s executive director. At Cambridge, Li plans to pursue an M.Phil in advanced computer science; she ultimately plans to earn a Ph.D. in quantum computing.

Students and alumni can learn more about the Churchill Scholarship and other fellowship offerings through the Undergraduate Research & Fellowships Office.