Two recent graduates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sunshine Jiang and Rupert Li, were named recipients of the 2026 Knight-Hennessy Scholarships. The prestigious scholarship, now in its ninth year, offers up to three years of financial support for graduate studies at Stanford University.
What happened
Sunshine Jiang, who graduated from MIT in 2025, will begin her PhD in computer science at Stanford School of Engineering this fall after receiving her master of engineering degree. Jiang’s academic background includes a double major in physics and electrical engineering and computer science, with minors in mathematics and economics. Her research focuses on embodied artificial intelligence and robotics, aiming to develop adaptive, data-efficient systems for general-purpose robots to enhance accessibility. She has presented her work at major conferences such as the Conference on Robot Learning and the International Conference on Robotics and Automation.
Rupert Li, an MIT class of 2024 graduate, is currently pursuing a PhD in mathematics at Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences. Li holds multiple degrees from MIT including a bachelor’s in mathematics and computer science, economics, and data science, along with a master’s degree in data science. He also earned a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Cambridge as a Marshall Scholar. His research interests include probability, discrete geometry, and combinatorics. Alongside his Knight-Hennessy Scholarship, Li has been awarded the Hertz Fellowship, P.D. Soros Fellowship, and the Goldwater Scholarship, demonstrating his strong academic and research credentials.
Why it matters
The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship is one of the most competitive graduate funding programs worldwide, designed to cultivate a new generation of global leaders across disciplines. Support for students like Jiang and Li reflects ongoing efforts to advance innovation in fields such as artificial intelligence and mathematics. Their achievements underline MIT’s role in preparing top talent for impactful research and leadership at premier institutions like Stanford.
Background
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, established in 2018, awards comprehensive scholarships for graduate education at Stanford University, aiming to support outstanding students from around the world. Previous recipients have pursued various disciplines, emphasizing interdisciplinary leadership and academic excellence in science, technology, and humanities.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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