Each year, the Murdock Trust recognizes faculty across the Pacific Northwest who push the boundaries of scientific research while shaping the next generation of scientists through the Lynwood W. Swanson Awards. We are honored to announce the 2026 award winners: Michael Pitts, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Reed College, and Jessica Sutter, Ph.D., assistant professor of astronomy at Whitman College.
Pitts and Sutter are helping redefine what's possible in their fields: Pitts as a senior faculty member reshaping how scientists study the human mind with internationally recognized research, and Sutter as a junior faculty member participating in international collaborations studying nearby galaxies.
Their impact reaches well beyond research. Both professors treat undergraduates as genuine research collaborators, building experience with data, problem-solving, and experimentation to prepare students for the future. Students of the award winners said the encouragement and support provided by Pitts and Sutter helped them take the next steps toward the careers they wanted.
Named for Lynwood Swanson, Ph.D., a Murdock Trust trustee emeritus and an internationally recognized researcher in electron optics, the awards are open to nominations from private undergraduate institutions across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska. They recognize faculty whose research earns national acclaim while substantially engaging undergraduate students in the work.
Lynwood W. Swanson Scientific Research Award #
The Lynwood W. Swanson Scientific Research Award honors a senior faculty member whose established research program has achieved national recognition and sustained productivity.
The 2026 Lynwood W. Swanson Scientific Research Award is awarded to Michael Pitts, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Reed College, for his internationally recognized leadership in consciousness neuroscience, spanning large-scale collaborative science to landmark discoveries, with demonstrated commitment to rigorous, inclusive, and mentorship-driven undergraduate research.
Learn more about Pitts' research and mentorship.
Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award #
The Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award honors a junior faculty member with fewer than ten years of experience who shows extraordinary promise in building an exemplary and enduring research program.
The 2026 Lynwood W. Swanson Promise for Scientific Research Award is awarded to Jessica Sutter, Ph.D., assistant professor of astronomy at Whitman College, for her work with international collaborations to study the interstellar medium of nearby galaxies, and for her dedication to bringing authentic research experiences to undergraduates and science outreach to her rural community.
Learn more about Sutter's research and mentorship.
Congratulations to Pitts and Sutter, and a heartfelt thank you for contributing to human flourishing through scientific excellence and impactful mentorship!