University of Notre Dame senior Jacob Finley has been named a 2026 Churchill Scholar. He is one of 16 selected for the award from a pool of nearly 160 applicants. He is Notre Dame’s fifth Churchill Scholar overall and second in the past three years.
A 2025 Goldwater Scholar, Finley is an honors track physics-in-medicine major from Kentucky with research and clinical interests in radiation oncology — an orientation shaped by witnessing family members and hospice patients undergo cancer treatments.
He will pursue a Master of Philosophy degree in pathology next year at the University of Cambridge, where he will conduct research under the tutelage of David Fernandez-Antoran in the 91Ƶ of the Biological Sciences.
“I feel both blessed and humbled to be selected as a Churchill Scholar — an opportunity through which I intend to carry forward Notre Dame’s commitment to being a ‘force for good’ by advancing cancer treatments for patients who need them,” Finley said.
Active in research, Finley is an assistant to , professor of physics and astronomy, in the , where he contributes to research related to various aspects of radiation. He is also a junior scholar-in-training with the Radiation Research Society.
He previously worked as a CPRIT CURE fellow under Steven Lin, professor of radiation oncology, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and as an Amgen Fellow under Todd Aguilera, assistant professor of radiation oncology, at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Around campus, he is an associate news editor for , the undergraduate journal for scientific research for the College of Science; president of the Quiz Bowl Club; a member of the College of Science Council and the College of Science Honor Code Committee; and a resident assistant at Morrissey Hall.
“Beyond his impressive accomplishments, (Finley) actively stimulates and motivates our scientifically grounded discussions that often extend to broader aspects of college life, continually pushing me to be a better professor. Working with him has been both a privilege and an inspiration.”
In his free time, he volunteers for Heartland Hospice and Saint Joseph Mishawaka Medical Center. He has completed extensive medical shadowing across various specialties, experiences that further affirmed his desire to aid those afflicted with cancer.
“Receiving this scholarship would not be possible without the loving support of my family and the invaluable tutelage of my professors and research mentors,” Finley said. “I am especially grateful to Sylwia Ptasinska, , Steven H. Lin and Todd Aguilera for stoking my love of science while equipping me with the skills necessary to initiate real change.”
He also thanked Emily Buika Hunt with the (CUSE) at Notre Dame “for her assistance with navigating my future goals and with applying for the Goldwater and Churchill scholarships.”
“It has been a pleasure working with Jacob over the past two years as he applied for the Goldwater Scholarship and the Churchill Scholarship,” said Buika Hunt, assistant director of scholarly development at CUSE. “His dedication to research and improving the experience of those undergoing cancer treatments is evident.”
She continued, “Conducting a year of research with Dr. David Fernandez-Antoran at Cambridge University prior to pursuing an M.D./Ph.D. is an unparalleled opportunity to expand on the research training he has received at Notre Dame. I look forward to following his career and witnessing the positive impact his research will have on countless lives.”
Ptasinska expressed pride in “Jacob’s achievement in receiving such a prestigious scholarship,” calling him “an exceptionally capable young individual with remarkable intellectual ability and a strong work ethic.”
“He is a distinguished student with multifaceted capabilities and a strong foundation in the core sciences, consistently demonstrating outstanding dedication and academic excellence,” Ptasinska said. “Beyond his impressive accomplishments, he actively stimulates and motivates our scientifically grounded discussions that often extend to broader aspects of college life, continually pushing me to be a better professor. Working with him has been both a privilege and an inspiration.”
Established in 1963, the Churchill Scholarship fulfills its namesake’s vision of deepening the U.S.-U.K. partnership while advancing science and technology on both sides of the Atlantic. It encompasses 18 scholarships — 16 Churchill Scholarships in science, math and engineering and two Kanders Churchill Scholarships in science policy.
The award covers tuition, roundtrip airfare to the United Kingdom, visa fees and health surcharge, plus a stipend exceeding the UK Research Council standard. Recipients can also apply for a $4,000 special research grant.
It is considered one of the most prestigious and competitive international fellowships available to American graduate students, alongside the Marshall, Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, Fulbright and Mitchell scholarships. Eight Churchill Scholars have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.
For more on this and other scholarship opportunities, visit .