six young women of diverse backgrounds

Hastings Center News

Meet the 2026-27 Sadler Scholars

Published Posted in Pathway Programs

The Hastings Center for Bioethics welcomes six new Sadler Scholars. These advanced doctoral students join a professional development program and peer-to-peer community that nurtures the next generation of bioethics researchers. 

The 2026-27 cohort includes two researchers in AI ethics, two researchers in medical ethics and humanities, and two researchers focused on genomic ethics. Their degree programs include bioethics, data science, public health, and sociology. Read more about the new Sadler Scholars.

During their cohort year, Sadler Scholars participate in workshops, one-on-one consultations with program mentors, and other opportunities tailored to their goals and interests. Each Sadler Scholar presents a work-in-progress talk on their dissertation or other research for feedback from Hastings Center scholars and editors. All programming is offered remotely; Sadler Scholars often meet up in person at professional meetings such as the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities.

Through The Hastings Center’s partnership with the Center for ELSI Resources and Analysis (CERA), Sadler Scholars with a focus on the ethical, legal, and social implications of genomics also become CERA Fellows, which includes additional opportunities for mentoring and collaboration with ELSI scholars.

Following their cohort year, Sadler Scholars have ongoing access to mentor consultations and to online events hosted by The Hastings Center, and they may be invited to join Hastings Center research work groups.

“Sadler Scholars make the road by walking,” says Nancy Berlinger, senior research scholar and director of The Hastings Center’s Pathway Programs.  “Every year, we try something new, with the goal of improving the cohort experience and creating pathways to satisfying careers in bioethics research. This year, for the first time, we encouraged applications from scholars focused on AI ethics. AI is a cross-cutting issue in bioethics, of interest to cohort members focused on genomics or on medical ethics. It’ll be exciting to see the connections and to foster collaboration.”

Stipends for Sadler Scholars are provided by The Hastings Center through the Blair and Georgia Sadler Fund for Socially Just Health Policy.