Schmidt Science Fellows

Our vision is a world where interdisciplinary science flourishes without limit, driving innovation and accelerating discoveries to benefit the world.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to change how science is done. Working with the scientific community, we want to help break down barriers to interdisciplinary science and accelerate positive impacts for global society.

To help scientists solve bigger problems faster we are identifying, developing, and amplifying the next generation of science leaders. Through our Fellowship, we are building a community of scientists and supporters of interdisciplinary science and leveraging this network to drive sector-wide change.

Schmidt Science Fellows is an initiative of Schmidt Sciences,delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust.

WHY INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE?

Global challenges cannot be addressed by one discipline alone. By bringing together different perspectives, ideas, and skills, interdisciplinary science broadens our view, enhancing our ability to innovate and solve complex problems facing science and society.

THE FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE

Our Fellowship enables the world’s best emerging scientists to pivot from their PhD discipline and pursue their goals through bold interdisciplinary research.

01. Placement: Fellows pursue a postdoctoral Placement in a world-class research environment that provides optimal support to develop their interdisciplinary science.

02. Community: Fellows join the vibrant, lifelong community at the heart of Schmidt Science Fellows, where they find the resilience, support, collaboration, and constructive challenge essential for success.

03. Mentoring: Fellows benefit from one-to-one mentoring with the experienced and internationally-accomplished senior interdisciplinary scientists who make up our Academic Council.

04. Leadership: Fellows accelerate their personal and professional development through our bespoke Science Leadership Program. Fellows will build the skills, experience, and networks necessary to become interdisciplinary science leaders.

LOCATION

Fellowship Research Placements can be completed anywhere in the world and in a broad range of research environments. We encourage every Fellow to take advantage of this unique academic freedom to explore a range of options and institutions.

Placement destinations are developed and agreed upon by each Fellow after Selection, with support from experienced Academic Council mentors and our Program Team.

This ensures Fellows pursue their research in a location and laboratory that best supports their scientific plans and their personal and professional development. We require all Fellows to have an affiliation with an academic institution throughout the Placement to support their professional development.

DURATION

Fellowship Research Placements can be from 12 to 24 months long. In discussion with the Program, Fellows are given the flexibility to determine their Placement length between the 12-24 month range. 

Fellows opting for Placements continuing into the second year of funding must maintain good standing with the Program and Placement lab as well as demonstrate ongoing commitment to interdisciplinary research to qualify for continued funding. However, there are no scientific outcome benchmarks that must be met. This approach ensures that Fellows can pursue bold research agendas without the concern of experimental setbacks affecting their support.