The Schmidt Science Fellows Program (2025 cohort selection)

We look for the brightest minds in the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, and computing who are interested in broadening their horizons. Candidates to be Schmidt Science Fellows are expected to already have a strong track record of scientific achievement from their PhD studies, combined with a clear intellectual curiosity and desire to drive future discoveries. They should have the commitment and character to engage with society and global challenges to making a lasting difference in the world. Our Fellows should have a collaborative spirit with the experience and desire to work with diverse teams and across scientific disciplines.

Why

Anti-microbial resistance. Climate change. Food insecurity. An aging population. Species extinction. The crises that face our planet and our society are broad, deep, and multi-faceted. They recognize none of the neat boundaries that are often and traditionally applied to science.

We are in a new era of science, technology, and innovation. Scientific progress and cutting-edge technologies are rapidly accelerating our understanding of the natural and built worlds. Research is increasingly global and can affect a wide range of pressing societal challenges. In this new era, the best scientists should draw insights from across numerous different disciplines, be able to apply new techniques, and possess a broad world-view informed by the intersections between science and society.

How

Schmidt Science Fellows undertake a 12-24 month postdoctoral placement. This placement commences after a Fellow successfully completes his or her PhD in the natural sciences, computing, engineering or mathematics. Fellows’ placements will represent a significant disciplinary pivot from their PhD topic and are central to the program’s aim to foster greater interdisciplinarity. All placements are with world-leading scientific leaders and internationally-renowned labs. The program works with Fellows after selection to identify and secure a placement that will best achieve their scientific pivot. We work with each placement host to ensure Fellows benefit from a stimulating, challenging, and rewarding environment.

Placement

Fellows are placed in a full-time, 12-24 month postdoctoral Fellowship in a laboratory anywhere in the world where they conduct research in a scientific field different from their PhD area.

Postdoctoral Research Placement

Schmidt Science Fellows undertake a postdoctoral placement in a world-class environment that best meets each individual’s needs to develop their interdisciplinary science skills. Placements can be completed anywhere in the world and in a broad range of research environments. We strongly encourage all our Fellows to take advantage of the unique academic freedom and support from the Program to explore a range of options and institutions. We require that all Fellows maintain an affiliation to an academic institution during the placement to support their professional development.

This placement commences after a Fellow successfully completes his or her PhD in the natural sciences, computing, engineering, or mathematics. Each Fellow receives a stipend of $100,000 a year to support their personal and living costs for the duration of the Fellowship placement.

We ask every applicant to the program to provide initial ideas on three potential placement locations. These are not final or binding. This process encourages every potential Schmidt Science Fellow to fully consider their options and the opportunity being made available to them. Final decisions on placements are discussed with Fellows soon after selection and Fellows are supported by their Academic Council mentors in making the final decision. Decisions are subject to approval by the program to ensure the most appropriate fit for each Fellow’s scientific plans and career development.

Fellows have the flexibility to extend or shorten their Placement within the 12-24 month range in discussion with the Program. Fellows wishing to continue their Fellowship Research Placement beyond 12-months participate in a review process at 10-months to discuss progress, objectives, and plans for the remainder of the Placement.

Mentoring

Our Fellows benefit from a personalized mentoring program, providing professional development support from experienced and internationally-accomplished scientists. The mentoring equips Fellows to maximize the opportunity of their placement, to build their networks, and to plan their future career paths. Mentoring and scientific guidance on specific and specialized topics are arranged for Fellows’ unique professional development needs.

Mentoring is delivered by our Academic Council members, each of whom are highly experienced scientists with extensive track records in institutional leadership, management, and team development. Each Schmidt Science Fellow will have a nominated mentor but also has access to our Chair of Academic Council, Professor Sir Keith Burnett. Upon completion of the Schmidt Science Fellowship our alumni, or Senior Fellows, continue to have access to these mentoring services upon request.

Schedule

Invitations to nominate are issued in March and candidates are selected by their institutions ahead of the applications process opening on 9 May 2024.

• May 9, 2024: Application portal opens and candidates are asked to submit their preliminary information by May 30, 2024.
• May 9 – July 10, 2024 Following submission of preliminary information, candidates complete the remaining sections of the application form and submit their full application by July 10, 2024.
• August 2024: Multi-stage review of applications begins, as described above.
• April 2025: The 2025 cohort of Schmidt Science Fellows is selected and candidates are informed of the decisions, followed by a formal announcement.