• Prof Boothroyd to succeed the current Chair, Prof Sir Keith Burnett in July 2023
• Sir Keith Burnett will become Chair Emeritus and will continue to mentor Fellows

Prof John Boothroyd has been appointed Chair of the Schmidt Science Fellows Academic Council. Prof Boothroyd is currently Deputy Chair of the Council and has been a Council Member since 2019. He will succeed Prof Sir Keith Burnett who has been Chair since the Schmidt Science Fellows Program began in 2018. Sir Keith will also continue his work with Fellows in the new role of Chair Emeritus and Member of the Academic Council.

Prof Boothroyd will assume the position of Chair from 1 July 2023. Members of the Academic Council provide mentoring support to Fellows and advise the Program Team. As Chair of the Academic Council, Prof Boothroyd will be the senior mentor to Fellows, overseeing the mentoring program, supporting other mentors, and providing input to important processes such as the review of Placement proposals from new Fellows.

Dr. Megan Kenna, Executive Director, Schmidt Science Fellows said: “Everyone at Schmidt Science Fellows is delighted that John will be taking on the role of Chair of the Academic Council. This is a crucial role in guiding our overall mentoring program and in supporting so much of the work that helps our Fellows develop as balanced, effective interdisciplinary leaders. John brings years of experience in guiding early-career scientists.

“I want to thank Keith for his dedication, care, and wisdom as Chair since the beginning of the Program. He has left an indelible mark on the Fellowship, the meaning of scientific mentoring, and the lives and careers of so many of our Fellows. I am personally grateful for his counsel and colleagueship over the past five years. I could not be happier that many more Fellows will benefit from his experience as he continues mentoring as Chair Emeritus.”

Prof John Boothroyd is deeply committed to the Fellowship, to the development and well-being of early career scientists and to the work of the Academic Council as the Fellowship grows over the years ahead… – Prof Sir Keith Burnett

Sir Keith, who will shortly take up the Presidency of the Institute of Physics in the United Kingdom, will move to the position of Chair Emeritus and Member of the Academic Council from 1 July 2023. In his role as a Member of the Academic Council, he will continue to mentor Fellows.

Sir Keith commented: “It has been a true pleasure to Chair the Academic Council of the Schmidt Science Fellows as the Fellowship has grown and developed over the past five years. As a scientist, I have especially valued the opportunity to mentor such outstanding young scientists at a critical point in their careers as they explore an interdisciplinary approach to the questions that fire their curiosity and drive their commitment. They continue to inspire me.

Prof John Boothroyd is deeply committed to the Fellowship, to the development and well-being of early career scientists and to the work of the Academic Council as the Fellowship grows over the years ahead, and I am delighted that he has agreed to take up the role of Chair. I’d also like to thank my fellow academic mentors for the great care and experience they have brought, and I know will continue to bring, to mentoring our Fellows.”

Prof Boothroyd is currently Associate Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs at Stanford University, and in order to free up the time necessary to take on his new role with Schmidt Science Fellows, he recently transitioned to Emeritus-Active as the Burt and Marion Avery Professor in Stanford’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology where he continues to teach and oversee an active research group. He has also served as the Faculty Director for Stanford University for the Schmidt Science Fellows Global Meeting in Northern California since 2018.

Prof Boothroyd commented: “It has been such a pleasure to serve on the Academic Council, to mentor so many remarkable Fellows, and to work with Megan, Keith, and the rest of the amazing Council and Schmidt Science Fellows team. As I look forward to the next stage of my career, I am thrilled that I can devote more time and energy to this extraordinary endeavor and feel enormously privileged to be able to take on the Chair role. Keith leaves some big shoes to fill, but he really set an amazing tone for how the Council operates, and I am extremely happy that he will continue his relationship with the Program as a Mentor and Chair Emeritus.”

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