Our nominations process to identify candidates for selection as Schmidt Science Fellows in our 2020 cohort is officially underway.

Schmidt Science Fellows works in partnership with the world’s leading science and engineering institutions to identify the most promising early-career scientists as potential Fellows. Nominees are then invited by the Schmidt Science Fellows team to make individual applications through our online portal before entering a rigorous selection process.

The selection process involves an academic screening round which examines applicants’ scientific track records, a round of virtual interviews to explore commitment to interdisciplinarity, leadership potential, and global ambition and, then for short-listed candidates, a final, in person, selection panel interview with world-leaders in science, technology, business, and the academy.

Schmidt Science Fellows Director of Admissions, Dr Simon Vaughan, said: “We are looking for the very best scientific minds coming out of the world’s leading science and engineering PhD programs and for candidates who share our belief in the power of interdisciplinary science to have a positive impact on society. We are grateful for the continued support and collaboration of our institutional partners, who use their unique understanding of their science and engineering postgraduates to put forward their most promising candidates to apply to be Schmidt Science Fellows.”

Candidates for a 2020 Fellowship must have a keen interest in undertaking an interdisciplinary research pivot during a postdoctoral placement and to have completed, or be expected to complete, all the requirements for their PhD between 1 May 2019 and 30 June 2020. The full timetable for the 2020 nomination and selection process is here, and the criteria for selection is here.

The 2019 Schmidt Science Fellows were selected and announced at an event in New York City in April. The 2019 class of Schmidt Science Fellows is made up of 20 Fellows: 12 women and 8 men representing 15 nationalities and hailing from 18 nominating universities in 6 different countries.