Selection

Eligibility

Applications to Schmidt Science Fellows are by invitation only, following candidate nomination by their PhD awarding institution. Candidates applying for our 2025 cohort must expect to complete all the requirements for the conferral of their PhD, including a successful defense, between May 15, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

Conferral is taken to mean all official requirements have been met to enable your PhD awarding institution to confirm that you may use a PhD title. We do not require the graduation ceremony to have taken place, but candidates must have submitted and defended their thesis and be able to provide formal proof that all requirements are met for the PhD.

We do not normally allow Fellows to receive any awards or remuneration from other organizations concurrent with the Fellowship. Supplementary funding for research and other professional development is allowed and encouraged. With program approval, a Fellow may also retain the title of another Fellowship during the Fellowship Year if personal remuneration is not accepted.

Eligibility FAQs

What PhD status do candidates need to have?

Candidates applying for our 2025 cohort must expect to fulfil all of the requirements for the conferral of their PhD, including a successful defense between May 15, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

Conferral is taken to mean all official requirements have been met to grant graduate status from the awarding institution and that the candidate will be entitled to use the PhD title. We do not require the graduation ceremony to have taken place, but candidates must have submitted and defended their thesis and be able to provide formal proof that all requirements are met for the PhD by June 30, 2025 for the 2025 cohort.

This requirement is necessary for selected Fellows to be able to legitimately undertake a postdoctoral placement at the start of their Fellowship year and to meet any applicable visa criteria for placements overseas.

Are MD/ Veterinary students allowed to apply to Schmidt Science Fellows?

Candidates on clinical track MD-PhD or Veterinary-PhD programs are not eligible for consideration as a Schmidt Science Fellow at this time.

Are Social Science PhDs allowed to apply to Schmidt Science Fellows?

No. Our disciplinary remit is defined as candidates having conducted their graduate degrees in the natural sciences (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences), Engineering, Mathematics, or Computing – and all sub-disciplines therein.

Can Schmidt Science Fellowships be held concurrently with other awards?

We do not allow concurrent Fellowships which would impose significant demands on our Fellows’ time and ability to be fully involved with our Program (e.g., attend Global Meetings, be active in the placement, etc.). Fellows cannot receive any personal stipend from another Fellowship scheme. They may be entitled to hold the title of Fellow from another scheme if that scheme allows such recognition without a monetary award and this is subject to Program approval. Schmidt Science Fellows are able to receive grant funding for their research and are actively supported in applying for such funding during their Fellowship year. They are also allowed to hold minor awards (e.g., travel and equipment grants) during their Fellowship year, and we strongly encourage them to be applying for further awards during their Fellowship year to support their future careers.