How To Apply
Schmidt Science Fellows works in partnership with a select group of the world’s leading science institutions to identify candidates to apply for each year’s Fellowship.
Overview
To be eligible to apply to Schmidt Science Fellows, you must be nominated by your PhD awarding institution. To find out if your PhD institution is a nominating partner, email: info@schmidtsciencefellows.org
Nominations
Our nominating partner institutions identify a small number of their most exceptional PhD students as prospective candidates. Institutions will use their own internal processes to select these nominees.
Applications
Once you have been nominated, you will need to complete a full application. This will consist of your academic history, including transcripts, current CV, relevant publications, letters of recommendation, a personal statement outlining your motivations, a brief description of your PhD research, and a proposal outlining your future research plans.
Academic Review
Once submitted, your application will undergo Academic Review by discipline-specific panels of senior researchers to determine which candidates should progress to the final stage.
Final Interview
If you are selected as a Finalist from the Academic Review stage, you will be invited to an online panel interview with senior figures from academia, business, and society.
Post Selection
Successful Fellows work with the Program Team to identify and finalize their postdoctoral Placement. 2026 Fellows are expected to begin their Fellowship Research Placements in July or October 2026.
Timeline
The pivotal experience of being a Schmidt Science Fellow involves an immersive and transformative journey, providing exceptional scientists with a unique opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, tackle global challenges, and accelerate their scientific leadership and impact.
Preliminary
Applications Open
May 9 to May 30 2024
Application portal opens and candidates must complete their preliminary information by May 30 2024.
Full Application
Deadline
May 9 to July 10 2024
Following submission of preliminary information, candidates complete the remaining application form and submit their full application by July 10 2024.
Application
Review
August 2024 to February 2025
Multi-stage review of applications begins, as described above.
Cohort
Selection
March 2025
The 2025 cohort of Schmidt Science Fellows is selected and candidates are informed of the decisions, followed by a formal announcement.
Institutional Nominations Deadline
May 15 2026
Nominating Partner Organizations submit their nominees for the Fellowship by May 15, 2026. For details about eligibility for our 2027 cohort, please see: Who Can Apply.
Full Application
Deadline
July 13 2026
Applications open to nominated candidates on May 19, 2026. Nominees must submit their preliminary information by June 1, 2026 and the remaining full application form by July 13, 2026.
Application
Review
August 2026 to February 2027
Multi-stage review of applications begins with Academic Review followed by online interviews for shortlisted Finalists, as described above.
Cohort
Selection
March 2027
The 2027 cohort of Schmidt Science Fellows is selected and candidates are informed of the decisions, followed by a formal announcement.