Schmidt Science Fellows For 2025 Award

Published in the Research School of Physics Event Horizon
Vol49 Issue12 1–5 April 2024

Nominated candidates will be invited to apply directly to the Schmidt Science Fellows program via an application portal from 09 May 2024. They will be required to provide, in addition to the above, their academic transcripts, at least three (no more than five) letters of recommendation, a proposal outlining their future research plans, and three short outlines of potential labs in which they may carry out this research.

About the Program
The Schmidt Science Fellows program provides the world’s best emerging scientists with new skills and perspectives to develop novel solutions to society’s challenges, become scientific and societal thought leaders, and accelerate ground-breaking discoveries.

Profiles of current Fellows can be found here.

The Schmidt Science fellows program offers:

• A stipend of US$110,000 per year (for up to two years, a total of up to $220,000).        
  A 12–24-month postdoctoral placement in a world leading laboratory.
• A Global Meeting Series.
• Personalised mentoring program.
   

New Guidance
Please note that this year Schmidt Science Fellows has provided some new guidance for us as follows:

• We ask that you establish a robust internal process to ensure your nominees meet the eligibility criteria, and are well aligned with our selection criteria – particularly that they have a genuine desire to undertake a period of post-doctoral study in a field different to that of their PhD. Candidates can be working in any STEM discipline, but please note if your nominees are working in very similar areas they will likely be in direct competition with each other during our Academic Review.
• We ask that you consider gender balance amongst your nominees and highlight our commitment to equality of opportunity for all candidates. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, parental status, marital or civil partner status, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief. 
   

Eligibility

1. Candidates must be studying for a PhD in natural sciences (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences and Physics), Engineering, Mathematics, Computing – or any of the sub-disciplines, at one of our nominating partner institutions. Individuals on clinical track MD-PhD or Veterinary-PhD programs are not eligible.
2. Candidates must expect to complete all of the requirements for the conferral of their PhD in one of these fields between 15/05/2024 and 30/06/2025.
3. Candidates must be able to start their Fellowship in July 2025 or October 2025 and are available for the entire period of the 2025 program, from April 2025 to July 2026 including to attend onboarding activities, the in-person Science Leadership Program convenings and the annual Schmidt Science Fellows Interdisciplinary Science Summit.
4. Candidates must be nominated by a designated senior official at ANU (i.e.: the Dean HDR).

Any questions about eligibility or accommodations for extraordinary circumstances should be directed to: nominations@schmidtsciencefellows.org

Status of Good Standing for Nominees
Schmidt Science Fellows asks that administrative checks, including the required eligibility status to apply for the Fellowship, be carried out for all candidates nominated to the 2025 competition, and that ANU be confident in their good standing within ANU. 'Good standing' is taken to mean that the University’s nominees have no past or current sanctions on their record and are not subject to any current disciplinary investigations (relating to either their academic performance or conduct) which may bring the Program into disrepute.

Schmidt Science Fellows do not require an individual letter of good standing for each nominee, simply an assurance that such administrative checks will be carried out before nominations are made. 

Selection process and selection criteria
Please see the Schmidt Science Fellows website for details on the selection process and selection criteria.

Nominations
The ANU can nominate up to six candidates who will then be invited to submit a full application directly to the Schmidt Science Fellows Program.