Schmidt Science Fellows Program: GSAS Pre-Proposal Deadline

Date: 

Thursday, June 3, 2021, 12:00pm

Schmidt Science Fellows Program
GSAS Pre-Proposal Deadline: June 3, 2021 by noon
Award Amount: Each Fellow receives a stipend of $100,000 to support their personal and living costs for the duration of the Fellowship placement (11-14 months). All costs associated with the Global Meeting Series, including travel, lodging, and meals, are fully reimbursed.

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. Candidates are expected to already have a strong track record of scientific achievement from their PhD studies, combined with a clear intellectual curiosity and desire to drive future discoveries. Fellows undertake a year-long postdoctoral placement. Fellows’ placements will represent a significant disciplinary pivot from their PhD topic and are central to the program’s aim to foster greater interdisciplinarity. All placements are with world-leading scientific leaders and internationally-renowned labs. Candidates will be required to consider several options of where they may undertake their postdoctoral placement. It is possible to have already begun a postdoctoral position, but candidates will be expected to consider at least three options and any pre-existing position will be subject to the same review and approval process as any new position. Schmidt Science Fellows also participate in a varied and challenging Global Meeting Series that introduces new research ideas, techniques, and questions, in addition to a tailored training program.

Eligibility:

  • PhD students working across any of the natural sciences (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Sciences), Engineering, Mathematics, or Computing – and all sub-disciplines therein
  • Have completed, or be expected to complete, all the requirements for the PhD between June 1, 2021 and July 30, 2022

Internal Application Process (deadline June 3, 2021 at noon):

This is a limited submission opportunity. Harvard may nominate a limited number of candidates, so there will be an internal selection process to select the nominees.

Please submit the following for the internal selection process:

  1. Complete CV, including name, email address, PhD program, expected date of graduation, thesis title, any leadership positions or community service, and a list of all publications
  2. Research Statement (specific for the internal review process) that briefly addresses: (1) Rationale for the disciplinary pivot from your graduate work, (2) Plan for pursuing postdoctoral study in a different field, and (3) how the Schmidt Fellowship fits your long-term plans; maximum 2 pages.
  3. Letter of Recommendation from your thesis advisor

Interested applicants should send their materials as a single PDF. The letter of support may be included in the PDF or sent separately. All materials must be submitted to gsasacademicprograms@fas.harvard.edu by June 3, 2021 at noon. Questions regarding the internal application process should be directed to gracegill@fas.harvard.edu or gsasacademicprograms@fas.harvard.edu.