Schmidt Science Fellows announced the award of up to two years of grant funding to 32 early career researchers. The funding will support interdisciplinary scientific exploration across a range of global challenges. The 2025 fellows, representing 15 nationalities, including first-time participants from Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, will pursue innovative research in areas such as cancer treatment, quantum technologies, and sustainability.
Examples include Zhaoquan Wang’s pivot from immunology to evolutionary biology to study octopus intelligence and Noora Almarri’s work on developing smart artificial blood vessels. Now in its eighth year, the program aims to accelerate discoveries by enabling researchers to apply their expertise in new fields, fostering a global community of interdisciplinary science leaders.
Announcement of 2025 Schmidt Science Fellows
The 2025 Schmidt Science Fellows program has awarded grants to thirty-two early career researchers, supporting their interdisciplinary research across diverse fields such as food security, medical implants, cancer treatment, quantum technologies, and sustainability. This initiative highlights the fellows’ transition between disciplines, exemplified by Zhaoquan Wang’s shift from immunology to evolutionary biology in studying octopuses and Noora Almarri’s move from electrical engineering to biomaterials in developing smart artificial blood vessels.
The program emphasizes global diversity, with fellows representing 15 nationalities. This cohort joins a community of 209 fellows from nearly 40 countries, underscoring the initiative’s international scope. Schmidt Science Fellows, part of Schmidt Sciences, collaborates with over 100 universities to identify top candidates through rigorous academic reviews and multidisciplinary interviews.
The fellowship structure includes postdoctoral placements at leading institutions, alongside tailored training and mentorship programs. These elements support fellows in advancing their research and career development. The partnership with Times Higher Education to create Interdisciplinary Science Rankings also promotes best practices in cross-disciplinary research, reflecting a commitment to fostering global interdisciplinary approaches.
Support for Early Career Researchers in Interdisciplinary Science
The Schmidt Science Fellows program provides critical support for early career researchers transitioning between disciplines, enabling them to address complex scientific challenges. Zhaoquan Wang’s shift from immunology to evolutionary biology in studying octopuses exemplifies this interdisciplinary approach, while Noora Almarri’s move from electrical engineering to biomaterials highlights the program’s emphasis on cross-disciplinary innovation.
Schmidt Science Fellows are selected through rigorous academic reviews and multidisciplinary interviews conducted by over 100 collaborating universities. This ensures that only top candidates are chosen for postdoctoral placements at leading institutions, where they receive tailored training and mentorship to advance their research and professional development.
The program’s structure combines postdoctoral placements with specialized support, enabling fellows to contribute meaningfully to fields such as cancer treatment and quantum technologies. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, the initiative aims to accelerate scientific progress in critical areas like AI, astrophysics, biosciences, climate science, and space research.
Schmidt Sciences, the nonprofit organization behind the initiative, prioritizes research with high potential for societal impact. Through advanced tools and interdisciplinary approaches, the program amplifies the contributions of early-career researchers, driving sector-wide change in scientific communities.
Schmidt Sciences, the nonprofit organization behind the initiative, prioritizes research with high potential for societal impact. Through advanced tools and interdisciplinary approaches, the program amplifies the contributions of early-career researchers, driving sector-wide change in scientific communities.
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