The Schmidt Science Fellows Program

[Dana Bresee Keeth]

Faculty announcement relevant to postdocs  - forwarded from Cathy A. 
Borgesen <borgesen at mit.edu>

**

I wanted to call your attention to this announcement of an exciting new 
postdoctoral fellowship. Please pass this along to faculty in your units.

**

*The Schmidt Science Fellows Program*

/In partnership with the Rhodes Trust///

*INTERNAL DATES:*

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Internal Nominations due: November 6, 2017

*SPONSOR: *

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The Schmidt Science Fellows Program: https://schmidtsciencefellows.org/ 
<https://schmidtsciencefellows.org/>

*AMOUNT OF THE AWARD:*

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$100,000 stipend for a full-time fellowship of at least eleven (11) months.

The opportunity to attend four global meetings 
<https://schmidtsciencefellows.org/program-structure/global-meeting-series>, 
each at world leading academic institutions.

Please note that the stipend will be paid directly by the Program to the 
Fellow.

**

*FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION:***

*
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*

The Schmidt Science Fellows program is an elite postdoctoral program 
that aims to create a new generation of scientific leaders by giving the 
world’s best aspiring scientific minds a broader perspective, the 
ability to engage in an interdisciplinary way, and the opportunity to 
make a lasting impact on society.

The fellowship includes the opportunity to conduct postdoctoral research 
study focusing on a discipline in the natural sciences, engineering, 
mathematics, or computing _that is different_ from the individual's 
existing area of expertise and is a planned area of future focus.

The program will also feature four global meetings at the world’s 
leading academic institutions, interspersed across the duration of the 
fellowship. These meetings will expose Fellows to new cutting-edge 
science, provide them the opportunity to interact with each other and 
with leading thinkers in the sciences and society, and develop new 
skills that will help them in their future careers.

**

*REQUESTS FOR NOMINATIONS:*

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MIT requests nominations of the most outstanding individuals, who plan 
to work in the areas of natural sciences (including life, physical, and 
earth sciences), engineering, mathematics, or computing, for this elite 
new postdoctoral fellowship program.

The Schmidt Science Fellows program, the Rhodes Trust, respected 
researchers, and a number of leading universities, will work with the 
chosen Fellows to select the research laboratory where they will conduct 
their postdoctoral fellowship. Support from the Schmidt Science Fellows 
program allows chosen postdocs the opportunity to “pivot” from their 
current area of expertise during the fellowship year. By doing so, 
Fellows will form a diverse perspective on the questions and techniques 
that will position them to make breakthrough discoveries and drive 
societal change.

*AREAS OF RESEARCH SUPPORTED:*

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Natural sciences (including life, physical, and earth sciences), 
engineering, mathematics, and computing.

**

*NUMBER OF NOMINATIONS:*

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MIT may submit five (5) nominations.

*DUE DATES:*

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Internal nominations due:  November 6, 2017

MIT Nominations due to Sponsor: November 13, 2017

Applications packages of nominees due to Sponsor: December 31, 2017

*WHO MAY SUBMIT:*

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Any MIT faculty member may nominate an MIT student or recent graduate 
who meets the eligibility requirements.

Self-nominations will not be accepted.

**

*ELIGIBILITY:*

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Nominees _must_ have received or expect to receive a PhD in natural 
sciences (including life, physical, and earth sciences), engineering, 
mathematics, or computing between May 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018; and 
they _must_ plan to pursue a year or more of postdoctoral study in a 
field different from the topic of study for which the applicant received 
his/her doctorate.

Additionally, nominees should demonstrate the following:

·A clear record of academic achievement in the sciences at a leading 
institution of higher learning;

·A history of effective collaboration with diverse team members;

·A general interest in modern computing and data science topics;

·A high degree of intelligence, energy, and intellectual curiosity that 
will drive future scientific discoveries;

·The scientific curiosity needed to pursue a broad level of exposure to 
and knowledge in cutting-edge innovations and research across the 
sciences; and

·The drive to make a lasting impact in the sciences and society, 
conducting research and pursuing knowledge that will benefit the world.

**

*NOMINATIONS MATERIALS:*

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Please submit the following nomination information to 
vpr-contact at mit.edu <mailto:vpr-contact at mit.edu> by November 6, 2017:

  * Cover page with nominee’s name, home department and laboratory or
    center, contact information.
  * Letter of nomination from an MIT faculty member attesting to the
    nominee’s accomplishments and capabilities. (1 page max)
  * A personal statement of why the nominee is interested in the program
    and what they hope to achieve during and after it. (1 page max)
  * Nominee’s CV. (2-page max)

*ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:*

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The Schmidt Science Fellows may pursue postdoctoral research in any 
laboratory that is substantially different from their existing field of 
expertise. The degree of difference will be subject to a case-by-case 
evaluation. It may be that a Fellow pursues a completely new line of 
inquiry within the same discipline, or it might be a related line of 
inquiry in an entirely new discipline.

The Program will also assist Fellows that want to continue work in their 
postdoctoral area of study following the completion of the fellowship, 
or in instances where the initial postdoctoral period should extend for 
longer than the initial 11-month period of time.

Please contact Cathy Borgesen at borgesen at mit.edu 
<mailto:borgesen at mit.edu> with any questions.

//

/Cathy Borgesen/

/Assistant Director of Research Development/

/Office of Sponsored Programs/

/Massachusetts Institute of Technology/

/77 Massachusetts Ave., NE18-901/

/Cambridge, MA 02139/

/borgesen at mit.edu <mailto:borgesen at mit.edu>/

/617-324-6870/

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