The Schmidt Science Fellows Program 2019-2020

[Dana Bresee Keeth]

Forwarded notice from Cathy Borgesen <borgesen at mit.edu<mailto:borgesen at mit.edu>>


The Schmidt Science Fellows Program
In partnership with the Rhodes Trust

INTERNAL DATES:
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Internal Nominations due: August 16, 2018

SPONSOR:
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The Schmidt Science Fellows Program: https://schmidtsciencefellows.org/

AMOUNT OF THE AWARD:
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$100,000 stipend for a full-time 12-month fellowship.
The opportunity to attend four global meetings<https://schmidtsciencefellows.org/program-structure/global-meeting-series>, each at world leading academic institutions.

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 seven (7) nominations.

DUE DATES:
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Internal nominations due:  August 16, 2018
MIT Nominations due to Sponsor: August 31, 2018
Applications packages of nominees due to Sponsor: November 30, 2018

WHO MAY NOMINATE:
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Any MIT faculty member may nominate an MIT student or MIT 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, 2018 and June 30, 2019;

*         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; and

*         be available for the entire period of the 2019-2020 program, from July 2019 to July 2020..

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 August 16, 2018:

  *   Cover page with nominee's legal name, email address, scientific field of Ph.D., home department, and laboratory or center.
  *   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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Individuals nominated by these institutions will be sent an invitation to apply to become Schmidt Science Fellows. Applications will be due by November 30 2018. Application packages will be first reviewed by a board of senior researchers who have knowledge of a wide variety of disciplines. The best applications will then be examined by a second board and evaluated on a mixture of criteria that align with the Program's goals. Short-listed applicants will be invited to face-to-face interviews. Final selections for the 2019-2020 class of Schmidt Science Fellows will be made in spring 2019 following these interviews.

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.

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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