Announcing Limited Submission – Schmidt Science Fellows 2027

We are pleased to announce the launch of Limited Submission – Schmidt Science Fellows 2027

• Internal Submission Deadline: Sunday, April 5, 2026
• Discipline/Subject Area: PhD Students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
• Description:  Limited Submission Funding Opportunity from the Offices of Research and Foundation Relations
• Internal Deadline: April 5, 2026, 11:59PM PST
• Funder: Schmidt Sciences Fellows
• Program: Schmidt Science Fellows 2027
  
• UCSC Contacts:
  Samantha Forde | FR | forde@ucsc.edu
  Molly McCarthy | OR | moamccar@ucsc.edu
• Award Amount: $110,000/year for up to two years.

• Overview
  UC Santa Cruz has been invited to nominate two of our top PhD students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to the Schmidt Science Fellows program. The Schmidt Science Fellowship enables the world’s best emerging scientists to pivot from their PhD discipline and pursue their goals through bold interdisciplinary research. This fellowship supports candidates with a genuine commitment to change their research area and pivot to a different research field from their PhD. This requirement is central to the Program’s mission. The campus is inviting faculty to nominate PhD students who fit the program goals and guidelines below.
  
  Please see Schmidt’s Guidance for Nominating Partners, Schmidt Science Fellows Impact Stories and Resources.
  
  Nominating faculty can register for an upcoming webinar to support our internal selection process.
  Monday February 23, 2026, 9am PST: Register here. Or Tuesday February 24, 2026. 9am GMT: Register here (time best suited to audiences in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania).

• Eligibility
  • Candidates must be completing a PhD in natural sciences (astronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, and earth sciences), engineering, mathematics, or computing.
  • Candidates applying for the 2027 cohort must complete all the requirements for the conferral of their PhD, including a successful defense, between May 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027.
  • Candidates must be nominated by the PhD awarding institution.
  • Candidates should be:
• Curious and creative scientists interested in making a genuine move to intensive study in a discipline different to their PhD.
• Academically excellent researchers who demonstrate a commitment to ambitious, high-impact science.
• Future leaders with the potential and character to lead teams and unlock transformative discoveries in the future.
• Talented individuals from a wide range of scientific disciplines who are motivated to increase interdisciplinary collaboration.

• Award Amount & Terms
  1. Fellowship research placements can be from 12 to 24 months long. Placement destinations are developed and agreed upon by each Fellow after selection, with support from Schmidt academic council mentors and the program team.
  2. Each Fellow receives a stipend of $110,000 a year for up to two years to support their personal and living costs.

• To Apply
  Faculty should nominate the PhD candidate to the internal campus competition via InfoReady. Select “Nominate” from the menu on the right-hand side, complete the application form, and upload the following documents:
  1. A nomination letter from the applicant’s advisor, which should describe firsthand knowledge of their ability to do creative research. (2-page maximum, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, single spaced). Please consider:
     1. Intellect
        1. Extraordinary achievement: clear record of academic achievement of the highest quality in the sciences. 
        2. Scientific curiosity: high degree of intellectual curiosity, combined with energy and creativity; a record of continuous innovation and/or use of new technologies.
     2. Programmatic Fit
        1. Alignment with the program: interest in pursuing 12-24 months of postdoctoral study in a field different from the applicant’s PhD discipline and a belief that interdisciplinary science and the taking of appropriate scientific risk are important for the advancement of discovery.
        2. Collaborative spirit: history of effective collaboration with diverse team members.
     3. Leadership
        1. Ambition for social good: desire to use one’s personal talents to make a difference in society and the world.
        2. Character and leadership: genuine and demonstrable potential for science leadership; displaying perseverance, resilience, and a moral compass.
  2. A summary of proposed research that outlines the general goals, states why the research is innovative, interdisciplinary and high risk-high reward. (2-page maximum, 12-point font, 1-inch margins, single spaced). 
  3. Curriculum vitae of the applicant.
• *Note that these applications do not need to be confidential, so this information can be provided by the applicant.

• Timeline
  Campus Nomination Process
  April 5, 2026 11:59PM PST Internal applications due in Infoready
  April 24, 2026     Two campus candidates selected
  May 15, 2026      Campus deadline for submitting nominees to Schmidt
  Application Process
  June 1, 2026    Preliminary application information available
  July 13, 2026    Application deadline
  March, 2027     Cohort selection
  July – October 2027    Fellowship research placements start

• Special Instructions
  For support developing materials, please contact the Research Development team at resdev@ucsc.edu.

Call sent: February 18, 2026
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The Office of Foundation Relations is a unit of University Advancement. The FR team creates and maintains mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with private organizations, matching grant initiatives with educational and research programs and centers. FR supports faculty and staff to identify and approach these and other private foundations for funding, to assist in strategic positioning of the grant application, and to facilitate funder campus visits. For a list of recent funding opportunities, please visit the FR website: FR Calls for Funding.