University of British Columbia Schmidt Science Fellowships

UBC Schmidt Science Fellowships support the Schmidt Science Fellows program, which provides emerging scientists with new skills and perspectives to develop novel solutions to society’s challenges, become scientific and societal thought leaders, and accelerate discoveries. UBC is invited to nominate students to the international competition.

The program seeks candidates in the natural sciences (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences), Engineering, Mathematics, or Computing, including sub-disciplines. UBC graduate programs nominate eligible candidates for the university-wide competition.

Selection includes internal nomination by UBC graduate programs and review of nominations by a committee in the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, which then nominates up to 7 students to the international competition. Successful UBC nominees are invited by the Schmidt Science Fellows program to submit a full application.

Fellows receive a stipend of USD 110,000 per year and are supported to pursue a one to two year postdoctoral placement at a laboratory anywhere in the world with a disciplinary pivot from their PhD. Fellows also benefit from a Global Meeting Series and personalized mentoring.

• Citizenship status must be Canadian, Permanent Resident, or International.Degree level: Doctoral.Must have completed, or expect to complete, all requirements for the conferral of their UBC PhD, including a successful defense, within the conferral window specified for the UBC nomination process.Prospective UBC students are not eligible for nomination.Graduate degree conducted in natural sciences (Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth Sciences), Engineering, Mathematics, or Computing, including all sub-disciplines.Must be available for the entire period of the program specified by the opportunity, including attendance of the Global Meeting Series (virtual or in person, as conditions allow, and including additional virtual programming).Applications are encouraged regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, parental status, marital or civil partner status, race, color, ethnic or national origin, nationality, religion or belief.

• Stipend: USD 110,000 per year.Support to pursue a one to two year postdoctoral placement at a laboratory anywhere in the world with a disciplinary pivot from the PhD.Global Meeting Series.Personalized mentoring program.

1. Submit application materials to your UBC graduate program.Check with your UBC graduate program to find the internal application deadline.Prepare a complete application for UBC that includes the required materials listed under Application Procedures.After UBC nomination, successful nominees are invited by the Schmidt Science Fellows program to submit a full application in June.

• CV including publications (maximum three pages).Brief description of your PhD research (maximum one page).Personal Statement (maximum one page) describing leadership qualities and addressing (a) character and leadership, and (b) global ambition for social good.Fellowship Research Proposal (maximum two pages) describing the proposed postdoctoral research direction as a disciplinary departure from PhD, including (a) alignment with the Schmidt Science Fellows program and (b) collaborative spirit.Options for placement (maximum one page): three short outlines of potential labs; labs do not need to be contacted or positions secured; options are not final and binding.One letter of support (maximum 2 pages), signed and on letterhead where possible, addressing the evaluation criteria.Nomination package (for the UBC graduate program) submitted as 1 PDF to the department Sharepoint folder by the stated deadline, containing the same items and formats as listed above.