Schmidt Science Fellows

Featured Resources

The Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan

In it for the long-haul: building support for interdisciplinary innovation

To boost cross-disciplinary collaboration, and in turn social impact, universities need to foster a culture of collaboration and an environment that allows its researchers to take bigger risks

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Alice Wong, chair professor in the School of Biological Sciences and associate vice-president of research at the University of Hong Kong

Answering science’s toughest questions through interdisciplinary collaboration

When the most impactful research collaborations often start with a conversation, it pays for universities to put like-minded scientists in the room together, no matter their expertise

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

The University of Bath runs several initiatives to promote cross-disciplinary collaboration

Fostering innovation through interdisciplinary research

Universities can build their interdisciplinary research capacity through deliberate strategy and support for academics whose intellectual curiosity extends beyond their domain expertise in search of collaboration

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Bin Liu, deputy president of research and technology, National University of Singapore

Incentivising interdisciplinary research: lessons from Singapore

With top-tier cross-disciplinary research talent in leadership positions, the National University of Singapore is creating an ecosystem that rewards impactful scientific collaborations, harnessing AI’s power to accelerate research and innovation

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Solomon Oyakhire, a Schmidt Science Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley

The hard cell: how interdisciplinary science can unlock next-generation batteries for a decarbonised world

The future of the decarbonised society depends upon the discovery and design of next-generation batteries. Interdisciplinary research is vital to making that future a reality

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Caitlin Maikawa, Senior Schmidt Science Fellow and assistant professor at the University of Toronto

Joint efforts propel transformative scientific discoveries

It takes many scientific perspectives to deliver new technologies that could revolutionise how we treat diabetes and monitor disease. At the University of Toronto’s Institute of Biomedical Engineering, research teams are applying their expertise to real-life clinical problems in search of innovations in bioengineering

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Image caption: Researchers in the Device Foundry, one of three facilities comprising the Centre for Research and Applications in Fluidic Technologies (CRAFT), an ISI at the University of Toronto (Image credit: Dahlia Katz)

Targeted strategies for interdisciplinary innovation

The University of Toronto’s Institutional Strategic Initiatives offer a compelling case study in what large, complex institutions can do to break down disciplinary silos and drive innovation

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Eric Perreault, vice-president of Northwestern University

It takes connections to become a research superpower

At Northwestern University, a long history of interdisciplinary collaboration among its world-class faculty generates groundbreaking research

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Shooting for the Moon with interdisciplinary approaches to lunar development

Large-scale projects, such as creating a sustained presence on the Moon, are complex, interdisciplinary endeavours that test researchers to the limit. But with support from the research community – united by common purpose and values – lunar development efforts can take a giant leap towards establishing an outpost on the Moon

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

CIFAR-Azrieli Global Scholars and Schmidt Science Fellows explore opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration

Where the boldest research ideas find a home

Getting multidisciplinary projects off the ground can be a heavy lift for even the most motivated scientists, but forward-thinking organisations like CIFAR are willing to lend a hand, convening international research groups and offering the much-needed support to develop their ideas

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Sandya Subramanian, a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University

Inside the data-driven search for migraine relief

At the frontiers of computational research and medical hardware, interdisciplinary approaches offer hope to chronic migraine patients through ground-breaking physiological sensors and analytical tools that analyse the autonomic nervous system for clues about the debilitating condition

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Sahil Loomba, Schmidt Science Fellow in the Institute for Data, Systems and Society at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Understanding complex systems with computational power and interdisciplinary science

Our lives are governed by complex connected systems, and Schmidt Science Fellow Sahil Loomba has made it his life’s work to understand them. He is taking an interdisciplinary path, combining computation, statistics and machine-learning approaches to improve the world we live in

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Ryan Truby, assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Northwestern University

Empowering early-career researchers to take intellectual curiosity to grand challenges

The field of soft robotics draws on insights from biology and the abilities of living organisms to advance robot design. It offers a case study of why supporting interdisciplinary research among early career scientists drives innovation and yields radical scientific discoveries

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Stu Feldman, co-CEO and chief scientist at Schmidt Futures

Breaking down disciplinary silos in pursuit of innovation

Interdisciplinary approaches allow researchers of different scholarly backgrounds to pool their expertise and enhance the impact of their discoveries. But for these projects to flourish, we need to rethink the research ecosystem to support scientists as they cross disciplinary lines

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Shriya Srinivasan, assistant professor of bioengineering at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Developing a 21st-century skillset for research’s interdisciplinary future

The next generation of interdisciplinary scientists needs a research ecosystem that gives them the skills they need to work with scientists from other fields, as well as the funding and support to bring their research findings to society

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Sir Keith Burnett, chair emeritus and academic council member at Schmidt Science Fellows

Coaching the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists

It takes courage, ability and talent to transcend disciplinary boundaries. But it also takes support. At Schmidt Science Fellows, early career scientists are given the training and mentorship they need to develop their careers in interdisciplinary science and pursue projects that tackle society’s biggest problems

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows

Megan Kenna speaks at the Schmidt Science Fellows Science Leadership event

How higher education can promote interdisciplinary science and enhance impact

Society faces problems of growing complexity, and we need scientists collaborating across disciplines in search of better solutions and faster results

Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows