Erin Huiting, a PhD student who will graduate this spring from the Biomedical Sciences program, has been named a 2024 Schmidt Science Fellow. She is one of 32 early career scientists from around the world in the seventh cohort of fellows named by Schmidt Futures.
Erin was nominated to the Schmidt Science Fellows by the Graduate Division in spring 2023, based on her record of achievement and scientific curiosity and potential for future leadership in science. Also key was her desire to pivot to a new research discipline in her postdoc, in accordance with the Schmidt Science Fellows' goal of supporting ambitious interdisciplinary thinking and research.
Erin's research as a Schmidt Science Fellow will focus on discovering plant innate immune receptors that impart multi-pathogen resistance in crops. Her desire to pivot to a new research area during her postdoc is driven in part by her awareness of food insecurity and climate change as some of the most pressing problems in today's world. "As a biomedical scientist, I've been trained to solve complex problems in human health. However, I recognize that fundamental principles in host-pathogen interactions can be applied across biological disciplines. My scientific career began studying human immunology and HIV and then pivoted to bacterial immunology for my PhD, and now, I've been inspired to apply my skills and expertise to plants with the long-term goal to bioengineer disease resistant, sustainable agriculture and broadly improve our planet's health."
During her postdoc, Erin and the other Fellows in her cohort will participate in a year-long Science Leadership Program to help them build skills and networks to support interdisciplinary research. Erin commented, "Pivoting into a new discipline has really challenged me to think creatively and critically about how to solve problems on the bench, as well as society at large...However, the Schmidt Science Fellowship is one of the few, if only, postdoc opportunities that supports scientists to take these risks. I'm so grateful to be a part of this community and begin my postdoc this fall."
Schmidt Science Fellows receive a stipend of over $100,000 a year for up to two years of postdoctoral research in a discipline different from their PhD at a world-leading lab anywhere in the world. Each cohort is also supported in developing the skills, experience and networks necessary to become the next generation of interdisciplinary science leaders
Launched in 2018, Schmidt Science Fellows was the inaugural program of Schmidt Futures, the philanthropic initiative of Eric and Wendy Schmidt with a mission to find and connect talented people to solve our world’s hardest problems. The Program is delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust. The seventh cohort of Schmidt Science Fellows will join the lifelong community of Fellows, now totaling 177 members nominated from 26 leading institutions across the globe.
