Three talented young UCSF PhD students in the biomedical sciences have been named 2026 Schmidt Science Fellows. Cuyler Luck and Marilyn Steyert - both in the Biomedical Sciences PhD program - and Elena Turkalj, PhD, a recent graduate of the Developmental and Stem Cell Biology program, are among just 32 early career scientists from around the world in the ninth cohort of fellows named by Schmidt Sciences.
Established in 2018, the Schmidt Science Fellows (SSF) aims to develop the next generation of science leaders by supporting curious and creative scientists interested in pursuing ambitious postdoctoral research with world-leading scientists in a field different from their PhD. This scientific pivot from the PhD research field to a distinct postdoctoral research field during the Fellowship is core to the program.
All three UCSF scholars were nominated to the Schmidt Science Fellows by the Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs, based not only on their records of achievement and potential for future leadership in science, but also their desire to pivot to a new research discipline in their postdoctoral training, in accordance with the Schmidt Science Fellows' goal of supporting ambitious interdisciplinary thinking and research.
Cuyler Luck
Biomedical Sciences PhD program
Graduate Adviser: Ross Okimoto, MD
Cuyler will pivot from Cancer Biology to Synthetic Biology for his postdoc.
In reflecting on this change of focus, Cuyler remarked, “I am planning a major switch in model organism by moving from human/mouse cells to plants, which is going to certainly be a steep learning curve in the beginning of the fellowship. However, I’m excited about bringing the perspective I’ve gained from my PhD into a new field and hopefully having a much broader impact through my research than I could have had by staying within my original niche!”
He also observed that “The openness of the scientific community at UCSF as well as the generosity of many faculty, staff, and students have been extremely important to exposing me to new fields and inspiring future research ideas .... The BMS graduate program helped me organize a graduate minicourse in May 2025 focused on synthetic biology, which really helped clarify my interests and affirm that I wanted to pivot for my postdoc. I am grateful that UCSF and the Biomedical Sciences program fostered an environment that allowed me to think way beyond my own individual research, which kept my mind open to this pivot.”
Marilyn Steyert
Biomedical Sciences PhD program
Graduate Adviser: Tomasz Nowaskowski, PhD
Marilyn will pivot from Developmental Biology to Cancer Biology for her postdoc.
“For me, pivoting to a new discipline feels both invigorating and deeply purposeful,” remarked Marilyn. “Cancer touches nearly every family, including my own, and that urgency motivates me to apply my developmental biology training toward questions with direct clinical impact in that space .... I’m really looking forward to the challenge, and excited to immerse myself in the cancer research community.”
Reflecting on her UCSF experience, she observed that “my PhD gave me hands-on experience in a research environment where curiosity and ambitious ideas were encouraged, preparing me to keep expanding my scientific toolkit as I move into a new field .... Most of all, I’m deeply grateful for the mentorship I received from Tom Nowakowski and other leaders in brain development here at UCSF. Being part of this collaborative and inspiring scientific community has been really special, and it gave me the curiosity and confidence to pursue bold ideas as I move into the next stage of my career.”
Elena Turkalj, PhD
Developmental and Stem Cell Biology PhD program
Graduate Advisers: Michael Oldham, PhD and Caroline Vissers, PhD
Elena will pivot from Developmental Biology to Electrochemistry for her postdoc.
She shared a bit about what motivates her shift in research focus: “During my PhD at UCSF, I investigated how ribosomal RNA methylation dynamics shape human neurodevelopment over time using stem cell-derived brain organoids. During this same period, I struggled to get diagnosed with a hormonal disorder, which sparked my interest in reproductive endocrinology. That experience made clear to me how little we understand about hormone dynamics over time. I believe my background in developmental and organoid biology will allow me to bring new perspectives and experimental approaches to sensor development and reproductive science.”
Elena added that “UCSF made it possible for my ambitious PhD project to come to fruition. Its exceptional resources, world-renowned expertise, and open, collaborative culture set a high bar for the kind of scientific environment I hope to cultivate throughout my career. My experience here showed me that science can move both rigorously and quickly when researchers share knowledge freely and work across disciplines, and that is the mindset I will carry into my postdoctoral pivot. To me, collaboration and openness are essential for doing ambitious, impactful science!”
Learn more about these three scholars and the rest of the 2026 cohort of Schmidt Science Fellows.
Schmidt Science Fellows receive a stipend of $110,000 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.
Schmidt Science Fellows is an initiative of Schmidt Sciences, delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust. Working with the scientific community, the organization breaks down barriers to interdisciplinary science and accelerates positive impacts for global society. It helps scientists solve bigger problems faster by identifying, developing, and amplifying the next generation of science leaders, building a community of scientists and supporters of interdisciplinary science, and leveraging this network to drive sector-wide change.
Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organization prioritizes research in areas poised for impact including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space — as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.
UCSF's Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs (GEPA) is invited to nominate several senior PhD students to the Schmidt Science Fellows each spring. GEPA is currently accepting applications for the 2027 cohort through April 9. Find details about this year's cycle.