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Two researchers among 2025 Schmidt Science Fellows
The Schmidt Science Fellows program has supported over 200 researchers from nearly 40 countries since its inception.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 02, Apr 2025
- 16:27 EDT
- 235
Anusree Natraj and Sonali Mali / LinkedIn
Schimdt Sciences has named two Indian-origin researchers Anusree Natraj and Sonali Mali among the 2025 cohort of its Schmidt Science Fellows.
Established in 2017 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt in partnership with the Rhodes Trust, the fellowship provides postdoctoral researchers with a $110,000 stipend, mentorship, and the opportunity to pivot into new scientific disciplines at leading research institutions.
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Originally from Mumbai, India, Natraj is recognized for her research in organic and materials chemistry, particularly her work on synthesizing two-dimensional polymers in defect-free crystal form. As a Schmidt Science fellow, Natraj will shift her focus to biology, aiming to develop bioactive coatings for medical implants that could improve integration with the body.
"It’s such a wonderful opportunity to embrace a completely new direction," Natraj, who is currently a postdoctoral fellow in chemistry and chemical biology at Harvard University said. "I hope to learn new skills and collaborate with talented people worldwide working on intersectional ideas. That’s what makes the Schmidt Fellowship unique—it fosters cross-pollination of ideas."
Mali is recognized for her work in neuroscience, with a focus on understanding how beneficial microbes influence the vaginal immune system. With the fellowship, she plans to transition to immunology to investigate microbial regulation of reproductive and maternal health.
Currently a graduate student in the neuroscience department at the University of California, Berkeley, conducting research in Diana Bautista’s lab, Mali aims to develop a model for studying the human vaginal microbiota in mice, which could provide new insights into infections and pregnancy-related complications.
Now in its eighth year, the Schmidt Science Fellows program has supported over 200 researchers from nearly 40 countries, fostering interdisciplinary breakthroughs in fields such as quantum technologies, sustainable materials, and cancer treatment.
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