University of Cambridge researcher Dr Poppy Oldroyd is among the thirty-two early career researchers, tackling issues from improving food security to developing better medical implants, who have been announced as the 2025 Schmidt Science Fellows.
Dr Poppy Oldroyd plans to pioneer a new frontier in understanding brain communication through optical measurements, ultimately advancing treatments for memory-related diseases.
Today (23 June) is International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) is celebrating women who have made a significant contribution to helping their organisation, community or indeed the world to function during the last year. A perfect day to celebrate Poppy Oldroyd's achievements.
Now in its eighth year, the Fellowship provides financial support for a postdoctoral placement of one to two years at a world-class research institution.
The funding equips scientists to apply their knowledge to a new field of study with the goal of accelerating discoveries, and to develop their leadership potential.
Dr Poppy Oldroyd, a 2025 Schmidt Science Fellow from the Department of Engineering, plans to pioneer a new frontier in understanding brain communication through optical measurements, ultimately advancing treatments for memory-related diseases.
The human brain communicates through intricate networks of neurons, crucial for learning and memory. However, how these neural conversations translate into memory formation remains a mystery in neuroscience. Oldroyd’s research aims to use light-based tools, like advanced optogenetics, to explore these pathways in detail. By uncovering how specific brain circuits contribute to learning and memory, this research could revolutionise our understanding of these essential brain functions.
Ultimately, this knowledge may enhance our comprehension of memory-related disorders like Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy.
Oldroyd will join a community of 209 Schmidt Science Fellows from nearly 40 countries who are leaders in interdisciplinary science.
“Philanthropic funding of scientific research, and especially support of early-career researchers, has never been more important,” said Wendy Schmidt, who co-founded Schmidt Science Fellows with her husband, Eric.
“By providing Schmidt Science Fellows with support, community, and freedom to work across disciplines and gain new insights, we hope they’ll tackle some of the world’s most vexing challenges, achieve breakthroughs and help create a healthier, more resilient world for all.”
Established in 2017, Schmidt Science Fellows is a programme of Schmidt Sciences delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust.
The 2025 Fellows represent 15 nationalities, including researchers from Jordan and the United Arab Emirates for the first time in the programme’s history.
This year’s cohort will work on a range of problems from cancer treatment to quantum technologies to sustainability.
Alongside their research Placement, Fellows participate in a 12-month interdisciplinary Science Leadership Programme.
Each year, Schmidt Science Fellows works in partnership with more than 100 universities to identify candidates for the Fellowship.
Nominees are selected via an application process that includes an academic review with panels of experts in their original disciplines and final interviews with a multidisciplinary panel of scientists and private sector leaders.
“The Schmidt Science Fellows Program is cultivating a dynamic global community of remarkable scientists and champions of interdisciplinary research,” said Stu Feldman, Chief Scientist at Schmidt Sciences.
“Their work exemplifies Schmidt Sciences’ commitment to support pioneering approaches that will drive the next era of discovery and innovation.”
The 2025 Schmidt Science Fellows represent 27 nominating universities, including, for the first time, McGill University in Canada, RWTH Aachen University in Germany, Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, University of California, Los Angeles in the US, and University of Groningen in the Netherlands.
International Women in Engineering Day
With today (23rd June) being International Women in Engineering Day, the Department of Engineering wants to recognise this opportunity to celebrate the achievements and impact of women in our field, both within the Departmental community, industry, and internationally. We continuously focus on building a diverse and inclusive environment where women engineers feel empowered to lead cutting-edge research, drive innovation, and inspire the next generation of engineers. This day underscores our undertaking to ensure that engineering is a career open to all. As we reflect on the contributions of women past and present, we also reaffirm our commitment to the continuous improvement of a culture of equity, collaboration, and excellence in engineering.
