“This fellowship has afforded me the opportunity to conduct field work at an international field station, attend various training sessions for data analysis and communicate my research findings to diverse audiences at research conferences and at UCSB,” said Shalanda Grier, who received her postdoctoral fellowship in 2023 to investigate coral reef community trait dynamics in response to disturbances and anthropogenic factors. “As a fellow I have been able to grow my network and fine-tune my research skills.”

For fourth-year undergraduate Macey Hartmann, who received the mentorship fellowship her freshman year, the program opened the door to a new and meaningful career.

“Before receiving the fellowship, I had never considered myself a scientist, but the program’s funding and mentorship empowered me to pursue research and graduate school, achievements I never imagined possible,” said Hartmann, who researched giant sea bass in Southern California through the Schmidt Fellowship. “Now, I feel excited and confident about my future in science.” Just recently, Hartmann earned the prestigious University of Miami Fellowship and will be matriculating as a Ph.D. student at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science in Fall 2026.

Because the best decisions and innovations come from diverse minds, the program also works to support students from underrepresented groups – people who traditionally do not have the exposure to or support for a career in environmental science, but whose untapped potential could lead to major breakthroughs.

“As a first-generation, minority and financially independent college student, I found this program was instrumental in keeping me engaged in the scientific work that fuels my passion,” said alum Marian Walker, who studied wildfires in the California foothills with a graduate student mentor and who, with the Schmidt Fellowship, gained access to research and educational opportunities. “It allowed me to focus on building a future in environmental science, and for that, I am deeply grateful.”