UQ's Dr Emily Cooper has been awarded a highly competitive Schmidt Science Fellowship. One of the world’s most prestigious postdoctoral fellowships, it is designed to develop the next generation of science leaders and build a global community of interdisciplinary researchers.
Delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust, the one-year Fellowship has a specific emphasis on interdisciplinary science that pivots away from the Fellows’ PhD work. By bringing together different perspectives, ideas, and skills, interdisciplinary science the Fellowship is designed to enhance our ability to innovate and solve complex problems facing science and society.
A transformative opportunity
Emily pursued a PhD in the School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering under the supervision of Professor Ruth Knibbe and Emeritus Professor Ian Gentle. Her doctoral research focused on developing batteries with improved energy density and durability, building on her Bachelor of Advanced Science with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Mathematics. During her PhD, Emily gained industry experience at Nation Energie, where she worked on battery installation and monitoring, and she was also named the winner of The University of Queensland’s Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition in 2023. Since submitting her thesis last year, she has been working as a consultant at McKinsey & Company.
In her Fellowship, Emily will shift the direction of her research, moving into battery recycling with a focus on electrolyte recovery. Battery electrolytes consist of organic solvents and fluorine‑containing compounds, which can pose significant environmental challenges if released untreated.
Emily is planning to base herself in Germany, and this move will open new opportunities enabling her to work closely with the broader European research community.
For aspiring Fellows
This is a very competitive program, with only around 30 Fellows selected worldwide each year (typically less than 10% of applicants), but eligible candidates who meet the criteria are strongly encouraged to apply.
Preparing a submission will help clarify your goals and articulate future directions for your work, which is valuable regardless of the outcome.
