Merton alumna selected as a 2019 recipient of the Schmidt Science Fellowship

Merton alumna Megan Engel (2013) has been named as one of the recipients of the 2019 Schmidt Science Fellowship.

The programme, funded by Eric and Wendy Schmidt in partnership with the Rhodes Trust, places 20 Fellows in a brand new research environment to expose them to differing techniques from another scientific discipline. Recipients are also awarded a stipend of $100,000 and receive personalised mentoring from internationally-accomplished scientists.

As a Rhodes Scholar at Merton, Megan’s DPhil in Theoretical Physics explored biological self-assembly, combining computational and statistical approaches to better understand natural processes and inform potential synthetic applications and works on the detailed measurement of the forces acting on DNA and modelling of those forces.

For her Fellowship Megan aims to gain expertise in machine learning techniques to build algorithms that can map the self-assembly process with unprecedented accuracy.

Megan commented:

"The Schmidt Science Fellowship is unique because it celebrates a particular, outward-facing way of doing science. I don't want to ask "physics questions", "chemistry questions", or "biology questions"; I want to ask questions. Breaking down silos; calling on diverse groups of collaborators for expertise and aid; and striving to constantly contextualise my research in a broader scientific, philosophical, and societal landscape are goals close to my heart and are advanced by the Schmidt Fellowship. I am humbled and galvanised by this honour to continue seeking Truth and loving and serving my neighbours."

Oriel alumna Gladys Ngetich (2015, Oriel) was also a recipient of the Fellowship this year.