Vanderbilt's Inaugural Schmidt Fellow Begins Journey

Analytical chemist Hannah Richards to research sea turtle health as part of prestigious fellowship

Mar. 28, 2026 at 2:38am

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Analytical chemist and Cliffel Research Group member Hannah Richards, a Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt University, has been selected as the university's first-ever Schmidt Science Fellow. In this prestigious role, Richards will shift her focus from developing tools to detect preterm birth triggers to investigating sea turtle egg fusariosis, an invasive fungal infection that impedes hatching success, in an effort to protect leatherback sea turtles from extinction.

Why it matters

The Schmidt Science Fellowship is one of the most competitive and prestigious global fellowships, recognizing exceptional scholars who demonstrate the potential to become future leaders in their fields. Richards' selection as Vanderbilt's inaugural Schmidt Fellow underscores the university's commitment to nurturing interdisciplinary research that can generate meaningful, real-world impact.

The details

Richards, who grew up in small country towns outside of Nashville with strong gender stereotypes, was drawn to chemistry and science as a way to defy the odds and break glass ceilings. After earning a bachelor's degree in chemistry with a minor in women's and gender studies from Austin Peay State University, she is now a Ph.D. student at Vanderbilt focusing on analytical chemistry. Under the mentorship of David Cliffel, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Chemistry, Richards uses electrochemistry to develop tools that detect and quantify infection-related triggers of preterm birth. As a Schmidt Fellow, Richards will shift her focus to researching sea turtle egg fusariosis at the Marine Science Laboratory at Florida Atlantic University, bridging her work in Cliffel's group with marine conservation research.

  • In March 2026, Hannah Richards was selected as Vanderbilt University's inaugural Schmidt Science Fellow.

The players

Hannah Richards

An analytical chemist and member of the Cliffel Research Group at Vanderbilt University, who has been selected as the university's first-ever Schmidt Science Fellow. She will use the prestigious fellowship to research sea turtle egg fusariosis, an invasive fungal infection that impedes hatching success, in an effort to protect leatherback sea turtles from extinction.

David Cliffel

The Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Chemistry and principal investigator at the Cliffel Research Group at Vanderbilt University, where he mentors Hannah Richards in her work using electrochemistry to develop tools that detect and quantify infection-related triggers of preterm birth.

André Christie-Mizell

The vice provost for graduate education and dean of the Graduate School at Vanderbilt University, who stated that Richards' selection as the university's first Schmidt Science Fellow underscores Vanderbilt's commitment to nurturing exceptional scholars who will become the next generation of leaders.

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What they’re saying

“Hannah's selection as Vanderbilt's first Schmidt Science Fellow is a tremendous honor that underscores our university's commitment to nurturing exceptional scholars who will become the next generation of scholars and leaders.”

— André Christie-Mizell, Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of the Graduate School, Vanderbilt University

“Because of the heavily interdisciplinary nature of my research lab, we have students from a lot of different disciplines, and each comes with a unique background and progress from there. Hannah had originally little interest in bioanalytical chemistry, but she has embraced its potential to the fullest in her work in my group.”

— David Cliffel, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University

“Her future work as a Schmidt Fellow builds on the research abilities she developed in my lab, but it represents a complete shift in application and focus. She has already done that so well in her graduate studies that I am certain she will be successful in the future.”

— David Cliffel, Cornelius Vanderbilt Professor of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University

What’s next

As a Schmidt Fellow, Richards will conduct research on sea turtle egg fusariosis at the Marine Science Laboratory at Florida Atlantic University, bridging her work in the Cliffel Research Group with marine conservation efforts.

The takeaway

Hannah Richards' selection as Vanderbilt University's inaugural Schmidt Science Fellow is a testament to her exceptional research abilities, interdisciplinary mindset, and commitment to using analytical chemistry to tackle real-world challenges. Her journey from a small town in Tennessee to becoming a pioneering scholar in the prestigious Schmidt program exemplifies how breaking barriers and pursuing one's passions can lead to extraordinary opportunities.