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Landing a globally renowned is a massive win for any institution - and Dr. Hannah Richards chose Florida Atlantic. Richards is stepping straight into the Schmidt College of Science’s world-class Marine Science Lab this summer with a bold mission. She is completely reinventing her scientific trajectory: pivoting from analytical chemistry to marine biology to identify safe, natural fungal-fighting treatments capable of saving endangered sea turtle eggs from local extinction.

Richards was named one of 32 members of the 2026 fellowship cohort, and she is the first student from Vanderbilt University to receive this distinction. The Schmidt Science Postdoctoral Fellowship program, co-founded by Wendy and Eric Schmidt, aims to enable emerging research leaders to pursue an ambitious “interdisciplinary pivot” by embarking on postdoctoral research in a new field of study from their Ph.D.

In collaboration with Samantha Kuschke, DVM, Ph.D., M.Ed., a member of the college’s Jumpstart Postdoctoral Program, and Jeanette Wyneken, Ph.D., director of the Marine Science Lab and professor of biological sciences in the College of Science, Richards will work to isolate safe fungal-fighting treatments from natural sources to tackle an infection that attacks leatherback turtle eggs and significantly reduces hatchling survival.

“I am excited to continue my postdoctoral research at Florida Atlantic because it offers a very unique opportunity to study pressing challenges facing leatherback sea turtles today,” stated Richards. “The ability to work at the intersection of chemistry and marine biology in such a specialized environment made �鶹��Ʒ��Ƶan ideal fit.”

Although Richards was raised in Nashville, Tennessee, she has long been captivated by sea turtles and marine ecosystems. Exploring that passion felt out of reach for her until recently.

“Now, I have both the scientific foundation and the physical capacity to pursue it,” shared Richards. “I believe that high-impact science requires bold, interdisciplinary thinking. Solving global challenges, such as sea turtle species facing extinction, depends on collaborative approaches that bridge fields and perspectives. This fellowship presents a valuable opportunity for growth, learning and meaningful collaboration, and I look forward to gaining new experiences that will shape my future as a scientist.”