Imperial's Gina Cuomo-Dannenburg elected prestigious Schmidt Science Fellow

Dr Gina Cuomo-Dannenburg

Schmidt Science Fellowships change how science is done and enable exceptional researchers like Gina become the next generation of science leaders.

While studying for a PhD in Malaria Modelling, Dr Gina Cuomo-Dannenburg was successfully nominated by Imperial College London. She is one of 32 world-class researchers to be elected the prestigious Schmidt Science Fellowship. Gina has since completed her PhD which focused on the suitability of seasonal malaria chemoprevention in areas with anti-malarial resistance. 

Epidemiology to Genetics & Genomics

Schmidt Science Fellowships enable the world’s best emerging scientists to pivot from their PhD discipline and pursue their goals through bold interdisciplinary research. During her Fellowship, Gina will seek to understand how changing weather and extreme events like floods and droughts affect mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile virus and dengue.

I am particularly excited about pivoting to research on pathogen genomic evolution Dr Gina Cuomo-Dannenburg Schmidt Science Fellow

Gina will study the genetic information of these viruses from past outbreaks and link this to environmental information. She will examine how the environment influences pathogen evolution and whether extreme events are associated with more virulent pathogen strains. Her goal is to predict where and when future outbreaks might occur, enhancing preparedness and safeguarding public health.

Schmidt Science Fellows and Imperial

Gina is the third successful nominated Schmidt Science Fellow from Imperial College London following in the footsteps of Dr OJ Watson in 2020 who worked on systems biology and bioinformatics to increase our understanding of drug-resistant malaria, and Dr Sahil Loomba in 2023 who worked to infer causal effects in networked systems.

About Schmidt Science Fellow

Our fellows represent the next generation of visionary research leaders Megan Kenna Executive Director Schmidt Science Fellows

Schmidt Science Fellows was launched in 2017 and is an initiative of Schmidt Sciences, delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust. Working with the scientific community, the organization breaks down barriers to interdisciplinary science and accelerates positive impacts for global society. It helps scientists solve bigger problems faster by identifying, developing, and amplifying the next generation of science leaders, building a community of scientists and supporters of interdisciplinary science, and leveraging this network to drive sector-wide change.

Fellowship Research Placements can be completed anywhere in the world and in a broad range of research environments. This provides the Fellows with a unique academic freedom to explore a range of options and institutions. Placement destinations are developed after selection and Gina is in the process of identifying her placement. 

Megan Kenna, executive director of Schmidt Science Fellows, said: “Our fellows represent the next generation of visionary research leaders. Through their work, they will break down barriers, drive interdisciplinary breakthroughs, and push the frontiers of human knowledge. Our fellowship is designed to empower their growth—now and in the years ahead. Through tailored training, mentorship, and a dynamic community, we provide the support and environment they need to realize their full potential and make a lasting impact.”

Dr Gina Cuomo-Dannenburg, Imperial College London, said: "I feel extremely honored to be a recipient of a Schmidt Science Fellowship and to join a global community of Schmidt Fellows dedicated to interdisciplinary science for societal good. This fellowship provides an incredible opportunity to develop myself as a scientist, benefiting from world-class mentorship and the Science Leadership Program. I am particularly excited about pivoting to research on pathogen genomic evolution, equipping me with the skills to tackle pressing scientific questions that threaten global health. This recognition of my work on malaria chemoprevention and contributions to the Imperial COVID-19 pandemic response reinforces my commitment to conducting impactful research that bridges disciplines and drives meaningful change."