PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Mihaela van der Schaar

Mihaela van der Schaar is a machine-learning researcher whose work centres on AI in medicine. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in 1996 and a doctorate in 2001. In 2011 she founded UCLA's Center for Engineering Economics, Learning, and Networks, and a 2019 Nesta report declared her the most-cited female AI researcher in the UK. In April 2020 her research group joined a COVID-19 collaboration, and in November 2020 she was named director of the new Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine. The Royal Society elected her a Fellow in 2024, and as of October 2026 she is Chief AI Scientist at the Francis Crick Institute.

Now at
University of Cambridge and Francis Crick Institute
Works
1,024
Citations
23,247
h-index
69

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 1996–2001

    Joint degrees, then a doctorate

    She earns a joint bachelor's and master's degree in 1996 and a doctorate in 2001.

  2. 2011

    Founding a UCLA research centre

    In 2011 she founds UCLA's Center for Engineering Economics, Learning, and Networks.

  3. 2019

    Most-cited female AI researcher in UK

    A Nesta report declares her the most-cited female AI researcher in the UK in 2019.

  4. April 2020

    A COVID-19 machine-learning collaboration

    Her research group joins a COVID-19 collaboration in April 2020, and machine learning can predict ventilator and ICU bed needs.

  5. November 2020

    Directing a Cambridge AI-medicine centre

    The new Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine names her director in November 2020.

  6. 2024

    A Royal Society fellowship

    She is elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2024, as one of ten Cambridge scientists.

  7. As of October 2026

    Chief AI scientist at the Crick

    She is Chief AI Scientist at the Francis Crick Institute and holds a Cambridge chair in machine learning, artificial intelligence and medicine.

Sources and credits

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  1. Mihaela van der Schaar - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Ten Cambridge scientists elected as Fellows of the Royal Society 2024 | University of Cambridge cam.ac.uk. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. Progress using COVID-19 patient data to train machine learning models for healthcare | University of Cambridge cam.ac.uk. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. Mihaela van der Schaar appointed Crick Chief AI Scientist | Crick crick.ac.uk. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. Professor Mihaela van der Schaar FRS | Royal Society Fellow royalsociety.org. Checked 14 October 2026.