Throughout her life, Schmidt-Nielsen conducted extensive research on the mechanisms of urea transport, paving the way for many other physiological discoveries.

[2] In 1939, Bodil Schmidt-Nielsen married Knut Schmidt-Nielsen, a fellow physiologist, and received doctoral degrees in Dentistry, Odontology, and Physiology from the University of Copenhagen.

Knut and Bodil Schmidt-Nielsen became a prominent physiology team at Duke University but divorced in 1966.

Bodil became Department Chair at Case Western Reserve University and later devoted her career full-time to research at MDI Biological Laboratory in Maine.

[5] The Bodil M. Schmidt-Nielsen Distinguished Mentor and Scientist Award honors a member of the American Physiological Society who is judged to have made outstanding contributions to physiological research and demonstrated dedication and commitment to excellence in training of young physiologists.