Oxford Schmidt AI in Science Faculty Fellowship Programme
Applications for cohort 2 will be open from 12noon GMT on 16th January 2026
Calling Faculty Researchers from India and Africa. Please join us for an information webinar on Monday 8th December 2025 at 10am GMT or Monday 26th January 2026 at 10am GMT. Each webinar will be a 90 minute overview of the fellowship programme and details on how to apply. You must register beforehand using the links below.
To register for webinar on Monday 8th December 2025 at 10am GMT:
About the Schmidt AI in Science Faculty Fellowship
The Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development (OICSD) at Somerville College, University of Oxford, in collaboration with the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx), proudly introduces our seminal fellowship programme for early-career Indian faculty. This initiative, funded by Schmidt Sciences and building off Oxford’s successful postdoctoral Schmidt AI in Science programme, seeks to advance scientific innovation at the intersection of artificial intelligence and science.
The program will recruit 6 Faculty Research Fellows, 3 from India and 3 from Africa, every year. Details about our Inaugural Cohort can be found here
Programme Overview: The fellowship focuses on three critical domains that align with our mission of promoting sustainable development:
Climate Change, Environment, and Biodiversity
Food and Water Security, and
STEM Underpinning in Biomedical Research
We welcome applications from Assistant and Associate Professors in India who envision transformative applications of AI within these fields, regardless of their current expertise in artificial intelligence.
A Unique Research Opportunity: This innovative programme offers unprecedented flexibility, allowing fellows to maintain their positions at their home institutions in India while accessing Oxford’s world-class research ecosystem. Through OICSD and AfOx’s combined expertise and network, the fellows will receive:
Comprehensive training in cutting-edge AI methodologies
Personalized mentorship from Oxford’s leading researchers
Access to advanced computational resources and AI tools
Opportunities for high-impact publications and international collaborations
Integration into Oxford’s vibrant research community
Commitment to Diversity: In keeping with OICSD’s foundational principles, we actively encourage applications from traditionally underrepresented groups in Indian academia, including women scientists, Dalit, Bahujan, and Adivasi scholars, first-generation learners, and faculty from emerging institutions across India.
Programme Structure: Fellows will engage in a carefully curated programme that combines technical training, research development, and professional growth opportunities. Through close collaboration with Oxford’s distinguished faculty, fellows will develop the expertise needed to lead AI-driven innovation in their respective fields.
In her valedictory year as Principal of Somerville College, Baroness Jan Royall of Blaisdon captured the essence of her longtime dedication to OICSD: “The Schmidt AI in Science Faculty Fellowship Programme will bring together exceptional talent from India and Africa at the University of Oxford. We are not just aiming to advance scientific knowledge but championing a truly global approach to understanding and solving complex challenges. It represents our commitment to democratize opportunities, build bridges through effective collaboration and support talented researchers in their work
Dr Anne Makena, Co-Director of the Africa Oxford Initiative, and Somerville alumna, said, “AfOx is thrilled to deepen our longstanding partnership with the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development (OICSD) and Somerville College through the expanded Schmidt AI in Science Faculty Fellowship Programme. This growth is a significant step in advancing our shared commitment to equity, sustainability, and impact, ensuring that scientists and societies from the Global Majority not only benefit from AI technologies but also remain at the forefront of driving and shaping their future development.”
Information Sessions for Interested Applicants
We recently hosted two virtual Information Sessions on Thursday, 3rd April 2025, and Monday, 14th April 2025, which were met with great success. These sessions provided valuable insights into our distinguished fellowship program and offered strategic guidance for navigating the application process.
For those who were unable to attend, we’ve made a recording available below.
These sessions covered key aspects of the program, including:
Fellowship program structure and objectives
Detailed application requirements
Selection criteria and evaluation process
Expert tips for preparing a strong, competitive application
Format: Virtual Webinar
Watch the recorded session below.
Stage 1 application process webinar – April 2025
Get in contact- If you would like to get in touch with the Programme Team, please email us at saiis@dtc.ox.ac.uk
Please do not contact Oxford faculty throughout the application process.
Eligibility Criteria for Indian Faculty: Oxford Schmidt Africa-India AI in Science Faculty Fellowship Programme
Objectives: To identify and support exceptional early-career faculty based at Indian universities who are working on using AI to accelerate progress in other scientific fields. This Fellowship program is designed for faculty working at either the Assistant or Associate Professor level. This programme aims to provide the faculty with the tools and training needed to apply state-of-the-art AI and machine learning methods for maximum impact in their particular area of scientific research. The programme will enable the faculty to develop and apply AI techniques across engineering, and the natural and mathematical sciences while maintaining their positions at their home institutions in India and establish strong cross-disciplinary collaborative links with academic colleagues in Oxford.
Note, we do not expect prospective faculty to be experts in AI and/or machine learning.
We expect that they are leading researchers in a scientific domain (of those outlined below) but should have identified an opportunity where AI and/or machine learning could feasibly lead to a step-change in their domain.
Please note these faculty fellowships are open to academics working in one (or more) of the following three priority application areas of AI:
1. Climate Change, Environment, and Biodiversity. 2. Food and Water Security. 3. STEM underpinning Biomedical Research.
We note that projects working directly on medical data or towards clinical outcomes, including projects involving patient records and clinical trials, are not eligible through this scheme.
Eligibility:
The applicants should:
● Be an Indian Citizen and a Resident of India. ● Hold a PhD degree. ● Be currently employed at a university or an academic institute in India as either an Assistant Professor or Associate Professor. ● Be within the first 6 years of their current faculty appointment. ● Have an active research program on using AI to accelerate progress in scientific fields OR have a promising research idea to demonstrate how AI can embellish scientific progress, while also considering potential ethical implications.
Assessment criteria
Strong research track record appropriate to the career stage of the applicant
The underpinning applied science is internationally leading, with the application of AI/ML techniques appropriate and likely to lead to a step-change in the application domain
Application alignment with the three priority application areas (stated above)
Appropriate level of understanding of how AI techniques might be applied in order to progress the research area
Clear demonstration of how the training component will benefit the applicant, their research, and their career
Clear demonstration of how the impact of their research will benefit the wider community
Evidence of how the applicant will benefit from being part of a cohort and the ability to demonstrate what makes them a good fit for the programme
Oxford Schmidt Africa-India AI in Science Faculty Fellowship Programme
Fellowship Structure
The new Oxford Schmidt Africa-India AI in Science Faculty Fellowship Programme (AI2-Ox SFF) will build on the existing Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship, which has already welcomed 25 Fellows. The extension specifically targets early-career Indian faculty in permanent positions at the Assistant or Associate Professor level. The aim of this programme is to advance research using cutting-edge AI tools to address a critical gap in research development. Each fellowship will last three years and provide the tools and training needed to apply state-of-the-art AI and machine learning methods in each researcher’s particular area of scientific interest. Throughout the duration of the Fellowship programme, the Fellow will have a research host (an academic) within an Oxford department who will act as an informal mentor and will host the Fellows within their research group during year 2. The selection panel will help facilitate the matching process between Fellows and a suitable research host. So, we ask that interested candidates do not contact Oxford faculty for research host-related inquiries throughout the application process.
The AI2-Ox SFF programme will adopt a unique “1+1+1” year structure:
Year 1: The Fellows will be provided funding (up to their 0.5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) salary) that could be used for: (a) a teaching buyout, (b) an administration buyout, and (c) research support (e.g. hiring a research assistant), in their home institution. There will be a two-week visit to Oxford to meet the collaborating group and research host and to further develop research plans. During this visit, the Oxford Research Software Engineering group will provide training on research software engineering (OxRSE), and, during the second week, we will hold a group RSE-project week; during this visit, a Training Needs Analysis will be conducted with the Fellows to put in place a plan for their AI/ML and
professional skills training throughout the Fellowship.
Year 2: Fellows will be seconded to Oxford for the whole academic year, with a 1.0FTE buyout of teaching and administration in the home institution. Fellows will be embedded in their host research group to conduct their own research programme with support from their research host. Fellows will also be associated with an Oxford college, each a broad community of academics in Oxford, to expand their networks and contribute to university research and engagement activities. The following four Oxford colleges are partnering in this fellowship programme, Linacre, Mansfield, Reuben and Somerville. Selected candidates will receive further details regarding college allocation and facilities available in colleges at a later stage in the selection process. There will likely be opportunities for the Fellows to co-supervise Masters and PhD students. In addition to their relationship with the academic host, the Fellows will be encouraged to collaborate with other faculty at Oxford and beyond. Fellows will undertake tailored AI/ML training as well as a host of relevant other professional development courses. Fellows and their home institutions will have access to the online resources developed by the University’s Next Generation Research Computing Group throughout the fellowship. The Fellows will attend academic leadership training, and supervision & management training. Funds will be available for Fellows to attend conferences.
Year 3: The Fellows will be provided funding (same as year 1) that could be used for: (a) teaching buy out, (b) administration buy-out, and (c) research support, in their home institution. The Fellows will continue to collaborate with colleagues in Oxford and attend online training courses as needed.
Fellows will benefit from:
Bespoke training in AI and machine learning methods
Research software engineering training and support from the OxRSE group
Mentoring from leading Oxford researchers
Career and professional development support
Opportunities to build strong academic networks
The programme will facilitate knowledge and skills sharing between Oxford and institutions in India and Africa, by enabling researchers to engage with the university while maintaining their positions at their home institutions.
Research Departments
The research elements of the Fellowship programme take place within the stimulating intellectual environment of research groups embedded within the academic departments of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division,
Further information is available on the MPLS departmental websites:
Our objective is to identify and support exceptional early-career faculty based at Indian and African universities who are working on using AI to accelerate progress in other scientific fields. This Fellowship programme is designed for faculty working at either the Assistant or Associate Professor level. This programme aims to provide the faculty with the tools and training needed to apply state-of-the-art AI and machine learning methods for maximum impact in their particular area of scientific research. The programme will enable the faculty to develop and apply AI techniques across engineering, and the natural and mathematical sciences, while maintaining their positions at their home institutions and establishing strong cross-disciplinary collaborative links with academic colleagues in Oxford.
Note, we do not expect prospective faculty to be experts in AI and/or machine learning.
2026 Application process
Stage 1
The application portal opens on 16 January 2026 at 12noon GMT and closes on 23 February at 12noon GMT. The information required at this stage will be:
CV (7 pages maximum, Calibri 11pt font, 2cm margins, including a list of academic publications and teaching commitments)
Brief research proposal, clearly setting out the research project you wish to pursue, including how your existing or proposed approach will find application within the three priority application areas listed above, and why this use of AI/ML will result in novel insights and impact. Please specify clearly which of the three priority areas is best aligned with your research interests. Your research proposal should include key summaries that can be used for communication with a non-scientific audience (max. 300 words).
Contact details of two referees (name, title, email, work address). These referees should be people who have directly worked with you in an academic setting in the past, in either a supervisory capacity or on a collaborative research project.
Contact details of the Head of Department (or equivalent) at the institute where the applicant is currently based). Note that this individual will only be asked to confirm their support in Stage 1 (i.e. pre-shortlisting); if the application gets through to the shortlisting phase, we will ask them to write a letter of support.
Any extenuating circumstances (optional), please outline any interruptions to your research/career which you would like the selection panel to be aware of; these might include caring duties.
Stage 2 (for shortlisted candidates only)
The application portal opens on 23 March 2026 at 12noon GMT and closes on 13 April at 12noon BST. The information required at this stage will be:
Statement of purpose explaining why your existing research and future career plan makes you a good fit for the Schmidt Faculty Fellowship Programme (max. 1000 words). What does a statement of purpose cover? It describes a candidate’s current and historical research and outlines their intended future career. It should make clear why being a Schmidt Faculty Fellow would help candidates to achieve their career goals. In describing the current and historical research, we ask candidates to indicate the key outcomes and impacts of their research.
Detailed research proposal clearly setting out the research project you wish to pursue, including how your existing or proposed approach will find application within the three priority application areas listed above, and why this use of AI/ML will result in novel insights and impact. Please provide a detailed research proposal for a scientific audience (max. 2000 words). What is the purpose of the detailed research proposal? It should describe step by step, including timelines, how candidates intend to carry out their proposed research as part of this fellowship programme. It should explain why the use of AI/ML is appropriate and will lead to advancement in their field (focussing on the priority area/s of this fellowship). AI/ML models usually require data to train them, and candidates should make clear what data they intend to use to do so. If the data do not already exist, candidates should describe how they intend to generate or collect these data. The proposal should be written for a scientific audience.
Please note, this should include references/citations (within the word count) and should be text only (without images).
Statement of support from the Head of Department, or equivalent(at the institute where the applicant is currently based). What should be contained within the statement of support? It should explain how the candidate’s home institution will make arrangements for the candidate throughout and after the fellowship. As indicated in the stage 1 process, this should indicate arrangements for years 1 and 3, making explicit whether the funds supplied will be used to reduce candidates’ teaching responsibilities or reduce candidates’ administrative duties or whether the funds will be used by the candidates towards their own research expenses (for e.g., hiring a research assistant). Please note, the funds from the Fellowship cannot be used towards paying the Fellow’s salary in year 1 and 3. It should also make clear that the candidates will be permitted to visit Oxford during years 1 & 3, in each case for 2 weeks (i.e. a total of 4 weeks). It should also reiterate that the candidates will be permitted to take 1 year of leave during year 2, where they will be present in Oxford throughout this time; during this year, it is expected that the candidates will be relieved of teaching and administrative duties at their home institutions, and this should be explicitly stated. The letter should also make explicit that the candidates will be permitted to return to their jobs at their home institutions after the end of the Schmidt Faculty Fellowship. Optionally, the statement of support can also speak to the qualities of the candidate and comment on the strategic fit of this Fellowship scheme to the home institution.
Two samples of written work (published or working papers) within the last 5 years that are relevant to this fellowship. For each piece of work, provide a short statement explaining its significance in broad terms and its relevance to this fellowship (max. 100 words for each written work). For any co-authored work, please also state your contributions to the paper.What is the purpose of the two samples of written work? The written work should provide evidence that the candidate is qualified in the field in which they intend to undertake research during this Fellowship. This work should also showcase the quality of the candidate and demonstrate their research impact. We do not expect the candidate to be well-versed in AI/ML methods and do not require that one of these works involve such methods; if the candidate has done work in applying such methods to their field of research, however, it is fine to include such an example. In co-authored works, we ask that candidates outline their contributions to the paper, which we expect to be substantial for any submitted work.
Training plan providing an overview of any AI-related or professional skills you will need to acquire or further develop in order for you to succeed in your planned research (max. 500 words). What is the purpose of the training plan? The Schmidt Faculty Fellowship is, at its core, a training Fellowship, where Oxford provides candidates with the time and space to develop the skills which will be essential for their intended career path. We expect that some of these skills will be AI-related; others may be professional skills, such as those involved in leadership or grant writing. If awarded the Fellowship, we would work with candidates to design bespoke training to suit their needs. In answering this question, we invite candidates to describe the specific training areas that they believe are essential for their research and future career.
Statement on ensuring wider benefits of this fellowship explaining the approaches you will take to maximise the impact of your work and ensure equitable take-up of your research (max. 200 words). What is the aim of the statement on ensuring wider benefits of this fellowship? We aim to fund individuals whose research will have an impact. This impact could be within their academic field or outside of it. In answering this question, we ask candidates to outline their strategy for ensuring that their work achieves this impact. For example, this could include planning to produce high-quality research software, which will be made publicly available; it could also involve holding workshops with other researchers or policymakers/stakeholders.
Applicants who are shortlisted after stage 2 will be invited to interview. Interviews will be held online in June 2026.
Your application will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of academic researchers, and decisions will be based solely on how you demonstrate that you meet the selection criteria stated above. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed as part of this process. Please note that there may not be experts in your scientific area or the specific AI techniques you plan to use on the panel, so please ensure that your methods and the science behind them are clearly explained.
Do I need to have a PhD to apply?
No, a PhD is not necessary; we ask that applicants be either Associate or Assistant Professors or in an equivalent-level position.
Is there an age limit?
No, there is no age limit.
How do I get an Oxford collaborator?
The successful candidates will be matched with an Oxford collaborator in a collaborative process. This matching does not form part of the selection process so please do not contact Oxford faculty about the matching during your application.
What is the role of the Oxford collaborator?
The Oxford collaborators will host the fellows in their respective departments and provide academic support during the fellowship.
Can academics from the Social Sciences apply?
Yes, however, we ask that your research be predominantly in the mathematical, physical or life sciences, within the three focus areas.
Do applications need to be in English?
Yes, applications will need to be in English.
Will the programme help me get my visa?
The programme will assist the successful candidates in the visa application process by sending supporting documents and providing bursaries to pay for the costs of these applications, including travel to and from the visa offices. Please note it is the responsibility of the candidate to make a timely visa application and ensure they meet the requirements.
Can I apply via email?
You can only apply via the application portal which will be linked to this website soon. Email applications will not be considered.
There are some errors in my application. How can I correct this?
The application process allows one to make changes to the application while it is still in draft form and to save it on the platform until a later time or date when one is ready to submit. An application can no longer be edited once it has been submitted.
I have been working at my current institution for over six years. Am I still eligible to apply?
Yes, we only ask that candidates be within their first six years of their appointment as Associate/ Assistant Professor.
Will I need to submit a budget for my research project as part of my application?
You will not be required to submit a budget at the application stage, and funding is available to support your research costs. Please refer to the funding information contained in the ‘Funding available’ tab above.
Do I need AI experience to apply?
We do not expect applicants to be experts in AI, and it is an explicit objective of the Fellowship to provision Fellows with training and support in AI. We do, however, ask that applicants have done enough background research to understand and be able to articulate why the use of AI will lead to advances in their scientific domain.
Do we expect applicants to already have connections with Oxford faculty?
No, a key aim of this Fellowship is to initiate new collaborations between Oxford and the Fellows’ home institutions.
My current role is equivalent to either Assistant or Associate Professor level - can I apply?
Yes, if you role is equivalent to either Assistant or Associate Professor level but you have a different job title, you can apply.
What is the application timeline?
Stage 1 applications for cohort 2 will be open from 12noon GMT on 16t January 2026 and close on 23 February at 12noon 2026 GMT. Stage 2 opens on 23 March 2026 at 12noon GMT and closes on 13 April 2026 at 12noon BST. Interviews will be held online in June 2026.
Will my application be considered if I apply after the deadline?
No. Applications received after 23 February 2026 at 12noon GMT (for Stage 1) and after 13 April 2026 at 12noon BST (for Stage 2), will not be considered.
I have questions not included in the FAQs or website, who can I contact?
Please email any questions not covered in the FAQs or on the website to: saiis@dtc.ox.ac.uk
I would like to learn more about the Faculty Fellowship, the qualifying criteria and how to apply
Please join us for an information webinar on Monday 8th December 2025 at 10am GMT or Monday 26th January 2026 at 10am GMT. Each webinar will be a 90 minute overview of the fellowship programme and details on how to apply. The registration links for the webinars can be found at the top of this page.
