Organisation: The New School and KAIA Network
Location: Sub-Saharan Africa
Funding: USD 5,000
Application Deadline: July 31, 2026
OVERVIEW
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) fellowship is designed to strengthen women’s leadership in computational research, expand access to AI/ML expertise, and support doctoral work that applies machine learning to real-world social, scientific, and development challenges.
This fellowship is ideal for women who want to advance computational research, strengthen their technical skills, and contribute to impactful AI-driven solutions.
The fellowship aim to:
- Expand women’s participation in advanced AI/ML research
- Strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration
- Support research that applies AI/ML to societal impact
- Build a global community of women leaders in AI
FELLOWSHIP BENEFITS
- Research funding – USD 5,000. One-time grant that may be used for:
- Tuition or academic fees
- Computing resources
- Data acquisition or analysis
- Mentorship support for AI/ML
- Fieldwork or research-related travel
- Technical AI/ML collaboration via KAIA Network. The fellowship provides structural technical support, including:
- Matching each fellow with an AI/ML collaborator through the KAIA Network
- Access to a growing community of AI engineers, data scientists, and interdisciplinary researchers
- Capacity-building seminars and virtual workshops
- Optional technical training modules
- Increased visibility for the fellow’s research
- Professional Development and Networking. Fellows will benefit from:
- Membership in a global community of women AI/ML researchers
- Opportunity to present research through KAIA-hosted seminars
- Interdisciplinary knowledge exchange sessions
- Networking with partners such as UN agencies, universities, and civil society organisations
- Knowledge Dissemination and Impact Expectations. Each fellow is expected to:
- Produce at least one open-access research output
- Public a relative blog post on the KAIA Network
- Share research findings through a KAIA-hosted seminar or webinar
QUALIFICATION
- Currently enrolled in, or admitted to, a PhD program at an accredited institution in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Conducting research in any social science or related discipline, including
- Computer science
- Engineering
- Economics
- Public health
- Environmental science
- Socialogy
- Demography
- Development studies
- Demonstrating a clear intention to integrate AI/ML methodologies into their doctoral research.
- Willing to participate actively in the KAIA community
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Email address
- Full name
- Gender identity
- Country of citizenship
- Country where their PhD institution is located
- Current doctoral status
- Name of accredited PhD institution
- Confirmation of AI/ML integration in their research
N/B: All application must be submitted through the KAIA Network platform
HOW TO APPLY
For more information, visit the official KAIA webpage here
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