About this opportunity
Microsoft Research opens the fourth cohort of its AI Economy Institute Senior Fellows Program, inviting proposals on the organisational choices that determine whether AI creates value, who captures that value, and how it is distributed across workers, firms, entrepreneurs and society. The institute launched in 2025 to support independent, policy-relevant research on how artificial intelligence is reshaping productivity, labour markets, education systems and economic opportunity worldwide.
The money is set out on the circulating card of the call: a US$75,000 research gift per selected project, a travel allowance of US$7,500 for researchers based in the United States, Canada or Mexico, and a travel allowance of US$20,000 for researchers based elsewhere, with each selected proposal receiving one research gift and one travel allowance. Selected teams join a global research cohort with biweekly workshops and opportunities for research publication.
The calendar is printed on the open call page. The submission portal opened on 19 October 2026 and the proposal
Application timeline
is November 30, 2026 at 6:00 PM Pacific, with award notification in December 2026, a research period running January to June 2027, a book chapter submission and an in-person workshop in March 2027, manuscript submission in September 2027 and book publication in July 2027. Cohort 4 is open to researchers affiliated with accredited universities or research institutions worldwide, so African academics and institute researchers are inside the round.
Up to two Principal Investigators are accepted per proposal, and PIs must hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree such as an MD, JD or DrPH. The research theme is printed as AI and Jobs, designing for augmented work, asking researchers to investigate the organisational conditions under which AI augments people, supports meaningful and sustained engagement with work, enables new forms of work and creates durable value, including the circumstances in which AI displaces labour, erodes capability or creates new oversight burdens.
The institute stresses independence: all research supported by AIEI is conducted independently, and findings, interpretations and conclusions are those of the authors and do not represent the views of Microsoft.
What you receive
- A US$75,000 research gift per selected project
- A travel allowance of US$7,500 for researchers based in the United States, Canada or Mexico, and US$20,000 for researchers based elsewhere
- Participation in a global research cohort with biweekly workshops
- Opportunities for research publication toward a book published in July 2027
- An in-person workshop in March 2027
Who can apply
- Open to researchers affiliated with accredited universities or research institutions worldwide
- Up to two Principal Investigators are accepted per proposal, and PIs must hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree such as MD, JD or DrPH
- Proposals should address the cohort theme of AI and jobs, designing for augmented work, including when AI augments people, enables new forms of work, or displaces labour and creates oversight burdens
How to apply
- Review the research priorities and proposal guidelines on the AIEI open call page
- Submit the proposal through the portal before 30 November 2026 at 6:00 PM Pacific
- Award notifications are sent in December 2026 and the research period runs January to June 2027
Sources and verification
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Questions applicants ask
Does Microsoft direct the research findings?
No. The page states all research supported by AIEI is conducted independently and the conclusions are those of the authors, not Microsoft.
How many investigators can a proposal include?
Up to two Principal Investigators per proposal, each required to hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree.
Important disclaimer
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