Microsoft AI Economy Institute Research Fellowship 2027 (USD $75,000 Grant)
Summary
The Microsoft AI Economy Institute (AIEI) Research Fellowship 2027 is a prestigious global funding opportunity designed for researchers analyzing the organizational, social, and economic effects of artificial intelligence. Established by Microsoft, the AIEI Senior Fellows Program aims to generate actionable insights into how AI transforms labor markets, productivity, education, and institutional workflows. Selected fellows receive a USD $75,000 research grant along with substantial travel funding, peer collaboration opportunities, and direct engagement with industry leaders and policymakers.
Designation
Selected applicants will be awarded the official designation of AIEI Senior Fellow under the Microsoft AI Economy Institute Senior Fellows Program (Cohort 4).
Program Overview Table
| Host Institution | Microsoft AI Economy Institute (AIEI) |
|---|---|
| Designation | AIEI Senior Fellow |
| Grant Value | USD $75,000 + Travel Stipend (Up to $20,000) |
| Eligible Nationalities | All Nationalities (International) |
| Academic Level | PhD or equivalent terminal degree holders |
| Location | Global (Virtual collaboration + In-person workshop) |
| Application Deadline | November 30, 2026 (6:00 PM Pacific Time) |
Research Area
The fourth research cohort focuses specifically on “Designing for Augmented Work”, examining how artificial intelligence impacts employment, human capability, workplace structure, and economic value. Proposals should address one or more of the following key research themes:
- The Everyone-a-Manager Shift: Delegation, judgment, and accountability in AI-augmented environments.
- Designing for Augmentation and Innovation: Tasks, skills, roles, and new paradigms of work.
- Designing Organizations and Workflows People Embrace: User adoption, workplace culture, and institutional alignment.
- Building Expertise and the First Rung: Early-career skill development, mentorship, and workforce onboarding.
- Designing for AI-Mediated Discovery, Markets, and Value Creation: Economic transformation and market dynamics driven by AI.
Location
This is an international fellowship program. Research work can be conducted at the fellow’s home university or research institution anywhere globally, combined with virtual bi-weekly workshops and an international multi-day in-person workshop with AIEI leadership and Microsoft subject-matter experts.
Eligibility & Qualification
Applicants must satisfy the following criteria to be considered for the fellowship:
- Institutional Affiliation: Applicants must be affiliated with an accredited university or recognized research institution worldwide.
- Academic Qualifications: Candidates must hold a PhD or a terminal professional doctoral degree (such as an MD, JD, or DrPH) at the time of application.
- Team Composition: Proposals may feature a maximum of two Principal Investigators (PIs). Both PIs must fulfill all academic eligibility requirements.
- Methodology: Qualitative, quantitative, theoretical, and mixed-methodology research designs are welcome.
- Preferred Credentials: Strong consideration is given to interdisciplinary research, cross-regional comparative analyses, innovative AI-enabled methods, and projects providing practical guidance for policymakers and industry leaders.
Scholarship Description & Benefits
The Microsoft AIEI Research Fellowship provides comprehensive academic and financial backing to help scholars publish high-impact research. Benefits include:
- Research Funding: A lump-sum research grant of USD $75,000 per selected project.
- Travel Support: Additional travel reimbursement to attend an in-person research session ($7,500 for US/Canada/Mexico recipients; $20,000 for international recipients from all other countries).
- Mentorship & Collaboration: Virtual bi-weekly workshops with experts and multi-disciplinary research collaboration opportunities.
- Publication Opportunities: Guidance and support for publishing in peer-reviewed open-access journals and contributing chapters to an edited AI economy book publication.
- Executive Visibility: Invitations to present findings at high-level business and policy forums.
Evaluation Criteria
All research proposals are evaluated equally based on four core criteria (25% weight each):
- Scientific Strength (25%): Quality of methodology, research design, and potential for replication.
- Feasibility (25%): Executability within the timeline and proposed resource allocation.
- Pragmatic Applicability (25%): Utility of findings for industry practitioners, educators, and policy makers.
- PI Productivity (25%): Scholarly track record and publication history of the Principal Investigator(s).
How to Apply
Interested researchers must prepare the required application components and submit their complete application package through the official portal before the deadline.
Required Documents
- Applicant Biosketch: Prepared in 11-point font, including a 300-word personal statement, 1-page professional summary, top 3 scientific contributions, current research support, and academic citation metrics (H-index, I-index, total citations).
- Project Overview: Explicit details on the central research question, methodology, expected academic contribution, practical policy relevance, and up to three targeted scholarly journals.
To submit your proposal and review full guidelines, please visit the official page: Microsoft AI Economy Institute Open Call.
Last Date for Apply
The deadline to submit proposals for the Microsoft AI Economy Institute Research Fellowship is November 30, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Important Program Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Submission Portal Opens | October 19, 2026 |
| Proposal Deadline | November 30, 2026 (6:00 PM PT) |
| Award Notifications | December 2026 |
| Research Period Begins | January 2027 |
| In-Person Workshop | March 2027 |
| Research Manuscript Submission | September 2027 |