AI Economy Institute Cohort 4 Senior Fellows Program

If you research how artificial intelligence changes work, Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute (AIEI) Cohort 4 invites proposals examining the organisational choices behind those changes. Researchers based in Nigeria can apply through the worldwide call, provided they meet the institutional affiliation and qualification requirements.

The published application window runs from 19 October to 30 November 2026, with a deadline of 6:00 PM Pacific on 30 November. Check the corresponding Nigerian time before planning your submission. This is a research fellowship with publication and participation commitments, not a salaried job or a scholarship for obtaining a degree.

Opportunity Summary

About the Opportunity

AIEI supports independent, policy-relevant research on AI’s effects on productivity, labour markets, education and economic opportunity. Cohort 4 focuses on how workflow design, team structures, governance, incentives and expertise development influence whether AI complements workers, replaces tasks or creates new economic activity.

The five priority themes cover delegation and accountability; augmentation and new work; organisational and workflow design; expertise development and entry-level learning; and AI-mediated discovery, markets and value creation. Qualitative, quantitative, theoretical and mixed-methods research are accepted when aligned with these priorities.

Proposals receive equal weighting for scientific strength, feasibility, pragmatic applicability and PI productivity: 25% each. All else being equal, preferences include interdisciplinary work, novel methods, efficient access to data, comparisons across countries or regions, and actionable findings. These preferences are not additional eligibility requirements.

Funding and Benefits

• Each selected proposal receives one $75,000 research gift. A proposal with two PIs still receives only one award; the amount is not stated as a personal salary or individual stipend.
• Each selected proposal is eligible for one workshop travel allowance. The allowance is $20,000 for awardees based in Nigeria and other locations outside the United States, Canada and Mexico; it is $7,500 for awardees based in those three countries. Do not assume a separate allowance for each PI.
• Selected researchers are recognised as AIEI Senior Fellows and participate in peer exchange and engagement with subject-matter experts. Invitations to present findings at industry and policy forums are possible, not guaranteed.

Who Can Apply?

• You must be affiliated with an accredited university or research institution. The call accepts eligible researchers worldwide, including those based in Nigeria.
• Every PI and co-PI must hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree, such as an MD, JD or DrPH, at the time of application.
• Each proposal may include up to two PIs, and both must meet the eligibility requirements. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.

What Nigerian Applicants Should Know

• Nigeria-based researchers are within the worldwide institutional eligibility scope. The supplied requirements do not state a citizenship restriction, but worldwide coverage does not remove the affiliation or terminal-degree conditions.
• The travel allowance depends on where awardees are based, not a stated nationality test. Confirm how your location will be assessed if your institutional affiliation and residence differ.
• The programme combines virtual meetings with an in-person workshop, so it should not be treated as fully remote. The workshop location, visa arrangements, work-permission requirements, sponsorship and relocation support are not stated.
• The page does not explain accreditation checks or recognition of equivalent terminal qualifications. If your institution or qualification needs clarification, seek confirmation before relying on eligibility; do not assume that a professional credential automatically qualifies.

Required Documents

• Applicant Biosketch in 11-point font: a personal statement of no more than 300 words, a one-page professional summary, up to three contributions to science, current research support, and citation metrics covering H-index, total citations and I-index.
• Project Overview Form: seven questions covering the research question, objectives, goals and milestones; five narrative-response questions covering thematic alignment, methodology, anticipated outcomes and impact, and potential risks; and up to three target journals for potential publication.

How to Apply

1. 1. Confirm your eligibility and proposed team. Check your institutional affiliation and terminal qualification before preparing the application. If applying with another PI, confirm that they independently meet both requirements.
2. 2. Select a research focus within the call. Identify the organisational choice you will investigate, the outcomes you will assess and the practical decision your findings could inform.
3. 3. Prepare the two application components. Follow the stated biosketch format and complete the Project Overview Form, keeping the research question, methods, milestones and intended outputs consistent.
4. 4. Submit through the official proposal portal during the published application window. The supplied evidence does not specify every portal procedure or upload format, so verify those instructions there rather than assuming a particular process.
5. 5. Plan around the published decision timetable. Award notification is scheduled for December 2026. If selected, clarify outstanding participation, funding administration and travel details before making commitments.

Visit the official application page

Application Tips

Optional preparation advice: choose a precise organisational question rather than proposing to study AI’s economic impact generally. Hypothetical example: you could compare how two organisations redesign junior analysts’ tasks after adopting AI, measuring both output quality and opportunities to learn. This illustrates a possible approach, not an endorsed project or a guarantee of selection.

Make your methods and timetable support each other. Explain what data you can access, how you will analyse it, what could delay collection and how you would manage that risk. Existing datasets or established collection relationships may help demonstrate feasibility and match the programme’s stated preferences.

Before submitting, check each response against the four equally weighted review criteria. Ensure your biosketch demonstrates relevant research execution and publication, while your project overview explains who could use the findings and how.

Resolve the timeline uncertainty before committing resources. The page lists a March 2027 chapter submission and workshop, July 2027 book publication, and September 2027 manuscript submission. These may concern different outputs, but their relationship is not clarified. Ask how these milestones fit the January–June research period and the general approximately 12-month programme.

Final check: verify every PI’s eligibility, the personal statement word limit, biosketch formatting, all requested responses and the deadline’s Nigerian-time equivalent. Review the official application page for any updated instructions or additional portal requirements.

Information checked 10 November 2026.