The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) South Africa AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2027/2028 is a fully funded, two-year research program for promising early-career scientists. It is a joint initiative with Imperial College London’s Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship program. The fellowship is designed to accelerate scientific discovery by having postdoctoral researchers apply cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques to a specific area of science or engineering.
Program structure
This is a unique, dual-location fellowship consisting of two consecutive, one-year appointments.
- Year 1 (Sept. 1, 2026–Aug 31, 2027): Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship at Imperial College London.
- Fellows join a cohort at Imperial College’s I-X Centre for AI in Science.
- They work alongside other leading AI researchers, receive dedicated AI training, and engage with faculty mentors.
- The first year focuses on intensive training and research development within a top-tier London-based research ecosystem.
- Year 2 (Sept. 1, 2027–Aug 31, 2028): AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship at AIMS South Africa.
- Fellows transition to the AIMS center in Muizenberg, Cape Town, bringing their enhanced AI skills to a pan-African research environment.
- Here, they conduct independent, impactful research applying AI to solve major scientific or engineering challenges relevant to the African continent.
- Fellows also engage in mentorship, supervise AIMS Master’s student dissertations, and contribute to scientific capacity building in the region.
Research focus
The program’s core purpose is to apply AI and ML to transform a specific scientific or engineering domain, rather than focusing on generic AI research.
- Broad scientific scope: Research can be in any typical field of natural science or engineering, including physics, climate science, epidemiology, and health.
- Exclusions: Purely clinical medical imaging and social science (with the exception of epidemiology) are generally outside the fellowship’s remit.
- Transformative applications: The program seeks proposals that use AI in a way that significantly advances a scientific field where it is not yet standard practice.
Eligibility criteria
- Education: A PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline must be held by September 1, 2027.
- Mentorship: Applicants must secure an agreement with a mentor at Imperial College London in a natural science or engineering (non-mathematics) department before submitting their application.
- Research proposal: A well-crafted research proposal outlining a project within the AI in Science remit is required.
- Research record: Candidates should demonstrate an outstanding research record through publications, their thesis, presentations, and code.
- Leadership potential: Applicants should exhibit initiative and leadership qualities.
- AI expertise: While beneficial, extensive prior AI knowledge is not a prerequisite, as training is a core part of the program.
Benefits and funding
This is a fully funded fellowship with a generous package covering the two-year duration.
- Salary: A competitive salary is provided for both years. For the AIMS South Africa year (2027/2028), the salary is ZAR 550,000.
- Financial support:
- Full funding covers research costs, travel, and living expenses during the stay in South Africa.
- Travel costs, including flights to and from South Africa, are covered.
- Meals are provided during the residency at AIMS South Africa.
- Resources: Access to world-class facilities and computing infrastructure at both Imperial College and AIMS South Africa.
- Networking: Fellows join a global cohort of AI in Science researchers and have access to professional development and networking opportunities.
- Training and mentorship: The program provides AI training and mentorship from leading researchers.
How to apply
The application process involves both Imperial College and AIMS South Africa.
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- Secure a mentor: Before applying, you must identify and secure a commitment from an Imperial College mentor.
- Deadline: The application deadline for the 2026 start date is September 24, 2025.
- Imperial College portal: Applications must be submitted through the Imperial College I-X AI in Science portal.
- AIMS email submission: A subset of your application documents must also be sent via email to [email protected], with the subject “AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship”.
- Required documents include:
- Full Curriculum Vitae
- Publication Elaboration (≤1 page)
- Research Proposal Summary (≤1 page)
- Full Research Proposal (≤3 pages)
- Kindness Statement (≤¼ page)
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