Provided by UKRI, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the AI Metascience Fellowship Programme will support a cohort of early career researchers to deepen their understanding of AI technology and pursue career paths which evaluate the phenomenon of AI-mediated science and guide the pursuit of it. UK based fellows will be funded by the UK Metascience Unit, with a parallel international cohort expected to be supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

Applications are open to early career researchers who have completed their PhD by the start date of the fellowship or who can demonstrate equivalent research or innovation experience. There are no eligibility rules based on years since PhD or whether the applicant currently holds a permanent or open-ended academic position or job role. However, individuals should not previously have been a project lead or lead on an externally funded project or led a significant programme of work in a commercial or non-academic setting.

All applicants are required to have a named mentor based at the research organisation where the grant is to be held.

Fellowships can be up to two years duration, with full economic cost (FEC) up to £260,000. UKRI will fund 80% of the FEC. Applicants may request funding for:

• Fellow salary costs.
• Equipment and other items needed to carry out the project.
• Costs related to impact.
• Travel and subsistence.

The fellowship programme is also expected to include the opportunity for all fellows to attend a fully funded residential one to two week summer school in 2026, delivered in partnership with the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The summer school is likely to be held in the US (date and location to be confirmed).

Registration is open for a webinar on 28 February 2025 to provide further information about this opportunity.