Apply for the AIRC Non-Resident Research Fellowship in AI and Social Sciences 2027 - a 4-month remote honorary fellowship at Woxsen University, Hyderabad.
Applications open on 25 October 2026 for the AI Research Centre (AIRC) Non-Resident Research Fellowship at Woxsen University, Hyderabad, India. The four-month, fully remote programme is for early-career researchers who study how artificial intelligence is changing society, organisations, human behaviour, and public policy. Admissions are reviewed on a rolling basis.
The fellowship is honorary and unpaid. It does not include a stipend, salary, travel, or visa support. What it does offer is a research home: cluster affiliation, editorial feedback, a website profile, a Certificate of Fellowship, and citable AIRC working/policy papers. Fellows commit about 8 - 10 hours per week from anywhere in the world.
Quick Facts - AIRC Non-Resident Research Fellowship 2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host | AI Research Centre (AIRC), Woxsen University, Hyderabad, India |
| Landmark | Charminar, Hyderabad, Telangana 🇮🇳 |
| Duration | 4 months (extensions by mutual agreement) |
| Format | Fully remote - all meetings and seminars online |
| Open to | Eligible researchers worldwide |
| Basis | Honorary / unpaid - no stipend, travel, or visa support |
| Weekly commitment | Approximately 8 - 10 hours |
| Admissions | Applications open 25 October 2026; reviewed in rolling batches |
| Shortlisting | Usually within 6 weeks of a complete application, then a 30-minute online interview |
| Official Gateway | Official AIRC Research Fellowship Page |
About the AI Research Centre (AIRC)
AIRC at Woxsen University brings social-science methods to questions that technical AI research alone cannot answer: how people work, learn, vote, trust institutions, and live with autonomous systems. Fellows join one of eight research clusters and produce work aimed at scholars, policymakers, industry, and the public.
Eight Research Clusters
Choose a first-choice cluster and, optionally, a second. Proposed work should align with the cluster; the topics below are indicative.
- AI, Work and the Future of Organisations - automation, human - AI collaboration, reskilling, algorithmic management, labour markets
- AI Governance, Ethics and Regulation - responsible AI, accountability, transparency, cross-jurisdiction standards, AI in public administration
- Decision Intelligence and Behavioural Science - AI-assisted decisions, bias, trust, over-reliance, nudging, choice architecture
- AI, Education and Human Development - generative AI in teaching, assessment, integrity, AI literacy, equitable access
- AI, Society and Inclusion - algorithmic bias, gender and AI, digital divides, AI for social good, marginalised communities
- AI, Democracy, Media and Public Discourse - misinformation, synthetic media, platform governance, civic participation
- AI, Economy and Sustainable Development - productivity, entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, the SDGs
- Agentic and Physical AI in Society - autonomous agents, robotics, liability, safety, workforce integration, public acceptance
Required Outputs (four months)
- One research paper of 4,000 - 6,000 words for the AIRC Working Paper / Policy Paper Series
- Two commentaries of 800 - 1,500 words each (one in each half of the fellowship)
- Agreed Centre contributions (literature reviews, briefs, datasets, case studies, or policy trackers)
- At least one presentation at an online AIRC seminar, colloquium, or roundtable
- Monthly check-ins with the cluster lead and brief midpoint and final progress notes
What Fellows Receive
- Published, citable AIRC paper and commentaries affiliated with Woxsen University
- Written editorial feedback from the AIRC Research and Editorial Committee
- Title: Non-Resident Research Fellow, AI Research Centre, Woxsen University, plus a website profile
- Certificate of Fellowship and a Director’s letter listing role and outputs
- Seminar/webinar access and possible invitations to Centre events
- A path to develop the paper for a peer-reviewed journal (journal review is separate; AIRC publication is not automatic journal acceptance)
Eligibility
- Qualification: Completed MPhil, MS, or research master’s (18 years of education or equivalent), current PhD enrolment, or a completed doctorate. A taught master’s or bachelor’s only is not enough; an unfinished MPhil is not enough.
- Discipline: A field relevant to AI and the social sciences (sociology, psychology, economics, political science, public policy, law, anthropology, education, media, management, philosophy/ethics, development, gender studies, information systems, or computer/data science with a social-science focus).
- Publications: At least two published pieces (journal articles, chapters, conference papers, working papers, policy briefs, or recognised opinion pieces).
- English: Publishable written English.
- Time: About 8 - 10 hours per week for four months.
Required Application Documents
- Research proposal (1,000 - 1,500 words): question, cluster fit, methods, contribution, four-month work plan
- Statement of purpose (max. 500 words)
- CV (max. 3 pages) with publications list
- One writing sample (published or near-final; preferably single-authored)
- Proof of degree or current PhD enrolment
- Details of one academic referee (preferably your supervisor)
Incomplete applications are not reviewed.
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Read the official call on the AIRC Research Fellowship page.
- Choose a primary (and optional second) research cluster and draft a 1,000 - 1,500 word proposal.
- Submit the complete online application from 25 October 2026.
- Wait for batch review (shortlisting target: within 6 weeks) and, if invited, a 30-minute online interview.
- Successful applicants receive an appointment letter and an onboarding meeting covering ethics, editorial standards, and the publication calendar.
- Questions: airc@woxsen.edu.in
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is the fellowship paid?
No. It is honorary. There is no salary, stipend, travel, or visa support. Benefits are affiliation, feedback, publications, and a certificate.
Can I apply from outside India?
Yes. The fellowship is fully remote and open worldwide. All activity is online.
When do applications open?
25 October 2026, then rolling review in batches.
Can the proposal build on my thesis?
Yes, if it aligns with the chosen AIRC cluster.
Will AIRC automatically publish my paper in a peer-reviewed journal?
No. The main paper is for the AIRC Working Paper / Policy Paper Series. You may later submit a developed version to a journal under that journal’s normal review.
