Apply for the IX-WAI Early Career Development Grant 2027 - up to £1,000 for women and non-binary AI researchers at Imperial.
The I-X Women in AI Network (IX-WAI) at Imperial College London is offering Early Career Development grants of up to £1,000 for women and non-binary Master’s, PhD or postdoctoral researchers at Imperial who work in AI or want to enter the field. Funds can cover conference registration, workshops, research visits, training and related travel.
This round closes on Monday, 4 January 2027. Shortlisted applicants are invited to a 15-minute online interview in the last week of January (5-minute presentation + 10 minutes of questions). Apply only via the official Imperial / I-X process - there is no application fee.
Quick Facts - IX-WAI Early Career Development Grant 2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Host | I-X Women in AI Network (IX-WAI), Imperial College London |
| Landmark | Royal Albert Hall & South Kensington, London 🇬🇧 |
| Award | Up to £1,000 per successful application |
| Use of funds | Conferences, workshops, tutorials, research visits, training, registration and travel |
| Who | Women and non-binary Master’s, PhD or postdocs at Imperial College London |
| Deadline | 4 January 2027 |
| Interview | Last week of January 2027 (15 minutes, online) |
| Campus | South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ |
| Official Gateway | Imperial ECR noticeboard - current IX-WAI grant call |
About IX-WAI
I-X is Imperial’s AI initiative (industry, interdisciplinary foundations and applications). The Women in AI Network supports women, non-binary people and other gender-discriminated groups in AI through community, visibility and small development grants. This 2027 round has been raised to £1,000 (earlier mini-grant rounds were typically up to £300).
What the Grant Can Cover
- Conference, workshop or tutorial registration
- Travel and related costs for an AI-centred activity
- Training or a research visit that builds AI skills or lets you present work
If the activity costs more than £1,000, explain how you will cover the rest. Funding is not retrospective. Confirm on the official form whether the activity must start a set number of weeks after the deadline (older rounds required at least one month).
Eligibility
- Identify as a woman or non-binary person
- Be a Master’s student, PhD student or postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London
- Work in AI already, or want to learn AI (including AI applied to other scientific fields)
- Previous IX-WAI Early Career Development Grant winners cannot apply again
This is an Imperial-only grant. It does not sponsor visas and is not open to applicants based outside the College.
How Applications Are Judged
- The activity has AI at its core (including AI in scientific research)
- Clear impact on academic, research or professional development
- Skills you will gain are named
- Timing: why this activity, at this career stage, now - and whether other funding exists
- Knowledge sharing and fit with WAI’s inclusion mission
Required Materials (online form)
- Requested amount (up to £1,000) and a justified budget
- Supervisor/mentor departmental F account number (for fund transfer if awarded)
- One-sentence purpose of the grant
- Brief proposal (up to ~300 words): what you will do and why
- Expected career impact (up to ~100 words)
- CV
After the award: confirmation of attendance and a short feedback paragraph (older rounds published feedback on the I-X site).
Step-by-Step Application Process
- Read the current call on the Imperial Early Career Researcher noticeboard and the I-X Imperial site (background: IX-WAI grant programme page).
- Pick an AI-centred activity and build a budget. Get your supervisor’s departmental F account number.
- Complete the official online form linked from the I-X Women in AI Network page by 4 January 2027.
- If shortlisted, prepare a 5-minute presentation for a 15-minute online interview in the last week of January.
- Questions: s.veneziale21@imperial.ac.uk or r.birolo@imperial.ac.uk
Related Opportunities on Opportunity Station
- AIRC Non-Resident Research Fellowship in AI and Social Sciences 2027
- Swedish Institute Pioneering Women in STEM Scholarship 2027
- 15 Global Scholarship Opportunities Currently Open - November 5, 2026
- ifa CrossCulture Programme (CCP) Fellowships 2027
- Global Leadership Dialogue 2027
- Browse all Grants
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I apply if I am not at Imperial?
No. You must be a Master’s, PhD or postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London.
Is the grant £300 or £1,000?
This 2027 round is up to £1,000, as stated on Imperial’s 4 November 2026 ECR noticeboard. Earlier rounds were typically up to £300.
Can I use the money for an event that already happened?
No. Awards are not retrospective. The activity should take place after the deadline (older guidance required at least one month later - check the live form).
I already received an IX-WAI development grant. Can I apply again?
No. Previous awardees are not eligible.
