As part of Microsoft’s ongoing effort to cultivate the next generation of outstanding computer science researchers, the Microsoft Research PhD Fellowship is open to students from throughout the world. Microsoft emphasizes the importance of diversity in computing and strives to establish a stronger and more inclusive computing research community by increasing the number of people with advanced degrees in computing-related subjects. These fellowships are available in Asia-Pacific, the United States (including Canada and the United States), the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America, and New Zealand.
There have been approximately 700 Microsoft Research PhD Fellows over the previous two decades, many of whom have gone on to work for the company itself. In other cases, they’ve gone on to do ground-breaking work in the technology sector or became professors at prestigious institutions.
Requirements
- PhD students must be enrolled at a university in Africa
- Proposed research must be closely related to one of the themes at Microsoft Africa Research Institute (MARI)
- AI/ML/NLP/data science: Data is often limited and skewed in many beneficial applications. Humans can learn a lot about how to utilize data to solve issues in the real world by better understanding how we function in these circumstances. Practical applications like NLP help us learn more about what we can do with the data we have, but they also help us better appreciate the fairness and generality of the outcomes we get. We’re interested in learning how to make the most of data’s constraints.
- Health: To address inequities in access and delivery of excellent healthcare for all people, we have an opportunity with advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI). Using technology to help healthcare practitioners execute their responsibilities more efficiently, as well as bridging the final mile to patients, is something we’re interested in researching.
- Sustainability: Cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities will be used by Microsoft to alter the way we monitor, model, and eventually help solve environmental issues throughout the world. At MARI, we’re using AI and analytics to better identify sustainability issues and devise solutions. If you’re a PhD student in an African university studying artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics, or a similar topic with an eye on solving sustainability-related challenges, please submit your application to us.
- Human-computer interaction: We are looking for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) fellows who will investigate Usability and Design concerns in the context of the Work, Health, and Sustainability & Society research domains. Usability studies, literature reviews, design interventions, and research studies may all be led and carried out by HCI interns. Internships can be completed online or in-person.
- Taking into consideration things like transfers, officially sanctioned vacations of absence, and the like, students must be starting at least their second year of their PhD program between August 2022 and July 2023.
- PhD candidates are required to maintain their enrollment at the institution until the beginning of the academic year 2022 in order to be eligible for the prize. Extensions are not something that may be requested for fellowships. We shall make arrangements for your time off in the event that you need it for reasons relating to family or health. You may get in touch with the award administrator if you are unclear as to how a specific requirement for time away would impact the award, contact Microsoft Research Fellowships at [email protected].
Benefits:
- $15,000 USD is provided to help complete research as part of their doctoral thesis work for academic year 2022–23.
- Eligible recipients will be offered a 12-week paid internship with the Microsoft Africa Research Institute (MARI).
- Opportunities will be provided to build relationships with research teams at Microsoft and receive mentorship.
Topics
Middle East
Students who want to apply for this fellowship are required to be enrolled at a Middle Eastern institution in order to have their proposals considered.
Timeline
- May 9 | Call for applications opens
- June 7 | Call for applications closes
- August 19 | Selected candidates are notified of their fellowship offer by email
- September 28 | Fellowship recipients are announced publicly
Africa
For the purposes of this fellowship, the students who want to participate are required to be enrolled in an African educational institution.
Timeline
- May 9 | Call for applications opens
- June 7 | Call for applications closes
- July 15 – Aug 12 | Selected candidates are invited for interviews
- August 19 | Selected candidates are notified of their fellowship offer by email
- September 28 | Fellowship recipients are announced publicly
Application Deadline: June 7, 2022
How To Apply:
