AIMS South Africa Artificial Intelligence in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026-2027 (R550,000 salary)

Deadline: Unspecified

Applications are open for the AIMS South Africa Artificial Intelligence in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026-2027. This one-year appointment at AIMS South Africa is linked to a one-year Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship at Imperial College, London, which commences on 1 September 2026. The AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship at AIMS follows immediately after the Fellowship at Imperial College.

The two back-to-back felowships wil provide a postdoctoral researcher a unique platform for innovation and an opportunity to conduct impactful research between the United Kingdom and South Africa. The AI in Science Postdoctoral Felow at AIMS South Africa aims to support an excelent researcher and accelerate the Postdoctoral Felow in using AI to advance and disrupt Science or Engineering.

Benefits

• Salary: R 550,000
• Flights to and from South Africa
• Meals at AIMS provided

Eligibility

The core requirements for the Postdoctoral Fellow are:

• Hold a PhD (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline by 1 September 2027.
• The potential for leadership qualities in the subject, as illustrated, for example, through showing initiative on research projects.
• An outstanding research record commensurate with their level of experience as demonstrated, for example, through an outstanding thesis, publications, conference presentations, code etc.
• A proposal which is within the AI in Science research remit.

Application

Because the Fellowship is linked with an Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship at Imperial College, applicants should send a subset of documents that they would submit for the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship at Imperial College to vacancies@aims.ac.za. These are:

• A full Curriculum Vitae including publications.

Additionally, include an additional single file with:

• Publication Elaboration: a 1 page, or less, note outlining the contribution of up to three papers by the applicant. This should be suitable for a general scientific reader.
• Research Proposal Summary: a 1 page or less, summary of the proposed research suitable for a general scientific audience including the title of the research project. Particular attention will be paid to this summary. It should answer the question of why/how this application of AI will be transformative for the target area of science.
• Research Proposal: a 3-pages or less proposal that explains why and how the proposed research could be transformative for a particular area of science. It can be structured around background, a small number of hypotheses/aims, and work packages. It can be assumed that the reader will first read the Summary and so content need not be repeated.
• Kindness Statement: a ¼ page or less outline of your view on the need for kindness among scientists. The fellows will join a cohort of fellows in AI for Science with opportunities for outreach and LMIC engagement.

Applications can be submitted to vacancies@aims.ac.za with email heading “AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship”.

For more information, visit AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship.