UPenn and Microsoft Research India Research Fellows 2026: Pre-Doctoral AI Research Opportunities in Health, Education and Media
The University of Pennsylvania and Microsoft Research India are inviting applications for two pre-doctoral Research Fellow positions focused on artificial intelligence research in health, education, and media.
Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, through the Institute for the Advanced Study of India, in partnership with Microsoft Research India, offers two complementary pre-doctoral Research Fellow positions. These two-year appointments are designed for recent graduates intending to pursue a Ph.D., providing an opportunity to work at the intersection of academic research, artificial intelligence, field experimentation, technology development, and real-world deployment.
Fellows will be hosted at Microsoft Research in Bengaluru, India, with regular travel to field sites in locations such as Rajasthan and Delhi. The research program takes a field-first approach, examining how AI tools perform when introduced into real communities, classrooms, healthcare environments, and media ecosystems across projects involving health workers, clinical communication, education, and entertainment media.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation benchmarked to Microsoft Research India Research Fellow standards.
- Access to resources, desk space, and accounts at Microsoft Research India.
- Affiliation with the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India.
- Valuable research experience, including opportunities to co-author academic papers and build a strong profile for future doctoral studies.
Eligibility
The program recruits for two distinct roles:
- Field Research and Evaluation Position: Suited for graduates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in economics, public policy, development studies, statistics, or related quantitative and social science disciplines. Strong applied statistics skills and familiarity with Stata, R, and field research methods are valued.
- Tool Development and Deployment Position: Suited for candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, engineering, data science, or related technical disciplines, demonstrating strong programming ability and curiosity about real-world technology behavior.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application via the official online form, indicating their preference for the field research role, the technical role, or both. Applicants should ensure their materials clearly detail their relevant academic background, technical skills, or fieldwork experience.
Deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. Early application is strongly recommended.