Schmidt Sciences
AI Institute Fellow in Residence
Schmidt Sciences invites recent PhD graduates in AI and computer science to apply for a 12‑18 month fellows‑in‑residence program. Reporting to the Director of the AI Institute at Schmidt Sciences, fellows will split their time between supporting the AI Institute — for example, by exploring new grant‑making programs — and pursuing specific research projects aligned with the Institute’s priorities. Up to four fellows will be hired in 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Key Research Domains
AI agent inter‑operability and emerging communication in multi‑agent systems
AI for scientific discovery
Hardware‑enabled verification of AI agreements
AI’s impact on the labor market
Note:
AI Institute priorities will evolve with the Institute's growth and the rapid evolution of AI, so the Institute might have different priorities in future years.
About Schmidt Sciences Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organization prioritizes research in areas poised for impact including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space, as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.
About the Fellows‑in‑Residence Program The goal of this fellowship is to allow early‑career AI researchers a flexible environment in which to pursue specific research projects while contributing to the building of the AI Institute at Schmidt Sciences. Fellows will roughly split their time between project‑focused work and work for the AI Institute as directed. Fellows will propose specific projects as part of their application; we will agree on these projects before fellows arrive. Fellows must be able to complete their projects during the fellowship. Projects must align with AI Institute goals and research directions.
Resources and Opportunities
Opportunity to apply for up to $50,000 of compute credits and API credits over the course of the fellowship.
Opportunity to apply for up to $50,000 in funding for targeted convenings, workshops, working sessions, etc. to advance exploration in various AI research areas.
Opportunity to apply for travel funds to collaborate with others on research projects.
Access to Schmidt Science’s network of stakeholders in the AI ecosystem.
$150,000 per year.
Duration Each fellowship will be 12‑18 months long, with flexibility around start and end dates to accommodate academic commitments and other needs.
Location Fellows will be based at our offices in New York City. Fellows will be permitted to spend a portion of their time at a local university.
Reporting Fellows will report to the Director of the AI Institute at Schmidt Sciences. Each fellow will receive a mentor who is an AI Institute team member and who will assist with onboarding.
Other Appointments Fellows will be permitted to keep their existing academic appointments, as long as they do not conflict with either institution’s policies (e.g., conflict of interest policies).
Selection Criteria Fellows will be invited to interview on the basis of their academic accomplishments and publications, the relevance of their academic research to the AI Institute’s priorities, and the relevance and quality of their proposed research projects. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Examples of Potential Projects
Scoping out a grant‑making program in a particular AI domain of interest to Schmidt Sciences and the fellow, and, if mutually agreed, launching that program.
Conducting research in a specific AI domain of mutual interest, with the intent of writing and releasing a technical paper.
Organizing a series of workshops on a topic of mutual interest to build the research community in that topic, potentially by leveraging a series of smaller grants.
Starting or contributing to an important AI open‑source project.
Supporting the AI Institute
Reading and assessing research proposals in multiple areas of AI, including safety, AI and science, AI and economics, etc.
Supporting the exploration and design of new AI grant‑making programs, such as in the areas of interpretability, safety, and scientific discovery.
Attending gatherings we organize for our grantees, and representing Schmidt Sciences at external conferences.
This is an exempt position.
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Key Research Domains
AI agent inter‑operability and emerging communication in multi‑agent systems
AI for scientific discovery
Hardware‑enabled verification of AI agreements
AI’s impact on the labor market
Note:
AI Institute priorities will evolve with the Institute's growth and the rapid evolution of AI, so the Institute might have different priorities in future years.
About Schmidt Sciences Schmidt Sciences is a nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by Eric and Wendy Schmidt that works to accelerate scientific knowledge and breakthroughs with the most promising, advanced tools to support a thriving planet. The organization prioritizes research in areas poised for impact including AI and advanced computing, astrophysics, biosciences, climate, and space, as well as supporting researchers in a variety of disciplines through its science systems program.
About the Fellows‑in‑Residence Program The goal of this fellowship is to allow early‑career AI researchers a flexible environment in which to pursue specific research projects while contributing to the building of the AI Institute at Schmidt Sciences. Fellows will roughly split their time between project‑focused work and work for the AI Institute as directed. Fellows will propose specific projects as part of their application; we will agree on these projects before fellows arrive. Fellows must be able to complete their projects during the fellowship. Projects must align with AI Institute goals and research directions.
Resources and Opportunities
Opportunity to apply for up to $50,000 of compute credits and API credits over the course of the fellowship.
Opportunity to apply for up to $50,000 in funding for targeted convenings, workshops, working sessions, etc. to advance exploration in various AI research areas.
Opportunity to apply for travel funds to collaborate with others on research projects.
Access to Schmidt Science’s network of stakeholders in the AI ecosystem.
$150,000 per year.
Duration Each fellowship will be 12‑18 months long, with flexibility around start and end dates to accommodate academic commitments and other needs.
Location Fellows will be based at our offices in New York City. Fellows will be permitted to spend a portion of their time at a local university.
Reporting Fellows will report to the Director of the AI Institute at Schmidt Sciences. Each fellow will receive a mentor who is an AI Institute team member and who will assist with onboarding.
Other Appointments Fellows will be permitted to keep their existing academic appointments, as long as they do not conflict with either institution’s policies (e.g., conflict of interest policies).
Selection Criteria Fellows will be invited to interview on the basis of their academic accomplishments and publications, the relevance of their academic research to the AI Institute’s priorities, and the relevance and quality of their proposed research projects. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Examples of Potential Projects
Scoping out a grant‑making program in a particular AI domain of interest to Schmidt Sciences and the fellow, and, if mutually agreed, launching that program.
Conducting research in a specific AI domain of mutual interest, with the intent of writing and releasing a technical paper.
Organizing a series of workshops on a topic of mutual interest to build the research community in that topic, potentially by leveraging a series of smaller grants.
Starting or contributing to an important AI open‑source project.
Supporting the AI Institute
Reading and assessing research proposals in multiple areas of AI, including safety, AI and science, AI and economics, etc.
Supporting the exploration and design of new AI grant‑making programs, such as in the areas of interpretability, safety, and scientific discovery.
Attending gatherings we organize for our grantees, and representing Schmidt Sciences at external conferences.
This is an exempt position.
#J-18808-Ljbffr