How to Apply

Eligibility

You will need to meet the following criteria:

• Have completed (or be due to have completed by the date of appointment) a DPhil/PhD in an area of mathematical, physical or (non-medical) life sciences
• Have a promising research idea and enough general understanding of AI ideas and techniques to envision major improvements and expansions of your research, as well as potential ethical implications. Fellows will be supported to develop their knowledge of AI during the fellowship
• Have the support of an Oxford PI willing to host you in their lab in an MPLS department for the duration of fellowship
• Ideally, you will also have identified a CoI who is a specialist in AI and would be willing to collaborate on your research project and provide relevant AI expertise. Support in identifying a suitable CoI is available if required (see further information)
• Have the creativity and initiative to develop innovative ideas and provide the intellectual energy and independent thinking necessary to deliver the research and adapt existing and develop new AI/ML techniques and methodologies to support research.

Start date

It is our intention that the Postdoctoral Research Fellowships will start as early as possible, and no later than 30 April 2023, though some flexibility with the start date might be possible.

Eligible costs

• Salary of the Fellow
• Consumables and small items of equipment (less than £10k)
• Computing equipment (including up to £2k for a laptop)
• Travel
• Training (in addition to the specialised training in AI included in the fellowship)
• Publishing costs

This fellowship pays 100% direct costs plus 10% overhead to the department.

Assessment criteria

The review panel will use the following criteria in their assessment of applications:

• Fit to call: the primary criterion will be that the underpinning applied science is internationally leading, with the application of AI/ML techniques appropriate and likely to lead to a step-change in the application domain
• Appropriate level of understanding of how AI techniques might be applied in order to progress the research area
• Clear demonstration of how the training component of the scheme will benefit the applicant, their research, and their career
• Quality of the applicant: strong track record appropriate to the career stage of the applicant

How to submit an application

Applications are made through the University’s Internal Research Award Management System (IRAMS). Once you are logged in, please choose the correct scheme from the list to start your application. If required, IRAMS guidance in the form of quick reference guide (QRG) documents for applicants, departmental approvers and administrators can be found on Research Support pages.

Applicants external to Oxford, without an Oxford SSO (Single Sign On), should contact the research facilitation team in their host department for help with submitting their application. 

Please note that some departments may have set an earlier internal deadline, so please check with your local research support team and prepare your application well in advance of the date advertised above. Applications must be reviewed online by departmental approvers and, where approved, submitted for review before the deadline.

If applicants need reasonable adjustments or support with submitting their application, they should contact research@mpls.ox.ac.uk.

As part of the application, you will need to upload the following materials, combined as a single PDF:

• Research proposal setting out the research project you wish to pursue, including how your existing or proposed ideas and techniques might find application within one or more areas of the mathematical, physical or life sciences, and why this use of AI/ML will result in novel insights and impact. The proposal should also include a statement explaining why your existing research and future career plan makes you a good fit for the Schmidt programme (2,000 words, included on the form).
• Training plan providing an overview of any AI-related skills you will need to acquire or further develop in order for you to succeed in your planned research. A deep expertise of AI techniques is not required; however, you will need a basic understanding. A tailored AI and software development training programme will be developed to support you, and is a key element of the scheme (400 words, included on the form)
• Letter of support from a PI based in an MPLS department, including confirmation from the Department that they are willing to host you if successful;
• CV including your academic publications (which will be assessed in line with the DORA agreement, to which the University is a signatory), (max. 3 pages in total, Arial 11pt font, 2cm margins).

All applications must be received by 12:00 noon on Wednesday 11 January 2023.

Your application will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel of academic researchers, and decisions will be based solely on how you demonstrate that you meet the selection criteria stated above. Short listed candidates will be interviewed as part of this process. Interviews are likely to take place in the week of 6-10 February 2023.

The panel wishes to recruit a diverse cohort of fellows with a wide range of backgrounds, and the division is committed to supporting an inclusive and supportive culture. You can view University policies, including those on equality, diversity, and inclusion and similar policies from Reuben College.

Further information

Further information on the fellowship application process is available from Irene Scullion: research@mpls.ox.ac.uk

To discuss research programmes, please contact the relevant PI or research group in one of the MPLS departments.

For help in finding an AI collaborator or mentor, please contact the programme leads, Prof Stephen Roberts, stephen.roberts@eng.ox.ac.uk, and Prof David Gavaghan, david.gavaghan@dtc.ox.ac.uk.