Scholarship Overview
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Overview
The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) invites applications for the AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant Program 2027. This competitive grant supports academic scholars whose research examines how artificial intelligence shapes employment, productivity, occupational change, economic opportunity, and innovation over time. The program specifically seeks to address gaps in long-term research and data on AI’s workforce implications.
With significant debate surrounding AI adoption’s effects on work, this grant aims to generate rigorous, evidence-based scholarship that informs policy and public understanding. The program particularly values interdisciplinary approaches that bridge traditional academic boundaries.
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Grant Award and Funding Details
Successful applicants may receive up to $20,000. The program notes that larger awards may be considered for exceptional projects demonstrating particular significance or methodological innovation.
Eligible Expenses
Grant funds may be used for the following purposes:
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- Travel and Research Activities: Conference presentation travel; archival research travel; research collaboration expenses including research assistant hiring
- Data and Research Materials: Dataset purchases; LLM subscriptions for specialized research sources
- Publishing and Dissemination: Journal submission fees; book publication expenses including copyediting and indexing; research manuscript preparation
Research Focus Areas
The program welcomes proposals addressing:
- AI’s influence on employment patterns and labor markets
- Productivity effects of AI adoption across sectors
- Occupational change and job displacement/creation dynamics
- Economic opportunity distribution in AI-transformed economies
- Innovation patterns and technological change over time
Interdisciplinary proposals that combine insights from economics, political science, sociology, computer science, law, or other relevant fields are especially encouraged.
Eligibility
The grant is open to academic scholars conducting research on AI workforce topics. While specific eligibility restrictions are not detailed in the available materials, applicants should typically hold faculty positions or equivalent research appointments at recognized academic institutions.
For African scholars in Zimbabwe and the SADC region, this grant presents an opportunity to contribute valuable perspectives on how AI adoption affects developing economies and informal labor sectors—research areas currently underrepresented in global scholarship.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted through the official IHS application portal. The process involves:
- Review the full program guidelines on the IHS website
- Prepare a research proposal addressing the program’s focus areas
- Complete the online application form
- Submit all required supporting materials by the deadline
Key Dates
| Application Deadline | December 15, 2026 |
| Decision Notification | January 15, 2027 |
| Grant Period | 2027 |
Research Deliverables
Grant recipients are expected to produce tangible research outputs, which may include:
- Peer-reviewed academic publications
- Policy white papers
- Shareable research databases
These deliverables should advance understanding of AI’s long-term workforce effects and be accessible to both academic and policy audiences.
Strategic Considerations for African Applicants
Scholars from Zimbabwe and SADC countries can strengthen their applications by:
- Highlighting unique regional contexts, such as AI’s impact on informal employment sectors prevalent across African economies
- Producing comparative research between developed and developing economy AI adoption patterns
- Emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate development studies or African political economy perspectives
- Demonstrating how findings could inform policy in contexts with limited social safety nets
Related Opportunities
Faculty researchers may also consider: Mentora Scholars Fellowship 2027, Commonwealth Foundation Grant 2026-2027 (up to £15,000), and beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship 2027/2028.
Official scholarship page: https://www.theihs.org
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships