Microsoft Research Fellowship 2026: Collaborating Across Disciplines to Explore, Innovate, and Shape the Future Region: GlobalSubmission Deadline: December 2, 2025 (11:59 PM ET)Notification of Results: February 10, 2026 Overview The Microsoft Research Fellowship invites faculty, PhD students, and postdoctoral researchers from around the world to collaborate with Microsoft Research (MSR) on open research challenges that advance scientific discovery, drive innovation, and deliver tangible societal benefit. The program builds on Microsoft Research’s long-standing commitment to open academic collaboration and interdisciplinary exploration. By connecting academic excellence and real-world technology development, the Fellowship fosters innovative research that addresses pressing global issues while promoting responsible AI, equitable innovation, and sustainable progress. Through this program, Microsoft aims to accelerate discovery across a broad range of research domains by combining the deep domain expertise of academia with the technological capacity and practical insights of Microsoft Research’s global labs. About the Fellowship The Microsoft Research Fellowship is a global initiative designed to strengthen the partnership between academia and industry. Fellows will collaborate with MSR researchers and teams to explore foundational scientific questions and tackle emerging societal challenges. Key objectives of the Fellowship include: Supporting cutting-edge interdisciplinary research that advances the understanding and application of AI and related technologies. Building sustainable academic partnerships to promote long-term collaboration and knowledge exchange. Encouraging responsible innovation that ensures equitable outcomes across cultures, regions, and communities. Creating opportunities for emerging and established scholars to engage with Microsoft’s world-class research network. Research Challenges Each year, Microsoft Research identifies a series of open challenges that Fellows can address through their proposals. These challenges span multiple fields of artificial intelligence, computer science, and interdisciplinary applications. For 2025–2026, key research themes include: AI for Global and Societal Impact Equitable interactive AI tools for creatives Global employment, hiring, and performance outcomes in AI-driven industries Grounding AI in global majority languages, cultures, and contexts Tackling disinformation and misinformation through provenance tools for end users AI Fundamentals and Evaluation Scalable reasoning, model adaptation, and evaluation techniques Advancing generative AI evaluation through psychometrics and measurement Efficient and accurate post-training of retrieval models Steering reasoning models using test-time verification Biological and Scientific Modeling Generative models for regulatory genomics and scientific discovery Foundational Systems and Infrastructure for AI AI for clean electricity planning and deployment Systems, algorithms, and rigorous applications of reinforcement learning post-training Human–AI Collaboration and Interaction AI models for creativity and co-production AI-powered collaborative dynamic experiences Beyond assistance: AI as a teammate for collaboration, alignment, and collective intelligence Developing socially intelligent AI agents Multimodal and Embodied Intelligence Foundational approaches to multimodal large language models (LLMs) General-purpose robotic foundation models for embodied AI Robot learning from alternative and real-world data sources Each challenge specifies its own eligibility parameters, welcoming proposals from PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and/or faculty, depending on the research area. Eligibility Criteria General Eligibility Applicants must be affiliated with an accredited academic institution. Proposals must be written in English and submitted directly by the applicant (no third-party submissions). The program is open globally, encouraging participation from scholars across diverse regions and institutions. PhD Student Eligibility Applicants must be currently enrolled in a PhD program at a recognized university. The proposed research must be directly connected to the student’s dissertation or related academic work. Postdoctoral Eligibility Applicants must hold a PhD degree by the time of application and be engaged in an academic postdoctoral position. Research should contribute to ongoing academic or collaborative projects aligned with MSR’s focus areas. Faculty Eligibility Faculty applicants must be actively conducting research and affiliated with an academic or research institution. The Fellowship supports both early-career and senior faculty with strong research track records. Provisions of the Award Microsoft Research Fellows will receive: Financial support for research activities (amount and structure vary by region and project scope). Access to Microsoft Research resources, including mentorship, data sets, and collaborative platforms. Opportunities to publish and disseminate research outcomes in leading journals, conferences, and MSR forums. Visibility within the Microsoft Research community, enabling connections with peers, engineers, and global thought leaders. All collaborations emphasize open research, and Fellows retain academic freedom to publish results while contributing to Microsoft’s broader innovation ecosystem. Proposal Process Submission Guidelines Proposals must be submitted through the official Microsoft Research Fellowship submission portal. Applications sent via email will not be accepted. Incomplete applications or those missing required information will not be considered. Proposals should not include confidential or proprietary information. Microsoft does not assume responsibility for protecting confidential materials. Due to the high volume of submissions, individual feedback cannot be provided to applicants who are not selected. Key Dates Call for Proposals Opens: November 4, 2025 Submission Deadline: December 2, 2025 (11:59 PM Eastern Time) Notification of Results: February 10, 2026 Evaluation and Selection Applications will be reviewed by Microsoft Research scientists and subject matter experts based on the following criteria: Scientific merit and originality of the proposed research. Alignment with Microsoft Research’s challenges and long-term goals. Feasibility of the research plan within the proposed timeframe. Potential societal impact and contribution to responsible innovation. Strength of applicant’s academic record and demonstrated expertise in the chosen area. Selected Fellows will be notified by February 2026 and invited to collaborate directly with Microsoft Research teams globally. Why Apply Becoming a Microsoft Research Fellow offers scholars a unique opportunity to: Engage in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research with access to world-class expertise. Contribute to solutions that address critical global challenges in AI, sustainability, and technology ethics. Expand professional networks and participate in the Microsoft Research community. Shape the future of technology through collaborative, responsible innovation. How to Apply Interested applicants should prepare their proposals according to the published guidelines and submit them via the Microsoft Research Fellowship portal before the deadline. For full details, eligibility clarifications, and access to the proposal submission link, visit the Microsoft Research Fellowship official webpage. For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram , WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and Telegram Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.