Deadline: December 2, 2026
Applications are open for the Microsoft Research Fellowship 2026. The Microsoft Research Fellowship creates opportunities for academic scholars (faculty, PhD students, and postdocs) to collaborate with Microsoft Research on open research challenges that advance scientific understanding, drive innovation, and deliver societal benefit.
In an era of rapid innovation, this fellowship brings together academia and industrial researchers across disciplines to shape the future through open research collaborations. Academic collaboration is foundational to advancing scientific discovery, and today, it’s more critical than ever. Academic institutions contribute deep domain expertise, novel perspectives, and a culture of exploration. Microsoft Research’s global labs offer deep technical expertise, cutting-edge academic inquiry, and real-world application. By working together, they believe they can accelerate innovation, promote responsible development, and address complex challenges that can best be solved through interdisciplinary exploration.
Funding
Funding amounts vary by the region a fellows’ organization/institution of employment is located in.
- Africa – $17,000 (USD)
- Australia & New Zealand – $17,000 (USD)
- Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico – $17,000 (USD)
- Canada – $47,000 (USD)
- Europe – $27,000 (USD)
- India – $17,000 (USD)
- Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan – $17,000 (USD)
- United States – $47,000 (USD)
These stipend amounts include travel funding to support in-person collaboration. Fellows may use this funding to visit Microsoft Research principal investigators and collaborators at a Microsoft Research lab or office.
Eligibility
Student Eligibility
- Students may submit proposals on their own behalf.
- Students must be actively pursuing a PhD at an accredited institution
- Students must be enrolled at a degree-granting university in one of the following regions: Africa; Australia & New Zealand; Canada; Europe; India; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea; Singapore; Taiwan; Argentina; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Mexico; Puerto Rico; or the United States.
Faculty Eligibility
- Professors, Assistant Professors, or Associate Professors may submit a proposal on their behalf.
- Proposals submitted by eligible faculty should also identify a student to be involved in the collaboration. If selected, both the faculty member and student will be named as Fellows.
- Faculty must have received their terminal degree (e.g., PhD, DSc). A terminal degree is defined as the highest-level college degree that can be achieved within your academic discipline or professional field.
- All faculty members and students listed in the proposal must be employed or enrolled at a degree-granting university located in one of the following regions: Africa; Australia & New Zealand; Canada; Europe; India; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea; Singapore; Taiwan; Argentina; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Mexico; Puerto Rico; or the United States.
Postdoc Eligibility
- Postdocs may submit a proposal on their behalf.
- Proposals submitted by eligible postdocs should attest to support from a faculty advisor or department chair supporting postdoc’s participation in this collaboration with Microsoft through the Fellowship program.
- Postdocs must be employed or enrolled at a degree-granting university located in one of the following regions: Africa; Australia & New Zealand; Canada; Europe; India; Hong Kong; Japan; Korea; Singapore; Taiwan; Argentina; Brazil; Chile; Colombia; Mexico; Puerto Rico; or the United States.
Application
Click here to submit proposals
For more information, visit Microsoft Research Fellowship.
