AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship: The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in South Africa invites applications for a prestigious AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship. This unique opportunity combines two back-to-back fellowships—first at Imperial College London (Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship, starting 1 September 2026) followed immediately by a one-year postdoctoral appointment at AIMS South Africa (1 September 2027 – 31 August 2028). The fellow will conduct independent, impactful research applying Artificial Intelligence to advance and transform a specific area of Science or Engineering.
Summary Table
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Designation | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Research Area | Artificial Intelligence in Science / Engineering |
| Location | Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa (following one year at Imperial College, London) |
| Duration | 1 September 2027 – 31 August 2028 |
| Salary | R 550,000 + flights + meals at AIMS |
| Eligibility | PhD (or equivalent) by 1 September 2027; strong research record; leadership potential; proposal within AI in Science remit |
| Application Email | vacancies@aims.ac.za |
| Email Subject | “AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship” |
| Last Date to Apply | Not specified – refer to Imperial College deadlines and apply as early as possible |
Designation
Postdoctoral Fellow
Research Area
Artificial Intelligence in Science (broad interpretation, including Bayesian Inference, Robotics, astrophysics, materials design, single-cell data, physics-based ML, etc. Generic AI topics without a clear scientific objective are not suitable).
Location
Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa (AIMS South Africa) — following the 1-year fellowship at Imperial College London.
Eligibility / Qualification
- PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline awarded by 1 September 2027.
- Demonstrated leadership potential and initiative in research.
- Excellent research record (e.g., high-quality thesis, publications, codes, conference presentations).
- Research proposal aligned with the AI in Science remit (i.e., using AI to substantially advance a specific scientific/engineering field).
- Significant interest in contributing to the research ecosystem in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.
- Extensive AI knowledge is not required (training will be provided).
Job Description
- Produce original and independent research applying AI to solve scientific or engineering challenges.
- Contribute to research capacity-building at AIMS and in the broader African region.
- Engage in collaborative and immersive research life at AIMS, including sharing ideas with students and visiting researchers.
- Supervise one or more student dissertations in the AI in Science stream of the AIMS Master’s programme.
- Participate in outreach and low-to-middle-income country (LMIC) engagement as part of the AI for Science cohort.
How to Apply
Applicants must apply for both the:
- Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship at Imperial College (2026–27)
→ Application via Imperial College website:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/ix-ai-in-science/apply/ - AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship at AIMS (2027–28)
→ Submit the following documents to vacancies@aims.ac.za
with email subject “AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship”: a. Full Curriculum Vitae (including publications)
b. Publication Elaboration (≤1 page; contribution of up to 3 papers)
c. Research Proposal Summary (≤1 page; general scientific audience)
d. Full Research Proposal (≤3 pages; details of transformative AI-led research)
e. Kindness Statement (≤¼ page; views on kindness in scientific communities)
Last Date for Apply
Aligned to the application deadline for the Imperial College Fellowship (please monitor their website for precise dates and submit the AIMS application concurrently). Early submission is strongly encouraged.
