Application Deadline: December 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET
Applications are now open for the 2026 Microsoft Research Fellowship. 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, we believe we can accelerate innovation, promote responsible development, and address complex challenges that can best be solved through interdisciplinary exploration.
Benefits
The Microsoft Research Fellowship is designed to create meaningful opportunities for collaboration between academic researchers and Microsoft Research. These opportunities will vary by research challenge and may include working sessions, regular check-ins, asynchronous collaboration, workshops, and other formats tailored to the nature of the research.
- 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)
General Eligibility
- Microsoft is seeking scholars in academia who are pursuing research and instruction in academic venues across a range of disciplines.
- This program accepts proposals from individuals based in the following regions: Africa, Australia & New Zealand, Canada, Europe, India, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States.
Student Eligibility
- 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; Colombi; Mexico; Puerto Rico; or the United States.
Faculty Eligibility
- 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. See “How to Apply” for more details.
- 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; Colombi; Mexico; Puerto Rico; or the United States.
Postdoc Eligibility
- 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; Colombi; Mexico; Puerto Rico; or the United States.
Application Timeline:
- Call for proposals: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
- Proposal submission deadline: Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET
- Proposal notifications sent by: Tuesday, February 10, 2026
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the Microsoft Research Ph.D. Fellowship
