UKRI to Launch Second Round of Turing AI World-Leading Researcher Fellowships

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is delivering the Turing Artificial Intelligence (AI) Fellowships on behalf of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), working in partnership with The Alan Turing Institute, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Office for Artificial Intelligence.

The Turing AI World-Leading Researcher Fellowships support the retention and international recruitment of a small number of world-leading AI researchers to build new capability and capacity in the UK. Applicants should have a high international standing and have the potential to advance and transform the field. Proposals are particularly welcomed from those conducting research into AI at a fundamental or theoretical level, as well as those working at the interface between AI and another discipline.

Fellows will be expected to lead a highly skilled and potentially multidisciplinary team to deliver an ambitious, world-leading research programme that will advance the field of AI, and potentially other disciplines. This could be achieved by developing novel AI methodologies that address: the fundamental, theoretical or mathematical challenges in AI; and/or the challenges present in other disciplines or sectors.

There are no standardised eligibility criteria due to the diversity of career paths in AI. Applications are welcomed from individuals who conduct research into AI at a fundamental or theoretical level, or who work at the interface between AI and another discipline.

Applications may be submitted either through recruitment from outside of the UK, or by retaining leaders currently located in the UK. UK-based applicants must explain how the fellowship will help retain them within the UK, and be used to build new AI capability and capacity beyond what would be possible without the fellowship.

Applicants do not need to be a UK resident to apply; however, they must be employed by an eligible UK host organisation for the time committed to the fellowship. Eligible organisations are: UK higher education institutions; research council institutes; UKRI-approved independent research organisations; eligible public sector research establishments; and NHS bodies with research capacity.

It is not expected that a host organisation will submit more than two proposals to this call.

A total of £8 million at 80% full Economic Cost (fEC) is available in the second round of funding. Individual awards will range from £3 million to £5 million fEC.

Applicants are expected to request a significant package of resource, designed in partnership with their host organisation and collaborative partners to provide the best support for their research agenda. This might include relocation costs, attractive packages for staff, access to data and infrastructure and other standard research grant costs.

Funding is available up to five years. Successful applicants must start their fellowship by 1 October 2023.

Outline proposals should be submitted between 29 March 2022 and 14 July 2022 (16:00).