Polyfoni Social Sciences for AI Fellowship 2026 to 2027

Applications are open for the Polyfoni Social Sciences for AI Fellowship 2026 to 2027, a four month part time research collaboration designed for social scientists with fieldwork experience in regions where artificial intelligence products are being deployed. The fellowship provides an opportunity to apply social science knowledge to the development, evaluation and governance of AI systems.

The fellowship will run remotely from November 2026 to March 2027. Fellows will conduct a cultural audit of a real AI product in a region where they have genuine contextual knowledge. Rather than beginning a new research project from scratch, participants will apply their existing fieldwork experience through Polyfoni’s structured Cultural Audit Method.

Polyfoni is particularly interested in researchers from the humanities and social sciences who can contribute perspectives that are often underrepresented in AI development. Applicants may come from fields including anthropology, sociology, science and technology studies, development studies, political science, humanities and area studies.

About the Fellowship

The Polyfoni Social Sciences for AI Fellowship connects social science researchers with academic and industry mentors to investigate how AI products operate across different cultural and regional contexts.

Fellows will undertake a cultural audit that examines the assumptions embedded in a specific AI product and identifies where those assumptions may fail when the product is deployed in a particular context. The audit follows four main stages: assumption mapping, contextual failure identification, severity assessment and recommendations.

Fellows will work closely with Polyfoni supervisors to select and shape an audit project. Possible areas include health AI, agricultural AI, ocean related AI and large language models used in markets where English is not the dominant language.

The final output will be a report written for an AI product team. The research will also be published through Polyfoni’s platforms under the fellow’s name, providing an opportunity to share the findings with a wider audience.

Fellowship Benefits

• Dual mentorship from an academic collaborator and an AI industry professional

• Training in Polyfoni’s Cultural Audit Method

• Online masterclasses focused on AI governance and related professional development

• Monthly group sessions with other fellows

• Opportunities for peer feedback and interaction with AI industry practitioners

• Research publication through Polyfoni’s platforms under the fellow’s name

• Opportunity to contribute to the open access publication Making AI Listen

• Exposure to potential career pathways connecting social science and technology

• Professional connections through the Polyfoni network

Programme Areas

The fellowship welcomes applications from a broad range of social science and humanities disciplines, including:

• Anthropology

• Sociology

• Science and Technology Studies

• Development Studies

• Political Science

• Humanities

• Area Studies

Fellows may examine AI applications in sectors such as health, agriculture, fintech, content moderation and other areas where AI products are being deployed.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants should have an interest in using social science training to contribute to how AI products are built, evaluated and governed.

• Applicants may come from the humanities, social sciences or related disciplines.

• MSc and PhD students, early career researchers and researchers in adjacent fields are welcome to apply.

• There are no strict degree requirements.

• Applicants should ideally have fieldwork experience in a Global South context.

• Applicants should demonstrate deep contextual knowledge of a place, community or sector where AI is being deployed.

• Priority regions include East Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America and China.

• Applicants should have a clear interest in working at the intersection of social science and AI.

• Applicants should have a concrete idea of an AI product they could audit.

• Fellows are expected to commit approximately five hours per week to the audit.

• Applicants must be comfortable working in English.

• Additional language skills are an advantage.

• Prior AI experience is not required.

• Applicants from diverse regions and disciplinary backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Polyfoni particularly encourages applications from early career researchers and scholars based in the Global South.

Required Application Information

• A short motivation statement of no more than 500 words

• A clear explanation of your interest in the intersection of social science and AI

• A concrete idea of an AI product that you would like to audit

• Evidence of relevant regional, community or sector knowledge

• Evidence of fieldwork experience where applicable

Applicants who progress beyond the initial stage will be contacted for a CV review.

How to Apply

1. Review the Polyfoni Social Sciences for AI Fellowship requirements and determine whether your social science or humanities background and fieldwork experience align with the programme.
2. Identify an AI product deployed in a region, community or sector that you understand well through your research or fieldwork experience.
3. Prepare a motivation statement of no more than 500 words explaining your interest in social science and AI and outlining the AI product you would like to audit.
4. Submit your initial application through the Polyfoni application process.
5. If shortlisted, provide your CV for further review.
6. Participate in an interview and research discussion with the Polyfoni team if invited.
7. If selected, join the fellowship remotely from November 2026 and commit approximately five hours each week to the cultural audit through March 2027.