IHS AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant Program 2027

The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is inviting applications for the AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant Program 2027. The program supports academic scholars conducting research on how artificial intelligence is changing employment, productivity, occupations, economic opportunity, and innovation over time.

The grant is designed to support research that contributes to a better understanding of the long term relationship between artificial intelligence and the workforce. IHS is particularly interested in research that bridges academic disciplines and produces findings that can contribute to scholarly and public discussions about the future of work.

Selected scholars may receive grants of up to $20,000. Larger awards may be considered for exceptional projects. Funding can support research activities, data and research materials, collaboration, publication, and dissemination expenses.

About the Grant

The AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant is part of the Institute for Humane Studies research funding opportunities for scholars. The program responds to the need for additional long term research and data on the effects of artificial intelligence adoption on work.

IHS is seeking research that examines important questions surrounding technological change and the workforce. Proposals that bring together perspectives from different disciplines are particularly encouraged.

Potential research may examine issues including employment, productivity, occupational change, economic opportunity, and innovation. Research can result in academic publications, policy focused work, or useful research databases.

The grant can also help researchers cover practical costs associated with conducting and sharing their work, including research collaboration, datasets, specialized research resources, and publication expenses.

Grant Benefits

• Grants of up to $20,000

• Larger awards may be considered for exceptional projects

• Funding for travel connected to conference presentations and archival research

• Support for research collaboration, including hiring research assistants

• Funding for purchasing relevant datasets

• Support for specialized LLM subscriptions used for research

• Funding for journal submission fees

• Support for book publication expenses such as copyediting and indexing

• Funding for preparation of research manuscripts

• Opportunity to develop peer reviewed research and policy focused outputs

• Research dissemination through shareable research databases and other scholarly outputs

Research Areas

Applicants should propose research related to the relationship between artificial intelligence and the workforce. Relevant areas include:

• Employment and artificial intelligence

• Productivity and technological change

• Occupational change

• Economic opportunity

• Innovation

• Long term effects of artificial intelligence adoption

• Interdisciplinary research on AI and work

• Research producing policy white papers

• Research producing peer reviewed publications

• Research databases and other shareable research resources

Eligibility Criteria

The program is intended for academic scholars whose research addresses how artificial intelligence influences work and economic activity over time.

Applicants should:

• Be academic scholars conducting research relevant to the AI and workforce theme

• Propose research addressing employment, productivity, occupational change, economic opportunity, innovation, or related questions

• Demonstrate a research project suitable for the objectives of the grant

• Consider interdisciplinary approaches where appropriate

• Develop research capable of producing scholarly or publicly useful outputs

Prior affiliation with IHS is not required for IHS scholar funding opportunities.

Eligible Grant Expenses

Grant funding may be used for research related expenses such as:

• Travel for conference presentations

• Travel for archival research

• Research collaboration

• Research assistant costs

• Purchase of datasets

• Specialized LLM subscriptions and research sources

• Journal submission fees

• Book publication expenses

• Copyediting and indexing

• Preparation of research manuscripts

The grant does not cover living expenses, hardware purchases, retroactive expenses, conference travel where the applicant does not have a scheduled presentation, or institutional overhead and indirect costs.

How to Apply

1. Review the AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant information provided by the Institute for Humane Studies.
2. Confirm that your research fits the program focus on artificial intelligence and the workforce.
3. Develop a research project addressing questions related to employment, productivity, occupational change, economic opportunity, innovation, or related long term workforce effects.
4. Identify the research activities and eligible expenses that the grant would support.
5. Prepare your application according to the requirements provided through the IHS application system.
6. Submit the completed application before December 15, 2026.
7. Monitor your application for the funding decision, which is scheduled for January 15, 2027.