AIMS South Africa AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship 2026–2027

Omran Aburayya
Aug 21
3 min read

If you're an early-career researcher passionate about applying artificial intelligence to advance science, listen up: AIMS South Africa, in partnership with Imperial College London, has launched the AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship for 2026–2027. This fully funded, two-stage opportunity invites you to develop groundbreaking research in disciplines ranging from biomedicine to astrostatistics—no advanced AI background required. It’s a rare chance to work between the UK and South Africa, immersed in dynamic scientific communities.

🎓 Fellowship Summary

Location: Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa (AIMS South Africa), and Imperial College London, UK
Host Institutions:
- African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) South Africa
- Imperial College London (Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship)
Level: Postdoctoral research fellowship
Target Group: Recent PhD graduates (or near completion) aiming to apply AI in science/engineering
Fields of Study: Broad—Bayesian inference, robotics, molecular/materials design, single-cell ML, physics-based ML, astrostatistics, epidemiology, biology, basic biomedicine (excluding clinical medical imaging)
Value & Coverage:
- Salary: ZAR 550,000 (for the AIMS South Africa year)
- Flights to/from South Africa
- Meals at AIMS provided
Duration:
- 1-year fellowship at Imperial College (starts 1 September 2026)
- Immediately followed by a 1-year appointment at AIMS South Africa (1 September 2027 – 31 August 2028)
Application Deadline: 24 September 2025, 23:59 (UK time) via Imperial’s application portal
Start Date: Imperial – 1 September 2026; AIMS South Africa – 1 September 2027
Eligibility: Must hold (or be close to) a PhD by 1 September 2027; should demonstrate leadership and an outstanding research record; must propose AI-driven research aimed at transforming a specific scientific area

🧩 Programme Structure

Imperial College (Year 1): As a Schmidt AI in Science Fellow, you’ll join a cohort in the I-X Centre for AI in Science, engage with over 20 AI faculty mentors, participate in peer-to-peer skill exchange, seminars, social events, and career development programs .
AIMS South Africa (Year 2): You will conduct independent, transformative AI-in-science research and contribute to AIMS’ immersive, residential, pan-African research environment. You may also supervise Master’s student dissertations and integrate fully into the vibrant AIMS community .

The AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship at AIMS follows immediately after the Fellowship at Imperial College. Candidates are required to apply for both appointments, and the application for the Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Fellowship can be found on Imperial College’s website at: imperial.ac.uk/ix-ai-in-science/apply/.

🎁 Fellowship Benefits

Competitive salary and generous travel & meal support
Immersive, collaborative environments at both Imperial College and AIMS South Africa
AI training and mentorship from world-class faculty
Access to a global research network and professional development resources
Opportunity to supervise graduate students and contribute meaningfully to African scientific capacity-building

✅ Eligibility Criteria

PhD (or equivalent) completed by 1 September 2027
Demonstrated leadership potential (e.g. initiative in research projects)
Exceptional research record—strong thesis, publications, presentations, code, etc.
Well-crafted proposal within the AI in Science remit
Must secure an Imperial College mentor in a Natural Science or Engineering department (non-mathematics) before application—mentor agreement is essential

📝 Application Procedure

Submit to Imperial College’s I-X AI in Science portal (deadline: 24 September 2025), AND send a subset of documents to vacancies@aims.ac.za with subject “AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship” :

Full CV, including publications
Publication Elaboration (≤ 1 page): Outline contributions of up to 3 key papers for a general scientific reader
Research Proposal Summary (≤ 1 page): Explain the transformative potential of the proposed AI application
Full Research Proposal (≤ 3 pages): Background, hypotheses/aims, work packages—avoid repeating summary
Kindness Statement (¼ page): Reflect on the importance of kindness among scientists, given cohort activities and LMIC engagement

🤔 Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This is not a generic AI research role—it’s designed for applications of AI that substantially advance a specific domain of science. The program offers a rare dual-location fellowship, combining rigorous training, mentorship, and immersion in two distinct yet complementary research cultures. It’s ideal for candidates looking to become scientific leaders with a pan-African and global footprint.