U.S.-India AI Fellowship Program 2024-2025
Note: Applications are now closed. We will be in touch with selected candidates soon.
The Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and ORF America are excited to announce the U.S.-India AI Fellowship Program 2024-2025. The program seeks to support innovative policy solutions, AI research, promote cross-cultural understanding, and build lasting professional relationships between young leaders interested in advancing AI cooperation between India and the United States. The inaugural one-year AI Fellowship Program will bring together a cohort of 20 diverse, early and mid-career professionals and emerging leaders (10 from India and 10 from the United States) with diverse backgrounds in industry, government, academia, and civil society, and expertise and interest in AI, the economy, and society.
Fellowship Overview:
The U.S.-India AI Fellowship Program is a 12-month program designed for outstanding early and mid-career professionals and emerging leaders in industry, government, academia, and civil society who are passionate about advancing and leveraging the field of artificial intelligence as a force for the collective good. Fellows of the inaugural cohort will have the opportunity to learn about current AI policy and technology developments, participate in in-person meetings in the United States, India, and the UAE, attend AI seminars and lectures with leading policy, industry and technology experts in the field, while also working independently and in cooperation with other fellows on their own research and analysis. The AI Fellowship Program is organized alongside the U.S.-India AI Task Force, a group of high-level experts set out to draft principles and recommendations for future U.S. and India technology relations. Fellows will have opportunities to interact with and contribute to the AI Task Force.
Activities and Benefit:
Convening: Fellows will participate in three in-person conferences in Washington, D.C., New Delhi, and Abu Dhabi. Related travel and accommodation expenses are covered by the fellowship.
Training: Fellows will have access to dedicated in-person seminars and virtual lectures focused on U.S.-India cooperation on AI policy, technology, business, and the latest in AI developments and R&D.
Research: During the fellowship, Fellows will each author one short-form article on a current AI or AI-related policy topic, one longer piece for an edited volume, and contribute to a vision document and blueprint for U.S.-India AI cooperation.
Networking: Fellows will build lasting professional and personal connections with other fellows, AI experts and meet senior government officials and industry leaders as part of the program.
Eligibility:
Applicants should be early or mid-career professionals between 25-40 years with strong interests in AI, technology and public policy, and U.S.-India relations.
Applicants must hold a Bachelor, Masters, and/or PhD degree in a relevant field with at least 2 years of professional experience in industry, government, academia, and civil society and a demonstrated professional or academic track record.
Intellectually curious and willing to explore beyond their comfort zone.
Willing to actively participate, openly share professional knowledge and learn from other participants.
Ability to engage in English in a professional in-person conference and virtual meeting settings.
Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or India or have a student or working visa in one of the countries. Selected fellows must commit to participate in all aspects of the program and able to travel to Abu Dhabi (Fall 2024), New Delhi (Spring 2025) and Washington, D.C. (Fall 2025). ORF and ORF America will provide a visa letter, but fellows must secure their own visa.
AI Fellows are expected to spend between 16-20 hours per month to fulfill the program’s requirements, in addition to attending all 3 in-person meetings.
Selection Process: Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee from both the United States and India. Successful applicants will be notified in the last week of September 2024. ORF and ORF America are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all our programs. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.
Contact Information: For more information about the U.S.-India AI Fellowship Program and the application process, please contact ORF America at orfamerica@orfamerica.org.