The BRAID Fellowships aim to bring together UK-based researchers from across the arts and humanities to drive responsible AI innovation, in partnership with the BBC and the Ada Lovelace Institute, and supported by a series of other stakeholders beyond academia.
Open Call
29 September to
4 December 2023
What are the BRAID fellowships?
The fellowships form part of the overall engagement strand of BRAID, a national research programme led by the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with the Ada Lovelace Institute and the BBC. The programme is dedicated to integrating the whole range of arts and humanities research more fully into the responsible AI ecosystem, as well as bridging the divides between academic, industry, policy and regulatory work on responsible AI.
Funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council, BRAID will establish a cohort of researchers working to:
1.
Build new partnerships between academia, industry, policymakers, and wider publics.
2.
Identify and lower barriers to the adoption of responsible AI frameworks and practices.
The fellowships aim to enable and support research contributions on the following themes:
1. AI for Humane Innovation
—integrating within AI research the humanistic perspectives that enable the personal, cultural, and political flourishing of human beings, by weaving historical, philosophical, literary and other humane arts into dialogue with AI communities of research, policy and practice
2. AI for Inspired Innovation
—infusing the AI ecosystem with more vibrant, imaginative and creative visions of responsible AI futures
3. AI for Equitable Innovation
—directing research and policy attention to the need to ensure that broader UK publics, particularly those marginalised within the digital economy, can expect more sustainable and equitable futures from AI development
4. AI for Resilient Innovation
—encouraging uplifting research, policy and practise to ensure AI ameliorates growing threats to global and national security, the rule of law, liberty, and social cohesion
The fellowships are open to researchers at any stage of their career and we encourage new as well as established voices to help co-shape, interrogate and enrich visions of AI that support human flourishing.
To reach early career researchers and underrepresented voices and engage with researchers that may not have established contacts beyond academia—but have excellent knowledge and ideas—we have reached out to a series of stakeholders to set challenges for us that cover a range of expertise and experience.
Application
There are two models for applying:
Academic-led
Applicants identify their own responsible AI challenge and secure the support of their own stakeholder beyond academia to work alongside.
Challenge-led
Applicants respond to one of a series of responsible AI challenges that various stakeholders beyond academia have developed for BRAID.
Application Process
1. Browse the website and review our Guidance Notes.
Please also see our further information for an overview of the BRAID programme, information about arts and humanities research, questions and answers, and updates on the funding call.
2. Consider attending an information session.
We are holding a Webinar on Wednesday 4 October 2023 at 2pm and an Information Evening on Friday 13 October 2023 at 3pm at the Ada Lovelace Institute in London. Applicants are also invited book a 20-minute session with the BRAID team to discuss your proposals on Tuesday 31 October 2023, 14 November 2023 and 28 November 2023 or can email braid@ed.ac.uk with any queries.
2. Submit relevant Expressions of Interest form as early as possible.
We ask that Expressions of Interest be provided as soon as you can, and in any event by Monday 20 November 2023. These forms will not be used for assessment purposes but will help us to put applicants in touch with relevant stakeholders where needed, and to coordinate the review panel over the New Year period.
3. Submit completed Application Form by 10am GMT on Monday, 4 December 2023.
Application Timeline
| Call opens | Friday, 29 September 2023 |
| Webinar | Wednesday, 4 October 2023 at 2pm |
| Info Evening | Friday, 13 October 2023 at 3pm |
| Expressions of Interest close | 20 November 2023 |
| Applications close | Monday, 4 December 2023 at 10am GMT |
| Review Panel | Early February 2024 |
| Decisions communicated | Mid February 2024 |
| Fellowship start date | 1 May or 1 November 2024 |
| Fellowship end date | 30 November 2025 |
Documentation
Expression of Interest
Challenge-led ↗
Expression of Interest
Academic-led ↗
Letter of Support
Academic-led NAS ↗
Letter of Support
UK Research Organisation ↗
Events and further information
In this section applicants can learn more about the application process and programme aims. Details of our events are listed below and our further information page provides additional information and context for the BRAID programme, the fellowships and the funding call.
Please contact braid@ed.ac.uk with any queries you might have or if we can help with any access needs.
Individual Q&A sessions (online)
Update: Our Q&A sessions are fully booked and we are working towards adding future dates.
In the meantime, please email braid@ed.ac.uk with any queries.
Previous events
Webinar
Wednesday, 4 October 2023
Information Evening
Friday, 13 October 2023
Ada Lovelace Institute
London
“For AI technologies to be successfully integrated into society in ways that promote shared human flourishing, their development has to be guided by more than technical acumen. A responsible AI ecosystem must meld scientific and technical expertise with the humanistic knowledge, creative vision and practical insights needed to guide AI innovation wisely. This programme will work across disciplines, sectors and publics to lay the foundations of that ecosystem.”
Professor Shannon Vallor
“We have reached a critical point within responsible AI development. There now exists a foundation of good practice, however it is rarely connected to the sites where innovation and change happen, such as industry and policy. We hope that this programme will make new connections, creating an ecosystem where responsibility is not the last, but the first thought in AI innovation.”
Professor Ewa Luger