UPenn and Microsoft Research India Research Fellows 2026: Pre-Doctoral AI Research Opportunities in Health, Education and Media

The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), through its Institute for the Advanced Study of India (UPIASI), in collaboration with Microsoft Research India, is inviting applications for two Research Fellow positions for recent graduates who intend to pursue a Ph.D. The fellows will work on research and development projects focused on using artificial intelligence to improve outcomes in health, education, communication, and media in India.

The two positions are designed to bring together academic research, artificial intelligence, field experimentation, technology development, and real-world deployment. Successful candidates will become full members of the research team, contributing to the development of AI systems, field studies, evaluations, data analysis, research papers, and other research outputs.

The positions are particularly suited to graduates interested in AI research, development economics, public policy, education technology, public health, computer science, data science, human-computer interaction, natural language processing, applied statistics, and technology for social impact.

Both positions are appointed through the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India and hosted at Microsoft Research in Bengaluru, India, with regular travel to field sites in Rajasthan, Delhi, and other locations in India.

Overview of the UPenn and Microsoft Research Fellowship

The new research program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Advanced Study of India is built around a field-first approach to artificial intelligence research.

Rather than developing AI systems exclusively in controlled laboratory environments, the research team aims to understand how these technologies work when they are introduced into real communities, institutions, classrooms, healthcare environments, and media ecosystems.

The program emphasizes three important stages:

1. Co-designing AI tools with local partners
2. Deploying the tools under real-world conditions
3. Evaluating the tools against the alternatives that people currently use

This approach is intended to produce AI systems that are not only technically effective but also culturally appropriate, practical, sustainable, and useful in the environments where they are deployed.

The fellows will therefore have an opportunity to work at the intersection of academic research and practical AI deployment.

Two Research Fellow Positions Are Available

The recruitment is for two complementary pre-doctoral Research Fellow positions.

1. Research Fellow – Field Research and Evaluation

The first position focuses primarily on the research, fieldwork, study design, evaluation, and data analysis side of the program.

The successful fellow will be responsible for helping design and manage studies that evaluate AI systems in real-world environments.

Key responsibilities and areas of work include:

• Designing research studies
• Developing evaluation strategies
• Supporting Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes and partner approvals
• Coordinating field teams
• Working with survey firms and research partners
• Managing data collection
• Monitoring data quality
• Conducting statistical analysis
• Contributing to research papers
• Evaluating AI tools against existing alternatives and practices
• Supporting research implementation in field locations
• Helping determine whether AI interventions produce meaningful improvements

This position would be particularly relevant to graduates with backgrounds in economics, public policy, development studies, statistics, or related disciplines.

Candidates with hands-on experience managing randomized controlled trials or comparable field studies are especially relevant to this role.

Experience at organizations or research institutions such as J-PAL, IPA, or equivalent research-management environments would be considered valuable.

2. Research Fellow – Tool Development and Deployment

The second position focuses on the development, implementation, deployment, and evaluation of AI-powered tools.

This role is intended for candidates with strong technical backgrounds who are interested in understanding how technology performs outside controlled laboratory environments.

The successful candidate may work on areas including:

• Artificial intelligence
• Machine learning
• Natural language processing
• Human-computer interaction
• Data science
• Applied statistics
• Software and tool development
• AI deployment
• Data analysis
• Technology for public health
• Education technology
• AI applications in media

The role also requires an interest in fieldwork because the systems being developed will ultimately be tested and used in real-world environments.

Candidates with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field are particularly encouraged to consider this position.

Research Areas Covered by the Fellowship

The fellows will contribute to several major research programs. These projects address practical problems in health, education, communication, and media.

Samvaad: AI Practice for Frontline Health Workers

One of the research programs is called Samvaad, which focuses on using AI to support India’s frontline health workers.

India has approximately one million Accredited Social Health Activists, commonly known as ASHAs. These workers perform important health-related and community-facing responsibilities.

Their work includes counseling families on issues such as:

• Contraception
• Vaccination
• Antenatal care
• Family health
• Other health-related decisions

However, health communication can be challenging because health workers sometimes have to address resistance or disagreement arising from household power dynamics and other social factors.

The research team is working with Khushi Baby to develop voice-based role-play tools that can help ASHAs practice difficult conversations.

The objective is to explore whether AI-powered practice environments can strengthen communication skills and improve the effectiveness of frontline health workers.

A fellow working on this program could therefore be involved in AI development, field deployment, research design, behavioral evaluation, data analysis, or a combination of these activities.

Clinical Communication Training with AIIMS New Delhi

Another research stream focuses on clinical communication training in partnership with AIIMS New Delhi.

Healthcare professionals frequently have to communicate difficult information to patients and caregivers. These conversations can involve complex medical, emotional, and interpersonal challenges.

The research team is developing and evaluating an AI-based communication training tool intended to help clinicians improve their communication and counseling abilities.

This work builds on previous research published at CSCW 2025.

For researchers interested in healthcare technology, human-computer interaction, AI-assisted training, public health, or communication, this research stream provides an opportunity to investigate how AI can support professional development in healthcare settings.

Bolo: AI Speaking Partners for Low-Income Classrooms

The Bolo research program focuses on spoken English and educational opportunity.

Spoken English can play an important role in economic mobility in India. However, students who could potentially benefit most from additional language practice often have fewer opportunities to practice speaking.

The research team previously field-tested an early version of a voice-based practice chatbot across four low-fee schools in Delhi.

That work was published at CHI 2026.

The next stage of the project will involve delivering a mobile-first version of the tool for sustained classroom use.

Researchers will evaluate outcomes including:

• English fluency
• Student confidence
• Willingness to communicate
• Opportunities for speaking practice
• How students interact with AI-based speaking partners
• The effectiveness of AI-supported language learning compared with existing approaches

This research stream could be particularly interesting to applicants interested in education technology, AI, natural language processing, HCI, learning sciences, or social-impact technology.

Kahani: AI, Entertainment Media and Social Norms

The Kahani research stream explores how entertainment media can influence social norms.

The project builds on an analysis of more than 250,000 films and television series across more than 20 countries.

The research examines how gender norms and other prosocial themes are communicated through:

• Films
• Television
• Digital media
• Entertainment content
• Other forms of popular media

The program also seeks to develop tools that can help:

• Researchers
• Policymakers
• Creative industries
• Other stakeholders

better understand and strengthen the positive social impact of entertainment media.

Applicants interested in AI, computational social science, media studies, gender and social norms research, data analysis, public policy, or digital media may find this research stream particularly relevant.

A Field-First Approach to Artificial Intelligence Research

A major distinguishing feature of these positions is the emphasis on taking AI beyond the laboratory.

The research team is interested in questions such as:

• Does an AI tool actually work when deployed in real communities?
• How do users interact with AI systems under real-world conditions?
• How does an AI intervention compare with existing alternatives?
• Are AI tools culturally appropriate?
• Can communities and institutions realistically sustain these technologies?
• What happens when technology is introduced into schools, healthcare environments, or media ecosystems?
• Can AI interventions produce measurable improvements in people’s lives?

The research program therefore combines technology development with rigorous evaluation.

This means fellows may not simply be building AI systems or conducting statistical analysis in isolation. They may be involved in understanding the entire lifecycle of an intervention, from design and development to deployment and evaluation.

Previous Research and Academic Work

The research program builds on previous work published at major academic venues.

The call references work associated with:

• CHI 2026
• CSCW 2025
• IC2S2 2026
• NAACL 2025

This provides prospective fellows with the opportunity to work within an active research environment connected to established academic research in AI, human-computer interaction, computational social science, communication, and related disciplines.

Who Is the Research Fellow Position Designed For?

The Research Fellow positions are intended primarily for recent graduates who plan to pursue a Ph.D.

The program follows the general model of the Microsoft Research India Research Fellow program, where fellows gain substantial research experience before potentially progressing to doctoral study.

Fellows will work as full members of the research team rather than simply performing administrative or support functions.

Their work may include:

• Building AI systems
• Designing research studies
• Running field experiments
• Deploying technology
• Collecting data
• Analyzing datasets
• Evaluating interventions
• Contributing to academic papers
• Working with research partners
• Participating in field activities
• Supporting real-world technology implementation

For graduates considering a future Ph.D., this can provide valuable experience in independent and collaborative research.

Qualifications for the Field Research and Evaluation Position

Candidates interested in the field research and evaluation position should ideally have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in one of the following areas:

• Economics
• Public Policy
• Development Studies
• Statistics
• A related quantitative or social science discipline

The strongest candidates are expected to have practical experience with field research.

Relevant experience includes:

• Randomized controlled trials
• Field experiments
• Development research
• Survey research
• Research management
• Field team coordination
• Data-quality management
• Partner coordination
• Statistical analysis

Experience working with organizations such as J-PAL, IPA, or comparable research institutions would be an advantage.

Technical and Research Skills

Applicants should ideally have:

• Strong applied statistics skills
• Fluency in Stata or R
• Familiarity with SurveyCTO or ODK
• Understanding of survey research
• Experience managing data collection
• Familiarity with research ethics and IRB processes
• Experience coordinating field teams or research partners

Fluency in Hindi or another Indian language is considered an asset, although it is not mandatory.

The ideal candidate should also be interested in understanding how AI tools perform in actual field settings and how they compare with the status quo.

Qualifications for the Tool Development and Deployment Position

Candidates applying for the technical position should ideally have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in:

• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Data Science
• A related technical discipline

Applicants should demonstrate strong programming ability and comfort working with data.

The research team is particularly interested in candidates who are curious about how technology behaves outside controlled laboratory environments.

Useful Technical Background

Coursework, research, or project experience in the following areas would be advantageous:

• Machine learning
• Natural language processing
• Human-computer interaction
• Applied statistics
• Artificial intelligence
• Data science
• Software development
• AI application development

Candidates should also be willing to spend time in the field because the position involves real-world deployment and evaluation.

The Two Positions Are Complementary

The research team has deliberately designed the two positions to complement one another.

The first fellow primarily owns the field research and evaluation side.

The second fellow primarily owns the tool development and deployment side.

This division allows the research program to combine rigorous research methodology with strong technical implementation.

However, applicants can indicate interest in either position or both positions.

Candidates who have interdisciplinary backgrounds may therefore find it useful to express interest in both roles where their experience supports both areas.

Location of the Fellowship

The fellows will be hosted at Microsoft Research in Bengaluru, India.

The position provides:

• Desk space
• A Microsoft Research account
• Access to Microsoft Research resources
• An opportunity to work alongside researchers
• Regular travel to field locations

Fieldwork will take place in locations including:

• Rajasthan
• Delhi
• Other locations in India

Applicants should therefore be prepared for a role that combines office-based research with travel and field activities.

Appointment Duration

The Research Fellow appointment is for two years.

The appointment will be made through the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India (UPIASI).

This provides fellows with the opportunity to spend an extended period working within an interdisciplinary research environment before pursuing longer-term academic or professional goals.

Compensation and Benefits

The call states that compensation will be competitive and benchmarked to Microsoft Research India Research Fellow standards.

The position also provides access to a research environment associated with both the University of Pennsylvania and Microsoft Research.

In addition to compensation, the research experience itself can be valuable for candidates preparing for future doctoral study or research-intensive careers.

Fellows will have opportunities to participate in research projects, develop technical or research-management skills, contribute to academic publications, and work with researchers and partner organizations.

Collaborating Institutions and Organizations

The research program brings together several institutions and organizations.

These include:

• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India
• University of Pennsylvania Center for the Advanced Study of India
• Computational Social Listening Lab
• Annenberg School for Communication
• UPenn School of Nursing
• Microsoft Research India
• AIIMS New Delhi
• Khushi Baby

This interdisciplinary network reflects the broad nature of the program, combining computer science, social science, health, communication, education, and field research.

Start Date

The selected candidates are expected to begin as soon as possible.

Applicants should therefore be prepared for the possibility of a relatively prompt start following selection and appointment.

Deadline for Applications

There is no fixed application deadline stated in the call.

Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

This means interested candidates should avoid waiting until a particular date because the recruitment process may close once suitable candidates have been selected.

Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

Early application is therefore strongly recommended.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should complete the official application form:

Apply through the official UPenn + MSR Research Fellows application form

Applicants can indicate whether they are interested in:

• Field Research and Evaluation
• Tool Development and Deployment
• Both positions

Candidates should ensure that their application clearly demonstrates how their academic background, research experience, technical skills, fieldwork experience, or interdisciplinary interests relate to the program.

More information can be found HERE

For more fellowship opportunities visit the OFY Website HERE

Informal Enquiries

Candidates who have questions about the opportunity can contact one of the listed research leaders:

• Mohit Jain
• Gareth Nellis
• Sharath Chandra Guntuku

For informal enquiries, applicants are instructed to use the following subject-line format:

[UPenn + MSR Research Fellow + ‘–‘ + Your Last Name]

A well-prepared enquiry should be specific and demonstrate that the applicant has reviewed the research program and understands the role they are interested in.

Who Should Apply?

This opportunity could be particularly suitable for recent graduates who are considering careers or further study in areas such as:

• Artificial intelligence
• Machine learning
• Computer science
• Data science
• Economics
• Development economics
• Public policy
• Development studies
• Statistics
• Public health
• Education technology
• Human-computer interaction
• Natural language processing
• Computational social science
• Communication research
• Media research

It may also be a strong fit for candidates who are specifically planning to pursue a Ph.D. and want to strengthen their research profile before doctoral study.

What Makes This Opportunity Different?

Several features make the fellowship particularly notable.

1. Real-world AI research

The projects are designed to move beyond theoretical AI research and examine what happens when AI tools are actually used by health workers, clinicians, students, researchers, and other users.

2. Strong interdisciplinary environment

The program combines computer science and AI with economics, public policy, health, education, communication, development research, and media studies.

3. Access to Microsoft Research

The fellows will be hosted at Microsoft Research in Bengaluru and receive access to MSR resources.

4. University of Pennsylvania affiliation

The appointment is through UPIASI, creating a connection to the University of Pennsylvania’s research ecosystem.

5. Opportunity to contribute to publications

Fellows will work as full members of the research team and contribute to research papers and other outputs.

6. Strong preparation for Ph.D. study

Because the positions are explicitly designed for recent graduates intending to pursue a Ph.D., the fellowship can provide valuable preparation for doctoral research.

7. Fieldwork experience

The positions offer exposure to real-world research environments, including field sites in India.

Application Tips

Applicants should tailor their applications to the particular position they want to pursue.

If applying for Field Research and Evaluation

Emphasize:

• Field research experience
• Randomized controlled trials
• Survey research
• Statistical analysis
• Stata or R
• Research management
• Field team coordination
• Data-quality management
• IRB or research ethics experience
• Work with research organizations or survey firms

If you have experience at J-PAL, IPA, or a comparable institution, make that experience prominent.

If applying for Tool Development and Deployment

Emphasize:

• Programming skills
• AI projects
• Machine learning
• NLP
• HCI
• Data science
• Applied statistics
• Software development
• Technical research projects
• Experience deploying technology
• Experience working with real-world users

Applicants should not simply list programming languages or courses. Where possible, they should demonstrate what they actually built, analyzed, deployed, or researched.

If applying for both positions

Make the interdisciplinary nature of your background clear.

Explain how your skills could contribute to both:

Building and deploying AI systems

and

Evaluating those systems in real-world environments.

Important Things Applicants Should Understand

This is not presented as a conventional internship or short-term training program.

It is a two-year pre-doctoral research position intended for recent graduates planning to pursue a Ph.D.

Applicants should also understand that the work is not exclusively desk-based.

The program involves field research and deployment, including travel to locations such as Rajasthan and Delhi.

Candidates should therefore be comfortable working in environments that combine:

• Research
• Technology
• Data
• Fieldwork
• Collaboration
• Academic writing
• Real-world implementation

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a Ph.D. scholarship?

No. The opportunity is a pre-doctoral Research Fellow position, not a direct Ph.D. scholarship. It is intended for recent graduates who plan to pursue a Ph.D.

How many positions are available?

There are two positions.

One focuses on field research and evaluation, while the other focuses on tool development and deployment.

Can I apply for both positions?

Yes. Candidates may indicate interest in either or both roles.

Is there a fixed deadline?

No fixed calendar deadline is provided. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

Where is the position based?

The fellows will be hosted at Microsoft Research in Bengaluru, India.

Will the fellows travel?

Yes. The positions include regular travel to field sites, including Rajasthan, Delhi, and other locations in India.

How long is the appointment?

The appointment is for two years.

What degree is required for the field research role?

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Economics, Public Policy, Development Studies, Statistics, or a related field is preferred.

What degree is required for the technical role?

A bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field is preferred.

Is knowledge of Hindi required?

No. Hindi or another Indian language is an asset for the field research position but is not required.

Is programming experience required for both positions?

Strong programming skills are particularly relevant to the Tool Development and Deployment position. The Field Research and Evaluation role instead emphasizes applied statistics, research management, fieldwork, and evaluation skills.

Conclusion

The UPenn + Microsoft Research India Research Fellows Call 2026 presents an opportunity for recent graduates to participate in ambitious research examining how artificial intelligence can be designed, deployed, and evaluated in real-world settings.

The two available positions provide different but complementary pathways. The Field Research and Evaluation role is particularly suited to candidates with backgrounds in economics, public policy, development studies, statistics, and field research, while the Tool Development and Deployment role is aimed more toward candidates with backgrounds in computer science, engineering, data science, and related technical disciplines.

The research itself covers important areas including frontline healthcare, clinical communication, English-language education, entertainment media, and social norms. By combining AI development with rigorous field evaluation, the program seeks to understand not only whether AI systems can work technically, but whether they can create meaningful and sustainable improvements in people’s lives.

For recent graduates considering a future Ph.D. and interested in AI, social impact, technology, health, education, development, or interdisciplinary research, this fellowship could provide valuable hands-on research experience and exposure to an international academic and technology ecosystem.

Because applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled, prospective applicants should prepare their materials and submit their applications as early as possible