Metascience & AI Fellowship 2025: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping science and research in profound ways. From streamlining data analysis to generating scientific papers, AI is becoming an indispensable tool across disciplines. As this technological shift unfolds, early-career researchers now have a chance to be at the forefront of this change. The Metascience & AI Fellowship 2025 is your opportunity to explore and influence how AI is transforming the scientific ecosystem – but there’s no time to waste. Applications must be submitted by April 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET).
Administered by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, this postdoctoral fellowship is a prestigious, fully-funded opportunity supporting researchers from a wide variety of academic backgrounds who are examining the implications of AI on science itself. Whether you’re a philosopher studying epistemology, a sociologist researching institutional change, a policy analyst focused on scientific governance, or a data scientist considering the ethical use of algorithms in research, this fellowship offers a critical platform to contribute meaningfully to these conversations.
Metascience & AI Fellowship 2025
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | April 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET |
| Funding Amount | Up to $250,000 USD over 2 years |
| Eligibility | PhD holders or equivalent experience; must not hold a tenure-track position |
| Research Focus | Impact of AI on research practices, epistemology, ethics, methods, and public policy |
| Sponsoring Organization | Alfred P. Sloan Foundation |
| Apply Here | Application Portal |
The Metascience & AI Fellowship 2025 is a rare opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the practice, purpose, and perception of science. With up to $250,000 in flexible funding, access to a world-class research network, and the freedom to pursue innovative ideas, this fellowship empowers early-career scholars to think beyond traditional academic boundaries.
Whether your passion lies in algorithmic accountability, open science, interdisciplinary methods, or scientific governance, this is your chance to contribute to a body of knowledge that could shape research institutions for years to come.
Don’t delay. Submit your application before April 10, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET – and take your place in shaping the future of science.
What Is the Metascience & AI Fellowship?
The Metascience and AI Postdoctoral Fellowship is a funding initiative supporting in-depth, cross-disciplinary research at the intersection of AI and the scientific enterprise. The program is part of Sloan’s Digital Technology program and is intended to address how AI impacts the structures, methodologies, practices, and ethical considerations of modern scientific inquiry.
Each fellow is eligible for up to $250,000 in financial support over two years. This funding can be used toward salary, research expenses, conferences, software, fieldwork, and other project-related costs. The fellowship enables emerging researchers to explore new ideas without the immediate pressure of publishing traditional outputs, encouraging creative, rigorous, and impactful scholarship.
Examples of Research Themes:
- AI’s role in hypothesis generation and validation
- The ethics of delegating scientific reasoning to machines
- How peer review processes are evolving with automated tools
- How institutional funding structures are adapting to AI
- Risks and opportunities of algorithmic bias in scientific decision-making
- Comparative studies of AI integration in different national or disciplinary contexts
Why This Fellowship Matters
In today’s research environment, AI doesn’t just assist scientists — it sometimes co-authors with them. Tools like large language models (LLMs), robotic lab automation, and machine learning-based simulations are rapidly redefining the research lifecycle.
However, this transformation also raises important concerns. Who is accountable for machine-generated insights? Are algorithms reinforcing biases in scientific literature? How does the adoption of AI affect the credibility of scientific knowledge? These questions, and many more, need serious attention.
This fellowship enables early-career researchers to investigate these questions and produce knowledge that guides institutions, funders, and the broader public. Sloan Foundation’s support ensures that this work is not only rigorous but also visible and impactful.
“AI is no longer just a tool — it’s becoming a co-producer of knowledge. Understanding that shift is urgent.” – Sloan Foundation
Who Should Apply?
This fellowship is designed for emerging scholars and professionals with a demonstrated interest in metascience, ethics, innovation policy, and interdisciplinary research. Ideal applicants include:
- Social scientists studying how AI changes academic incentives or collaboration networks
- Philosophers exploring the nature of evidence, trust, and explanation in AI-mediated science
- Policy experts looking at regulation and governance of scientific AI
- Computer scientists interested in the social or philosophical implications of their tools
- Science and technology studies (STS) scholars focused on the cultural transformation of research
- Economists or historians examining innovation and knowledge production
Applicants must hold a PhD or demonstrate equivalent expertise, with clear evidence of independent research. They must not already hold a tenure-track or permanent academic position, ensuring that the program supports truly early-career investigators.
Application Requirements & Submission Process
Prospective applicants must submit their complete application via the official Sloan Foundation portal. Due to high interest, it’s essential to prepare well in advance and ensure that all parts of the application are complete.
Required Application Materials:
- Vision Statement (max 2,000 words): Describe your proposed research topic, methods, objectives, and potential significance.
- Career Development Plan (max 1,000 words): Highlight how this fellowship supports your professional trajectory and intellectual goals.
- Two Letters of Recommendation: Ideally from senior scholars who can assess your research capacity and originality.
- Institutional Letter of Support: A letter from your prospective host institution committing to administrative backing.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Include academic background, publications, awards, and professional experience.
- Budget and Timeline: Provide an estimated breakdown of how the fellowship funds will be used over the two-year period.
Final Deadline: April 10, 2025, by 5:00 PM ET
Reminder: All documents must be uploaded through the portal. Submissions past the deadline will not be considered under any circumstances.
Pro Tips for Crafting a Strong Proposal
- Be Ambitious Yet Grounded – Frame bold questions but support them with a clear methodology.
- Clarify Societal Impact – Articulate how your findings might influence research practice or policy.
- Demonstrate Interdisciplinary Insight – Draw from more than one discipline to show the complexity of your inquiry.
- Build on Existing Debates – Position your work within current discussions around AI, metascience, or ethics.
- Secure a Supportive Host – Make sure your host institution is aligned with your goals and familiar with interdisciplinary research.
FAQs on Metascience & AI Fellowship 2025
Q1: Is the fellowship open to applicants from all countries?
A: Yes. International scholars are welcome as long as they can obtain sponsorship from a host institution and comply with local residency or visa regulations.
Q2: What if I don’t have a PhD?
A: You can still apply if you can demonstrate equivalent experience, such as impactful work in industry, policy, or innovation settings.
Q3: Can I hold another fellowship or grant simultaneously?
A: Typically no. The Sloan Foundation expects fellows to be fully engaged in this program, but check with your host institution for specific guidance.
Q4: Is the project expected to produce academic publications?
A: While traditional outputs are welcome, the program encourages experimentation with alternative formats, including policy briefs, open data sets, or community engagement.
Q5: Will there be opportunities for networking or mentorship?
A: Yes. Fellows may be invited to annual conferences, workshops, and Sloan-sponsored networking events.
