Polyfoni, an Oslo-based organization that brings social science expertise into AI development, is recruiting for its Social Sciences for AI Fellowship 2026-2027. Over four months, part-time and remote, fellows run a cultural audit of an AI product deployed in a region they know, with academic and industry mentors. Applications close October 15, 2026, and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
At a glance
| Deadline | October 15, 2026 (rolling review) |
| Who can apply | MSc and PhD students and early-career researchers in the social sciences and humanities |
| Duration | November 2026 to March 2027, about 5 hours per week |
| Format | Remote |
| What you get | Dual mentorship, training in the Cultural Audit Method, and a published research report under your name |
| Official link | Polyfoni fellowship page |
What is a cultural audit of an AI product?
Polyfoni defines it as a structured empirical analysis of how a specific AI product encodes assumptions about the context where it is deployed, and where those assumptions break. The work covers assumption mapping, identifying contextual failures, assessing their severity and writing recommendations.
Who’s eligible?
According to the official fellowship page, Polyfoni is looking for:
- MSc and PhD students and early-career researchers.
- Backgrounds in anthropology, sociology, STS, development studies, political science, the humanities or area studies.
- Fieldwork experience in Global South contexts and demonstrated regional expertise.
- English proficiency.
Note for readers in the Arab world: priority regions for this round are East Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America and China. The Middle East and North Africa is not on that list, although the page does not explicitly exclude other regions and encourages people to apply even if they do not meet every qualification.
What do fellows get?
- Dual mentorship from an academic and an industry professional.
- Training in Polyfoni’s Cultural Audit Method.
- Online masterclasses and monthly group sessions.
- A published research report under the fellow’s name.
- Career guidance and networking.
The official page does not mention a stipend or other compensation.
How do you apply?
- Write a motivation statement of up to 500 words in English.
- Submit it through the official application form before October 15, 2026. Applying early helps, since review is rolling.
- Shortlisted candidates move to a CV review and an interview with the Polyfoni team.
Questions: contact@polyfoni.no.
Key dates
- Application deadline: October 15, 2026
- Fellowship starts: November 2026
- Fellowship ends: March 2027
FAQ
Do I need a technical AI background?
The page does not require one. The fellowship targets social scientists and includes methods training.
Is the fellowship paid?
Polyfoni does not mention a stipend.
Can I do it alongside studies or work?
Yes. It is remote and takes about 5 hours per week.
More opportunities on al-khwarizmi: Perplexity Research Fellowship 2027 and OpenAI AI and Teen Development Research Grant Program.
