Artificial intelligence is one of the defining governance challenges of our time. Yet political scientists and other social scientists — whose expertise in institutions, regulatory politics, democratic governance, warfare, and political economy is directly relevant — remain largely absent from policy conversations on the issue. The AI Academic Upskilling Program at the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative (AIGI) is designed to bridge this gap.
The AIGI Academic Upskilling Program will train an inaugural cohort of 15-20 fellows through online meetings and workshops, and an in-person conference in Oxford from 8-10 October 2026. All travel and accommodation costs for the conference will be covered by the program.
Fellows will receive monthly online training sessions covering AI fundamentals, the current governance landscape, and pressing policy debates, with no prior technical background required. They will be paired with small-groups to develop original research proposals. The October conference will include additional training sessions, feedback on research proposals, and opportunities to network with AI experts. Following the conference, fellows will be eligible to apply for competitive seed grants and course buyouts to support their research.
We are particularly interested in scholars whose expertise speaks to one or more of the following areas, among others: the design and effectiveness of international institutions and monitoring regimes; comparative regulatory politics and the dynamics of industry governance; the political economy of technology competition; public and elite opinion formation around emerging risks; crisis management and inflection points in international politics; and the relationship between AI and authoritarian politics or democratic backsliding. Applicants are not expected to have prior knowledge of AI — the program is explicitly designed to provide that foundation. We are seeking a cohort that reflects a range of career stages and a diversity of national and regional perspectives.
Applications should include a short statement describing interests and experience with public-facing scholarship, as well as a brief account of how you anticipate using the skills and connections gained through the program. Full application details and guidelines are available here. The deadline for applications is 10 May 2026. Inquiries may be directed to Julia Morse at julia.morse@oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk.
