Are you a humanities or social science researcher, interested in understanding, challenging, and reshaping current policies around generative AI? Would you like to be part of a virtual collective of researchers working on AI and society? Have you ever wanted to spend time at another university as a Visiting Fellow, but financial constraints, visa restrictions, teaching, caring responsibilities, or disability have prevented you from doing so? We have the answer! DISC (Digital Society Research Group), Manchester Metropolitan University, UK and the CDEP (Center for Digital Ethics & Policy), Loyola University, Chicago, US are launching a collaborative Virtual Visiting Fellowship initiative designed to be internationally welcoming. The Virtual Fellowship takes place over the period of several months. We are inviting Visiting Fellows to spend time with us online, synchronously and asynchronously, by presenting your work and attending our online events, connecting to other DISC and CDEP researchers and most importantly, contributing to a joint DISC/CDEP Policy Report on Generative AI, leading to a Digital Ethics & Policymaking Summer School. Training opportunities will be provided during the Fellowship. Fellowship alumni may opt to retain associate and/or affiliate membership with the partnering organisations upon completion of their fellowship terms.
- Timing: The Visiting Fellowship will be awarded for four months and will take place during April-July 2026.
- Commitment: approximately one day a week, over the entire duration.
- Non-residential nature: the schedule is flexible, but the Fellows must commit to attending all the events detailed in this call.
Dates and times of the events will be finalised after the successful Fellows are announced, to ensure availability and to accommodate multiple time zones.
As all activities take place online, the Virtual Fellowships are generally self-funded. Separate events may be specifically sponsored.
Application Requirements
The Fellowship is open to established academics, as well as doctoral students in advanced stages of their degree; and early career/ postdoctoral researchers. Researchers without current institutional affiliation and independent scholars are welcome to apply.
The applicants must already be working on critical approaches to AI policy/intervention into AI policy but can be at any stage of their research (literature review, data collection, or writing up).
During the Fellowship, the applicants will be required to:
- Write a public-facing article about their work and the focus of their policy intervention.
- Engage with other fellows and affiliate members by presenting in, and attending, an online seminar.
- Attend a training workshop on policy interventions.
- Develop their contribution to the Policy Report.
- Present their contribution at the Online Digital Ethics & Policymaking Summer School.
- Help disseminate the Report after publication
How to Apply
Application must include the following information
- A 500-word Fellowship plan (to include a 300-word description of your expertise and research interests, including your experience with policy-related research, and a 200-word statement on your goals for the Fellowship)
- A 500 description of your critical approach to AI policy (to include information on geo-political context (which country/ region); your topic (i.e. policy on AI and education; or AI and safety; or AI and the environment); which data you are analysing; which stage of research are you at; and what will you be working on at the time of the Fellowship (i.e. literature review; data collection; data analysis; writing for publication etc.)
- A 2-page CV
Please submit your application via this form
Timeline
- Deadline for applications: 27 February 2026
- Application outcomes announced: 9 March 2026
- Fellowship commences: 13 April 2026
- Online Summer School: June 2026 (dates TBC)
- Fellowship ends: 17 July