About the programme
The IX-WAI network offers small early career grants to support activities such as conference registration, workshops, training and travel that build AI skills and networks. Applicants complete a pre-selection online form, and shortlisted applicants give a short online interview. Online courses are generally not funded when free equivalents exist. Recipients must confirm attendance and provide a published feedback paragraph afterwards.
Eligibility
- Identify as a woman or non-binary individual (other gender-discriminated groups also referenced by the network)
- Currently at Master's, PhD or postdoctoral level at Imperial College London
- Interested in learning about AI or currently working in the field
- Not previously awarded this grant
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What they look for
- Proposed activity should have AI at its core, including scientific applications
- Demonstrated meaningful impact on academic, research or professional development
- Clearly identified skills and competencies to be developed
- Justification of timing and whether alternative funding exists
- Knowledge sharing and alignment with WAI's vision
Limits on using AI. Applicants must not use generative AI to write the initial proposal or the personal motivation and career impact sections. AI may only be used for translation, improving English, or formatting/reducing word count. AI must not be used to prepare interview slides.
What you will need
- Online application form
- Fully justified budget (up to £1,000)
- Departmental account number of supervisor/mentor
- One-sentence purpose statement
- Brief proposal (up to 300 words)
- Expected career impact statement (up to 100 words)
- Curriculum Vitae
How to apply
- Stage 1: online pre-selection form submitted by 23:45 on 4 January 2027
- Stage 2: shortlisted applicants give a 15-minute online interview (5-minute presentation, 10 minutes of questions) expected in the last week of January 2027
- Activity must take place at least two months after the application deadline; funds cannot be used retrospectively
- Decisions made once a term; four grants awarded annually across two calls
Applications are submitted on I-X Women in AI Network (IX-WAI), Imperial College London’s own site. Open Doors helps you prepare; it is not the official application portal.
From people who applied
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Source and verification
- Official source
- I-X Women in AI Network (IX-WAI), Imperial College London
- Last checked
- 13 Nov 2026, read automatically from the official page
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