IHS AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant 2027 – Up to $20,000

The IHS AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant Program 2027 is a research funding opportunity for academic scholars studying how artificial intelligence is changing work, employment, productivity, occupations, economic opportunity, and innovation.

The program is offered by the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) and provides grants of up to $20,000. IHS also notes that larger awards may be considered for exceptional projects.

The application deadline is 15 December 2026, and funding decisions are expected on 15 January 2027. Applicants from outside the United States can be considered, provided they meet IHS eligibility rules and hold an eligible academic position at an accredited institution.

Quick Facts
🎓 Opportunity Type: Faculty Research Grant
🇺🇸 Sponsor Location: United States
🏛️ Sponsor: Institute for Humane Studies (IHS)
💰 Funding: Up to $20,000
🌍 Eligibility: Academic scholars; international applicants may apply
📅 Deadline: 15 December 2026
📢 Decisions: 15 January 2027
🧠 Research Focus: AI, employment, productivity, occupational change, economic opportunity and innovation

If you are interested in AI-related research opportunities, you may also want to see our guides to the Fully Funded PhD in Human-in-the-Loop Autonomous Systems and the Chalmers Physics-Guided AI PhD opportunity.

IHS AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant 2027 – Quick Summary

What Is the IHS AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant?

The Institute for Humane Studies is inviting research proposals that examine how artificial intelligence may shape the workforce over time.

IHS says there is strong debate about the effect of AI on work, but more long-term research and reliable data are needed. The grant is intended to support scholars who can help fill that gap through rigorous academic research.

IHS is especially interested in proposals that cross traditional academic boundaries and bring together ideas from different disciplines.

Research Areas Supported

Proposals should focus on how artificial intelligence affects the workforce. Relevant research topics can include:

• Employment and job creation
• Worker productivity
• Occupational change
• Economic opportunity
• Innovation
• Long-term changes in the structure of work
• Interdisciplinary questions connecting AI with economics, public policy, business, or social science

Possible research outputs can include peer-reviewed publications, policy white papers, or shareable research databases.

How Much Funding Is Available?

Awarded scholars may receive up to $20,000.

IHS also states that larger awards may be considered for exceptional projects. Applicants should therefore prepare a clear research plan and a realistic budget that explains how the requested funding will support the project.

What Can the Grant Pay For?

IHS lists several eligible uses of grant funding.

Travel and Research Activities

• Travel to present research at conferences
• Travel for archival research
• Research collaboration
• Hiring a research assistant

Data and Research Materials

• Purchasing research datasets
• LLM subscriptions used for specialized research sources
• Other approved research materials directly connected to the project

Publishing and Dissemination

• Journal submission fees
• Book publication expenses
• Copyediting
• Indexing
• Preparation of research manuscripts

Expenses That Are Not Eligible

The official IHS grant page states that the following expenses are not eligible:

• Living expenses
• Hardware purchases
• Retroactive expenses incurred before the application
• Conference travel without a scheduled presentation
• Institutional overhead or indirect costs

ScholarInt Tip: Build your budget around direct research costs. If you are unsure whether an expense qualifies, check the official IHS Funding FAQ before submitting.

Who Can Apply?

This call is aimed at academic scholars whose research is directly related to AI and workforce outcomes.

IHS says applicants do not need to have received previous IHS support. Its funding FAQ also states that eligible applicants outside the United States may apply for consideration.

For IHS academic funding generally, applicants are expected to hold an eligible full-time graduate student or faculty position at an accredited college or university. For this particular call, the program is specifically presented as a faculty research opportunity.

Do You Need to Be Affiliated With IHS?

No. Prior IHS affiliation or previous IHS funding is not required.

The official IHS Funding FAQ says applications are open to eligible scholars at accredited institutions, including applicants who are not based in the United States or at George Mason University.

What Makes a Strong Research Proposal?

IHS does not publish a simple scoring checklist on the public page, but its guidance makes several priorities clear.

• The project should directly engage the AI-and-workforce research questions in the call.
• The research question should be clear and important.
• The proposed approach should be academically rigorous.
• The project should explain how the grant will be used.
• Interdisciplinary proposals are especially welcome.
• The planned output should be useful for academic or public understanding.

IHS also notes that proposals that avoid or only loosely connect to the central research questions are less likely to be competitive.

Possible Research Deliverables

The program allows several types of research outputs. These can include:

• Peer-reviewed journal publications
• Policy white papers
• Shareable research databases
• Other research products that clearly address the program’s questions

Application Deadline and Decision Date

The application deadline is 15 December 2026.

IHS plans to announce funding decisions on 15 January 2027.

Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day, especially if they need time to prepare a research budget, proposal, or supporting documents.

How to Apply for the IHS AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant 2027

Step 1: Read the Official Research Call

Start by reviewing the official AI and the Workforce page and make sure your project directly addresses the research focus.

Step 2: Define a Clear Research Question

Explain what you want to study about AI and the workforce, why the question matters, and what gap your research will address.

Step 3: Prepare Your Research Plan and Budget

Outline your research activities, expected outputs, and the costs you want IHS to support. Make sure the proposed expenses fall within the eligible categories.

Step 4: Complete the Online Application

Follow the application link on the official IHS page and complete all required sections carefully.

Step 5: Submit Before 15 December 2026

Review the application before submitting and keep a copy of your proposal and budget for your records.

How to Improve Your Application

Stay Close to the Research Call

Do not turn the application into a general AI proposal. Show exactly how your research will improve understanding of AI and workforce change.

Explain the Long-Term Value

The program is interested in long-term research and data. Explain how your work can produce findings that remain useful beyond a short news cycle.

Use an Interdisciplinary Angle Where It Helps

IHS specifically welcomes proposals that bridge disciplines. If your project combines areas such as AI, economics, public policy, business, or social science, make that connection clear.

Make the Budget Specific

Explain why each major cost is necessary for the project. A clear budget is stronger than a broad request for the maximum award.

Define a Real Research Output

State whether the project is expected to produce a journal article, white paper, database, or another research output.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the IHS AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant?

It is a research grant for academic scholars studying the long-term effects of artificial intelligence on work, employment, productivity, occupational change, economic opportunity, and innovation.

2. How much funding is available?

Awarded scholars may receive up to $20,000. IHS says larger awards may be considered for exceptional projects.

3. Who can apply?

The opportunity is aimed at academic scholars whose research directly addresses AI and workforce outcomes.

4. Can international scholars apply?

Yes. IHS states that eligible applicants outside the United States may apply for funding consideration.

5. Do I need to be affiliated with IHS?

No. Prior IHS participation or previous IHS funding is not required.

6. What expenses can the grant cover?

Eligible expenses can include research travel, conference presentations, archival work, research assistance, datasets, specialized LLM subscriptions, journal fees, and publication-related costs.

7. What expenses are not covered?

Living expenses, hardware, retroactive costs, conference travel without a scheduled presentation, and institutional overhead or indirect costs are listed as ineligible.

8. What is the application deadline?

The deadline is 15 December 2026.

9. When will decisions be announced?

IHS plans to announce decisions on 15 January 2027.

10. What research outputs can be funded?

Possible deliverables include peer-reviewed publications, policy white papers, and shareable research databases.

Final Thoughts

The IHS AI Workforce Faculty Research Grant Program 2027 is a useful funding opportunity for scholars studying one of the most important research questions of the coming years: how artificial intelligence will change work and economic opportunity.

The grant can support substantial research costs, and the program is open to eligible scholars internationally. The strongest applications should stay closely connected to the official research questions, present a clear methodology, and explain exactly how the proposed funding will be used.

Scholarship Summary