About the Program
The Michigan Institute for Data and AI in Society (MIDAS) invites applications for the MIDAS Postdoctoral Affiliates Program. This program will accept up to 10 postdoctoral researchers in 2026 from across the University of Michigan to support their career development and their development and use of AI and data science methodologies in domain research. Current and incoming postdoctoral researchers at U-M may apply.
Research scope: The Postdoc Affiliates’ research must either advance any research domain through novel application of data science or AI methodologies, or develop novel AI or data science methodologies.
With more than 700 U-M faculty affiliates and nearly 40 postdoctoral fellows in the MIDAS community whose research spans a wide range of domains, MIDAS has a strong track record of catalyzing innovation across research domains with AI and data science methodologies. The MIDAS Postdoctoral Affiliates Program will allow postdoctoral researchers across U-M to engage in our thriving interdisciplinary research community, to access MIDAS resources, and to participate in cutting-edge research training and career development activities.
MIDAS will provide a one-time $5,000 funding to support the selected Postdoctoral Affiliates, in the form of discretionary funds to be managed by the faculty mentor of each MIDAS Postdoctoral Affiliate. These funds are meant to support the research of the Postdoc Affiliate in any way that the mentor and postdoc decide (e.g. research funding, computer or computational cost, conference travel, etc.).
Note: a faculty mentor can have at most one Postdoctoral Affiliate in the program at any given time.
Timeline:
- Application Deadline: 11:59pm ET, May 11, 2026
- Notifications of acceptance: June 30, 2026
- Program start date is negotiable but recommended in August or September, 2026
Benefits for Postdoctoral Affiliates
MIDAS Postdoctoral Affiliates will participate in 2-4 hours of MIDAS activities weekly, including any of the following:
The MIDAS postdoc program provides a robust offering of professional development workshops and activities. Topics include increasing research success and productivity, navigating job searches in academia and other sectors, preparing job-application materials (CV/resume, cover letter, etc.), professional skill development (e.g. networking and presentation skills), lab management, grantsmanship, and beyond.
Weekly Postdoctoral Research Meetings offer MIDAS postdocs, faculty affiliates, and other MIDAS partners the opportunity to discuss their research projects and seek feedback; MIDAS also offers networking lunches for some of these meetings.
Postdoc Affiliates can attend all MIDAS training events at no cost.
As members of the MIDAS community, Postdoctoral Affiliates will have ample formal and informal points of contact with the MIDAS faculty affiliate community. These networking opportunities open doors to new collaboration and career options.
- MIDAS postdoctoral fellows organize small, informal, interdisciplinary research working groups, called AI Carpentries, based on shared research interests. Postdoctoral Affiliates can join or start AI Carpentries for AI skillbuilding and collaborative research projects. Current Carpentry topics include:
- AI for Manufacturing Logistics and Mobility
- AI for Social Good
- Crossover Central
- Large Language Models
- Multi-Modal AI
- Neuroscience Exploration with AI
- Reinforcement Learning and Game Theory
- Reproducible AI Research
Postdoc Affiliates are expected to be active members of the MIDAS postdoc community, participate regularly in weekly activities and AI Carpentries, and contribute to the collaborative culture of this community.
In addition, to help MIDAS evaluate and improve this program, all Affiliates are expected to complete a program evaluation survey every 6 months. They will also be required to submit their updated CV annually until five years after they leave the program.
Additional Benefits
Coworking and conferencing space
(3520 Green Ct., Ann Arbor), with coworking space and multiple conference rooms. Postdoctoral Affiliates are invited to work in these spaces and reserve rooms for events/meetings/workshops.
Letter of support
During applicants’ job search, MIDAS will provide a letter of support outlining their involvement with the program. They can also formally list their Affiliate status in their CV or other job materials.