IHS AI and the Workforce Research Funding Opportunity

Overview of The Institute for Humane Studies AI and the Workforce Research Funding Opportunity

Provider: Institute for Humane Studies (IHS)
Opportunity type: Research funding / Request for Proposals
Funding: Up to US$20,000; larger awards may be considered for exceptional projects
Application deadline: 15 December 2026
Decision date: 15 January 2027
Location: Not specified by the provider

The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is accepting applications from academic scholars for research examining how artificial intelligence is affecting the workforce and the wider economy.

The research may focus on the effects of AI on employment, productivity, occupational change, economic opportunity and innovation over time. IHS is particularly interested in proposals that bridge disciplines.

Potential research outputs include peer-reviewed publications, policy white papers and shareable research databases.

Eligibility

IHS states that applications are open to eligible scholars at accredited institutions. Prior affiliation with or previous funding from IHS is not required.

The published opportunity does not specify a country or geographic restriction. Applicants should therefore check the application requirements directly with IHS if their institutional location raises an eligibility question.

What the funding can support

Eligible expenses include:

• Conference presentation and archival research travel

• Research collaboration, including hiring a research assistant

• Datasets and other research materials

• LLM subscriptions for specialised research sources

• Journal submission fees

• Book publication expenses, including copyediting and indexing

• Preparation of research manuscripts

Funding cannot be used for living expenses, hardware purchases, retroactive expenses, conference travel without a scheduled presentation, or institutional overhead or indirect costs.

Application

Applications must be submitted by 15 December 2026. IHS states that funding decisions will be announced on 15 January 2027.

Apply: https://theihs.org/ai-and-the-workforce