Microsoft Productivity Scholars

This program offers potential post-docs and visiting scholars the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with product teams around Microsoft on some of the most important AI opportunities and challenges in the world today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I publish papers?

Microsoft product teams publish extensively, and many Productivity Scholars will publish with those teams. However, the goal in applied research is to jointly advance product goals and the state-of-the-art at the same time. Our hope is that the program provides you with experience that is difficult to get in the academic world: shipping innovation to hundreds of millions of people.

Can I apply if I am not a good fit for the candidates described above?

Everyone should feel welcome to apply and we will consider applications on a case-by-base basis. Our candidate profiles described above are based on successful experiences in the past. We will not consider anyone for a post-doc who is not expecting to have a Ph.D. by the start date and will not consider anyone for a visiting scholar position who is not currently a professor.