PROGRAMMES & FUNDING
ELLIS Amsterdam has several programmes and funding opportunities for outstanding students and faculty.
BSc and MSc Students
Through a sponsorship of Qualcomm Technologies, ELLIS unit Amsterdam is able to provide travel grants for BSc and MSc students of the University of Amsterdam to present their papers at top-tier ML or AI conferences.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for an ELLIS travel grant, applicants must:
– Be a bachelor’s or master’s student at the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science
– Have written a paper on an ELLIS-relevant topic that is accepted at the main venue of a top-tier conference (machine learning or artificial intelligence related)*. Papers accepted at workshops (including those held in conjunction with top-tier conferences) no longer qualify for this grant.
– Be the presenting author of the paper
MSc AI students can only apply for the ELLIS travel grant if they have also requested the MSc AI internal funding for conference visits. The ELLIS travel grant can be used as a top-up for expenses that exceed the amount funded by the MSc AI programme.
More details can be found in the call. To apply, please send a completed application form (word/pdf) along with details on your paper and travel to ellisinfo-science@uva.nl.
If you have questions regarding the travel grants, you may wish to check the FAQ below. If you still couldn’t find answers to your questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ellisinfo-science@uva.nl. Kindly let us know the complete list of names of all the authors of the paper.
*A maximum of two co-authors can receive the Travel Grants if the paper is accepted at the main venue of a top-tier conference
ELLIS offers an honours programme for talented MSc students at the University of Amsterdam, allowing them to connect with leading researchers and top-tier academics in their field. As an ELLIS honours student, you will conduct a research project supervised by two ELLIS members at different ELLIS units, and you will make an ELLIS-Amsterdam-sponsored visit to your co-supervisor.
Who can apply?
The ELLIS unit Amsterdam honours programme is open for excellent MSc students obtaining a degree in artificial intelligence, computer science, computational linguistics or related fields. Applications are open for students who are in their second semester and have a grade point average of at least 8.0 and no single grade lower than 7.0¹.
We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, LGBTQ people and members of other marginalised communities.
More details can be found in the call. To apply, please send an application form (word/pdf) along with a one-page CV, and your transcript to ellisinfo-science@uva.nl
¹ Third semester applications may also be permitted, if you have already started a research project that is not your thesis with an ELLIS member at the university of Amsterdam.
If you have questions regarding the programme, you may wish to check the FAQ below. If you still couldn’t find answers to your questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ellisinfo-science@uva.nl.
The Amsterdam ELLIS Unit financially supports short visits of talented master’s students to the University of Amsterdam. The ELLIS Amsterdam MSc hosting programme can be used to cover up to 4,000 EUR of costs for MSc students obtaining a degree related to Artificial Intelligence to visit an ELLIS member at the UvA in the context of an existing collaboration between the UvA ELLIS member and an ELLIS member in a different country.
Who can apply?
Note: only ELLIS members at the University of Amsterdam can apply for this programme, on behalf of the visiting master’s student that the researcher will be hosting in the context of a joint project with another ELLIS member at an ELLIS partner institution.
More details can be found in the call. To apply, ELLIS members at the University of Amsterdam can send an application form (word/pdf) along with the CV of the visiting student to ellisinfo-science@uva.nl
The ELLIS PhD & Postdoc Program supports excellent young researchers by connecting them to leading researchers across Europe and offering a variety of networking and training activities, including summer schools and workshops. ELLIS PhDs and postdocs conduct cutting-edge curiosity-driven research in machine learning or a related research area with the goal of publishing in top-tier conferences in the field.
See a list of our current ELLIS PhDs and postdocs here!
There are two two tracks within the ELLIS PhD & Postdoc Program: the academic track and the industry track. These tracks have separate requirements for admission and criteria for activity during the appointment, but otherwise offer the same benefits, network and resources to the applicant.
Academic Track: PhDs and postdocs in the academic track are supervised by one ELLIS fellow/scholar or unit faculty, and one ELLIS fellow/scholar/member from different European countries. During their appointment, they visit the exchange institution for a minimum of 6 months (normally sponsored by the exchange institution and ELISE Mobility Grant). See the list of ELLIS Amsterdam Fellows, Scholars, and Members here.
Industry Track: PhDs and postdocs in the industry track will be part of a collaboration between an academic institution and an industry partner. The candidate will spend a minimum of 50% of their time at the academic institution, and at least 6 months (cumulative) with the industry partner. For this track, both advisors may be located in the same country. The academic advisor must be an ELLIS fellow or scholar, and the industry advisor can be an ELLIS fellow, scholar, or member*. ELLIS Amsterdam is proud to have the most industry track students of the ELLIS network, thanks to our widespread collaborations with industry through partnerships such as the Bosch-Delta and QUVA labs.
Visit ellis.eu/phd-postdoc and check out the information deck for more details about the ELLIS PhD and Postdoc Program.
Who can apply? (MSc students in their final year)
Prospective students may apply through the central ELLIS application portal to become a PhD student within the ELLIS network (deadline once a year in November). In their application, applicants choose from a set of ELLIS research areas and indicate preferences for ELLIS fellows, scholars or unit faculty they would like to work with. Candidates will be centrally reviewed for excellence by a pool of experts; the best candidates will be eligible for the ELLIS program and may be invited for interviews by individual advisors. See ellis.eu/phd-postdoc for more information on applying.
*It is now possible for industry representatives to join the ELLIS PhD & Postdoc program as Industry Track advisors if they are not ELLIS Members, if they have already published a first-author paper together with the applying student candidate in a top-tier publication in machine learning or related sub-fields (see ellis.eu/members for a list of accepted publications).
The IAI is an inclusive space for members to get non-academic help from senior peers in the field and connect with like-minded people of a similar background. The goal of the IAI is to directly combat the infamous leaky pipeline found in academia. The ELLIS unit Amsterdam is proudly sponsoring and supporting this scheme.
The IAI currently offers a mentorship scheme for students of the UvA AI master’s program.
Mentees should expect to be able to:
– ask their mentor for practical advice, e.g. how to write a CV or motivation letter, where to apply for jobs, when to apply for PhDs
– network with other students
– seek non-academic advice from their mentor
– learn how to present their research
– connect with other researchers
Mentees are expected to adhere to the UvA-IAI code of conduct.
The IAI have taken inspiration from organisations such as Black in AI, Women in ML, Queer in AI, Latinx in ML, and Jews in ML, which all aim to celebrate diversity and foster participation from underrepresented groups in AI. The IAI establishes a similar space for students of AI Master at the UvA.
If you are interested to be a mentee, please submit an application.
For more information, visit the website of the IAI.
If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, contact: info-iai@uva.nl.
PhDs and Postdocs
The ELLIS PhD & Postdoc Program supports excellent young researchers by connecting them to leading researchers across Europe and offering a variety of networking and training activities, including summer schools and workshops. ELLIS PhDs and postdocs conduct cutting-edge curiosity-driven research in machine learning or a related research area with the goal of publishing in top-tier conferences in the field.
See a list of our current ELLIS PhDs and postdocs here!
There are two two tracks within the ELLIS PhD & Postdoc Program: the academic track and the industry track. These tracks have separate requirements for admission and criteria for activity during the appointment, but otherwise offer the same benefits, network and resources to the applicant.
Academic Track: PhDs and postdocs in the academic track are supervised by one ELLIS fellow/scholar or unit faculty, and one ELLIS fellow/scholar/member from different European countries. During their appointment, they visit the exchange institution for a minimum of 6 months (normally sponsored by the exchange institution and ELISE Mobility Grant). See the list of ELLIS Amsterdam Fellows, Scholars, and Members here.
Industry Track: PhDs and postdocs in the industry track will be part of a collaboration between an academic institution and an industry partner. The candidate will spend a minimum of 50% of their time at the academic institution, and at least 6 months (cumulative) with the industry partner. For this track, both advisors may be located in the same country. The academic advisor must be an ELLIS fellow or scholar, and the industry advisor can be an ELLIS fellow, scholar, or member*. ELLIS Amsterdam is proud to have the most industry track students of the ELLIS network, thanks to our widespread collaborations with industry through partnerships such as the Bosch-Delta and QUVA labs.
Visit ellis.eu/phd-postdoc and check out the information deck for more details about the ELLIS PhD and Postdoc Program.
Who can apply? (Current PhDs or postdocs)
ELLIS fellows, scholars or unit faculty may nominate PhD students or postdocs who are working with them to become ELLIS PhD students or postdocs in the academic or industry track. Note that postdocs of either track are currently only recruited via nomination. Please see here for more details about the requirements and the nomination process.
*It is now possible for industry representatives to join the ELLIS PhD & Postdoc program as Industry Track advisors if they are not ELLIS Members, if they have already published a first-author paper together with the applying student candidate in a top-tier publication in machine learning or related sub-fields (see ellis.eu/members for a list of accepted publications).
The European Network of AI Excellence Centres (ELISE) is part of the EU Horizon 20201 ICT-48 portfolio, and acts as a network of AI research hubs based on the highest level of scientific research. ELISE believes that innovation stems from the continuous cross-fertilization of ideas. It has therefore created mobility programs for junior and experienced researchers to meet each other and collaborate.
The ELISE/ELLIS mobility program for PhDs and postdocs is aimed at students in the ELISE and ELLIS networks who want to initiate a collaboration with a Fellow or Member at another site. Young researchers can give their careers a head start by gaining international experience and exchanging ideas with the best labs in Europe. The ELISE/ELLIS mobility program covers travel costs of up to 2,500 EUR per researcher over the duration of their PhD or postdoc.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for the ELISE/ELLIS mobility grant, applicants must:
– Be conducting their PhD or postdoc at one of the ELISE partner institutions OR is an ELLIS PhD student or postdoc participating in the ELLIS PhD & Postdoc program
– Be supervised during their exchange by an ELLIS Fellow, Scholar or Member at the hosting institution
More details can be found on the ELISE program website and in the Terms and Conditions. To apply, applicants should fill out the application form and send it to phd@ellis.eu with the subject line: ‘Application ELISE Mobility Grant: Applicant’s Last Name’, and CC the two participating supervisors.
Applications are possible year-round, but should be submitted no later than 1 month before the starting date of the exchange visit, as they need to be processed by the ELISE and university administration. Reimbursement forms will be sent along with the decision on your application. Please note that the grant is awarded through reimbursement by the University of Amsterdam. For more information on submitting a claim for reimbursement, contact ellisinfo-science@uva.nl
The IAI is an inclusive space for members to get non-academic help from senior peers in the field and connect with like-minded people of a similar background. The goal of IAI is to directly combat the infamous leaky pipeline found in academia. The ELLIS unit Amsterdam is proudly sponsoring and supporting this scheme.
The IAI currently offers a mentorship scheme for students of the UvA AI master’s program.
If you want to become a mentor, please submit an application.
For more information, visit the website of the IAI.
If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, contact: info-iai@uva.nl.
Fellows and Faculty
The European Network of AI Excellence Centres (ELISE) is part of the EU Horizon 20201 ICT-48 portfolio, and acts as a network of AI research hubs based on the highest level of scientific research. ELISE believes that innovation stems from the continuous cross-fertilization of ideas. It has therefore created mobility programs for junior and experienced researchers to meet each other and collaborate.
The goal of the ELISE/ELLIS Mobility Program for Experienced Researchers is to bring ELISE/ELLIS Fellows, Scholars, and Members together by supporting their short and long-term scientific visits to initiate collaboration within the ELISE/ELLIS community. The ELISE/ELLIS mobility program covers travel costs of up to 3,000 EUR per researcher until July 31, 2023.
Who can apply?
To be eligible for the ELISE/ELLIS mobility grant, applicants must:
– Be an ELISE/ELLIS Fellow, Scholar, or Member
– Be visiting another ELISE/ELLIS Fellow, Scholar, Member, or Unit Director at a site in the ELISE/ELLIS network in or outside Europe
More details can be found on the ELISE program website and in the Terms and Conditions. To apply, applicants should fill out PART 1 of the application form at least 14 days before the start of the visit, and send it to elise-travel@ciirc.cvut.cz along with a short email from the hosting researcher supporting the application. The ELISE Fellow mobility administration will confirm the application by email.
Unit faculty at the University of Amsterdam that are organising workshops on ELLIS-related topics can apply for financial support through the ELLIS Workshop Programme. Examples of eligible workshops would be: workshops collocated with top-tier conferences, workshops organised for PhD defenses on machine learning topics, or standalone workshops organised to bring researchers from different locations in Europe together to discuss machine learning or related sub-fields.
Who can apply?
Workshop organizers may apply if they are ELLIS faculty at the University of Amsterdam OR students at the University of Amsterdam that have the participation and support of an ELLIS faculty member.
Proposals for workshops are reviewed on an individual basis. ELLIS aims to encourage diversity and inclusivity in AI and ML communities. We therefore especially encourage applications for workshops that explicitly take these values into account. Priority is given to workshops that will promote the advancement of the AI ecosystem in Amsterdam, as it is aligned with our strategic goals.
More details can be found in the call. To apply, please send an application form (word/pdf) to ellisinfo-science@uva.nl
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can my team (all co-authors) receive the travel grant?
A maximum of two persons among the co-authors for each accepted paper can receive the grant. The person is ideally the presenting author of the paper. Please make sure that your team members are aware of and agreeable to your application for the grant.
What ML or AI conferences can be considered for the travel grant?
Students can only apply to top-tier ML or AI conferences. If you are unsure, please contact us at ellisinfo-science@uva.nl.
What does the grant cover?
The travel grants cover costs for traveling, accommodation, conference registration, and meals. In their application, students are asked to submit a budget with a reasonable estimate for these costs. See the maximum amount of costs here.
Can ELLIS Amsterdam pay my expenses in advance?
In case the travel grant is awarded, the student’s actual costs will be reimbursed retroactively upon submission of receipts and/or invoices, if reasonable.
Is a confirmation e-mail for the Master AI fund sufficient to be submitted as one of the required documents?
Yes. When submitting your application, you don’t have to prove that you have received the Mater AI program fund.
Can I conduct the thesis project with an ELLIS Member who is not my research project’s supervisor?
Yes. They don’t have to be the exact same person.
How do I prove that I have done a research project with an ELLIS member?
If you have conducted a research project under supervision of an ELLIS member at the University of Amsterdam, you should be able to demonstrate it (for instance by a grade in your grade list, a report, publication or preprint).
Can I apply for ELLIS MSc Honours Programme if I’m a part-time student?
Yes, as long as you can demonstrate your eligibility for the programme.
How long should the research visit be?
A short visit of at least two weeks or a reasonable time.
Can I conduct only a virtual visit?
Since the covid restrictions have been lifted, the visit should be conducted in person. It is possible for you to do the initial consultation/visit virtually, if the situation doesn’t allow you to do it in person (for example due to visa processing. However, we expect students to conduct and demonstrate an in-person visit eventually.
Can I apply for the honors program if I conduct my thesis at a company?
Yes. The second supervisor could be from an industry sector, in agreement with your main supervisor.
Who can be my supervisor(s)?
Your supervisors should be two ELLIS Society members; one member from the ELLIS unit Amsterdam, and one member from an ELLIS unit abroad.
What items can be reimbursed with the Mobility Grants?
The items which are covered by the Terms and Conditions of the ELISE Mobility Grants AND Expenses claims of the University of Amsterdam. See the maximum amount of costs here.
How do I claim my expenses?
Submit an expenses claim form to the account of a project, WBS number, or cost center through the Self-Service Tool. Please see the instructions stated here.
How many research visits can I make with the ELISE Mobility Grants?
We do not limit the number of visits, as long as the total expenses are within the maximum of 2,500 EUR.