In a blog post, Microsoft says Azure has often been a leading platform for researchers and the Microsoft Investigator Fellowship will maintain Azure’s position. “Microsoft fellowships have a long history of supporting researchers,” the company says. “Seeking to promote diversity and promising academic research in the field of computing. This fellowship is an addition to this legacy that highlights the significance of Azure in education, both now and into the future.” Microsoft Investigator Fellowship is available to degree-granting colleges or universities in the United State with PhDs. The fellowship gives faculties the ability to conduct research, teach, advise students, or use Azure for research:

Eligible Candidates

Full-time faculty member at a degree-granting college or university in the United States. Hold a PhD or equivalent (DSc etc.) Currently conducting research, advising graduate students, and teaching in a classroom Currently using or planning to use Microsoft Azure in research and/or teaching. Please indicate in your statement examples of what type of research and cloud computing workloads planned to be used in your research/teaching.

Under the program, accepted fellows are given $100,000 each year for two years to help support research. Members also receive invites to Microsoft and other events to help foster connections between research facilities. Microsoft says it will review applications and evaluate submissions based on the research proposals and teaching impact. How Azure will help to help research will also be part of eligibility assessments. Candidates have until August 16, 2019 to apply to become a fellow. Microsoft will announce the recipients during September. For more information on the Microsoft Investigator Fellowship, check out the fellowship website.

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