Mission statement

At the I-X Women in Artificial Intelligence (IX-WAI) network, we are dedicated to empowering women, non-binary people and other gender-discriminated groups* in the field of artificial intelligence. IX-WAI aims to create a supportive and inclusive network that champions career advancement, addresses challenges, and fosters connections across all career stages. Our mission is to enhance representation of women in AI and foster an environment where they feel valued, supported, and inspired to achieve their full potential. We intend to address these by:

  • Inviting speakers to spotlight women’s achievements and their career journey in the ‘Cutting-Edge Overviews & Tutorials’ and the ‘AI: Ethics and Diversity’ I-X seminar series;
  • Hosting workshops and round panels to offer platforms for discussion on issues related to improving the work culture;
  • Creating and showcasing an inclusive work culture that encourages other women to join the community;
  • Providing opportunities for mentorship, learning, and collaboration.

Our monthly meetings are open to all women of I-X, aimed at devising strategies for future initiatives and ensuring our actions align with our core belief: that every woman in AI deserves a supportive community. By increasing visibility and advocating for women’s voices in AI, we strive to correct the underrepresentation and build a future where diversity drives innovation. The IX-WAI network is a movement towards a more equitable, dynamic, and inclusive AI landscape within I-X, Imperial and the AI field.

*For readability, we will refer to all of these groups as “women” in the following text.

IX-WAI Early Career Development Grant

The I-X Women in AI network (IX-WAI) provides Early Career Development grants (up to £300*) specifically for women and non-binary individuals engaged in AI or wanting to enter the field. These grants are intended to support conference attendance, training, and other professional development opportunities. This initiative is part of our commitment to providing additional support for women in AI.

* In exceptional circumstances the panel may award more than £300 but this would require additional robust justification.

The Round Four call is now closed. The call for Round Five will open in Spring 2026.

For any inquiries regarding the grant, please contact s.veneziale21@imperial.ac.uk. Please note that questions already addressed on the website will not receive a response.

Applications Guideline

Eligibility

Open to women and non-binary individuals at Master’s, PhD or Postdoc level at Imperial, who are interested in learning AI or currently working in AI.

Please note: if you have already been awarded the grant, you are not eligible to apply again.

How to apply?

To apply for a grant, please complete this brief online form with the following information:

  • Requested amount (up to £300)
  • Purpose of the grant (one sentence)
  • Departmental account number (or your supervisor/mentor’s departmental account number for fund transfer if selected)
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Brief proposal (~400 words) outlining the purpose and impact of the grant.
Funding Rounds and Deadlines

We will issue three calls for applications each year. Approximately 10 mini grants will be awarded per year. 

Please note: the activity for which you are applying must take place at least one month after the application deadline. The awarded funding cannot be used retrospectively.  The IX-WAI will review applications and make decisions once a term.

Post-Award Requirements

Recipients of the mini grants will be required to provide confirmation of attendance and a brief feedback paragraph about their experience. This feedback will be published on our website to inspire and inform others.

For Those New to AI - Resources

If you are new to AI and unsure how to use the grant, here are some recommended resources and courses you can consider:

Past Events

I-X WAI Committee

  • Austin Mroz

    Personal details

    Austin Mroz Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow & Co-Director

  • Elli Heyes

    Personal details

    Elli Heyes Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow & Co-Director

  • Laura Helleckes

    Personal details

    Laura Helleckes Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow & Co-Director

  • Sara Veneziale

    Personal details

    Sara Veneziale Chapman-Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow & Co-Director

  • Gema Vera-Gonzalez

    Personal details

    Gema Vera-Gonzalez Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow & Alumni

  • Eileen Boyce

    Personal details

    Eileen Boyce Manager of I-X Centre for AI in Science

  • Tracy Bussoli

    Personal details

    Tracy Bussoli Professional Development Consultant for AI in Science Fellows

  • Mili Ostojic

    Personal details

    Mili Ostojic Postgraduate Researcher (Life Sciences & I-X)

  • Hannah Matthews

    Personal details

    Hannah Matthews Global Faculty Fellowship Programme Administrator

  • Margherita Molaro

    Personal details

    Margherita Molaro ICRF-Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Uswah Khairuddin

    Personal details

    Uswah Khairuddin Schmidt Global Faculty Fellow

  • Rebecca Birolo

    Personal details

    Rebecca Birolo Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Andrea Nóvoa

    Personal details

    Andrea Nóvoa ICRF-Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Xinwei Wang

    Personal details

    Xinwei Wang Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Ofosua Adi-Dako

    Personal details

    Ofosua Adi-Dako Schmidt Global Faculty Fellow

  • Anjana Badrinarayanan

    Personal details

    Anjana Badrinarayanan Schmidt Global Faculty Fellow

  • Irene Mendez Guerra

    Personal details

    Irene Mendez Guerra Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Mariana Severo Ramundo

    Personal details

    Mariana Severo Ramundo Schmidt Global Faculty Fellow

  • Claire Baker

    Personal details

    Claire Baker Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow

  • Daniela Damasceno

    Personal details

    Daniela Damasceno Schmidt Global Faculty Fellow

  • Tatiana Codreanu

    Personal details

    Tatiana Codreanu Part-time Teaching Fellow (Adult Education)

Get in touch

For general enquiries, please contact:

For Global Faculty Fellowships:

For all other enquiries, email: