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Microsoft Research Asia StarTrack Scholars

Region: Global

Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA) StarTrack Scholars Program is a visiting researcher program dedicated to empowering young scholars from across the globe. The program extends an exclusive invitation to outstanding young faculty members worldwide, offering them a three-month research visit opportunity at Microsoft Research Asia. The primary objective of MSRA StarTrack Scholars Program is to foster close academic exchange and collaboration between Microsoft Research Asia and young scholars from esteemed international universities and academic research institutions. Leveraging a world-class international industrial research platform, the program aims to empower young scholars to explore the new paradigm of computing for the coming decades, embrace interdisciplinary and cross-domain research, create breakthrough technologies with significant impact, and address major technical, industrial, and societal challenges.

Highlights

Join Microsoft Research Asia’s StarTrack Scholars Program and embark on a journey of brilliance and possibilities:

  • Stellar Partner: Collaborate with senior researchers at one of the world’s premier industrial research labs, MSRA, to explore new frontiers together.
  • Stellar Project: Get the opportunity to participate in Microsoft’s internal research projects, backed by support in computation, tools, and data.
  • Stellar Platform: Receive support from Microsoft’s international academic platform, fostering collaborations on a global and multilateral scale.
  • Stellar Hubs: Connect through Microsoft Research offices across Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, and Vancouver, building a truly global network.
  • Stellar Sponsorship: Win the priority of MSRA collaboration programs and activities, paving the way for long-term cooperation.
  • Stellar Community: Join the MSRA StarTrack Alumni Association, connecting with StarTrack Scholars globally for mutual growth.
Timeline
  • November 1, 2024: Application opens.
  • December 31, 2024: Application deadline.
  • January 1 – February 19, 2025: Confirmation of Visit Plans and Selection.
  • February 20, 2025: Announcement of Results.
  • February 21, 2025 – January 31, 2026: Visits commence.
Criteria
  1. Applicants are from collaborative universities with Microsoft Research and can provide recommendations from experts in the relevant field, as well as from their affiliated department’s representative or supervisor.
  2. Applicants should be university/institution faculty members and meet the requirement of having obtained a Ph.D. degree within the past 7 years (inclusive of the 7th year).
  3. Applicants’ research areas should fall within the research domains of interest in the StarTrack Scholars Program (refer to the “Fields” page for details).
  4. The program requires a full-time, three-month on-site visit. In exceptional cases, with committee approval, up to one month of remote access may be granted during the three-month visit.
Application
  1. Click the Registration Link (opens in new tab) to submit your registration information.
  2. Download the StarTrack Scholars Program Application Form.docx, along with the Letter of Recommendation.docx and Letter of Institutional Endorsement.docx templates. Utilize the form and templates to provide formal application details, then forward them via email to Yanxuan Wu at v-yanxuanwu@microsoft.com.

If you have any questions, please email Ms. Yanxuan Wu, program manager of the Microsoft Research Asia StarTrack Scholars, at v-yanxuanwu@microsoft.com.