Opportunities
Credit: CTIO/NOIRLab/DOE/NSF/AURA
External Events and Funding Opportunities
Upcoming External Events
Astroinformatics 2026 conference, February 23–27, 2026
This conference will be held in Cologne, Germany. The conference will be in the key profile area “Dynamics of the Universe” and is dedicated to the latest advances in computational methods for processing and analyzing astronomical data. The application deadline is February 22, 2026 (with a late fee applied after February 9, 2026)!
EDUCADO–MWGaiaDN Training School on Astro-AI and Machine Learning, March 2–6, 2026
Organized jointly by the EDUCADO and MWGaiaDN MSCA Doctoral Networks, this training school brings together leading experts in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), high-performance computing, and data visualization. Over the course of five days, participants will take part in a structured programme of expert-led lectures and hands-on training sessions, providing ample opportunities for direct engagement with lecturers and peers, and fostering scientific exchange and collaboration across research environments and disciplines. This training school is ideally suited for early-career researchers in astronomy and astrophysics, but is equally valuable for any scientist interested in applying state-of-the-art AI/ML techniques to the exploration, analysis, and visualization of large observational, experimental, or simulation-based datasets. The application deadline is February 1, 2026!
TDAbench 2026 Workshop, March 9–12, 2026
The TDAbench 2026 workshop is a collaborative workshop focused on developing a benchmark dataset for machine-learning classification of astronomical transients. The early-registration and abstract-submission deadlines are January 31, 2026, and the regular registration deadline is February 23, 2026!
Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) Language AI in the Space Sciences workshop, March 9–12, 2026
This interdisciplinary event will bring together researchers and practitioners at the intersection of natural language processing, artificial intelligence, and space sciences. Potential topics include multi-modal AI for data and publications, research workflow management, AI agents for data discovery, chatbots, retrieval-augmented generation, literature mining, named entity recognition, citation analysis, text generation, best practices for deploying language technologies, ethical AI, and transparency and bias in scientific applications. Abstract submissions will be accepted from September 22–November 14, 2025, and the Abstract Selection Notifications will be in December 2025–January 2026! The registration form will open on December 8 and will close on February 6!
NSF NOIRLab Empowering Science in the Data-Rich Era of Astronomy conference, April 20–24, 2026
With this conference, we will provide a forum for collaborative discussion of science enabled by data from surveys such as Rubin/LSST and DESI, and observing facilities such as Gemini, WIYN, SOAR, and CTIO, as well as joint studies with other surveys and facilities. The discussion at this meeting will inform the planning process for evolving the data, software, and service products across NOIRLab. The abstract-submission deadline is March 2, 2026, and the registration deadline is April 3, 2026!
NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins (CosmicAI) 2nd Annual Cosmic Horizons Conference, July 13–16, 2026
This conference will be hosted by CosmicAI and the NSF National Radio Astronomy Observatory. The Cosmic Horizons Conference aims to bring together researchers who are actively developing and applying AI/ML methods in astronomy. The conference priorities include: recent advances at the intersection of AI and Astronomy and AI-powered progress towards understanding our cosmic origins, from cosmology to habitability; methodologies to increase the trustworthiness, robustness, interpretability, and efficiency of AI applications in astronomy; preparation for the big-data challenges posed by next-generation observing facilities and approaches for analyzing high-dimensional data; connections with industry and the parts of the private sector that are also actively researching AI for operational processes; and the use of AI in proposal preparation, reviews, and paper writing. Registration opens on February 2, 2026!
Simulation Based Inference for Galaxy Evolution 2026 (SBI GALEV 2026) meeting, June 23–26, 2026
This meeting will be held in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The meeting will bring together experts in galaxy evolution and simulation-based inference (SBI) techniques to discuss challenges, share insights, and present the latest practical tools for applying SBI to problems in galaxy evolution. The abstract-submission deadline is March 2, 2026, and the registration deadline is May 22, 2026!
Past External Events
Aspen Center for Physics Winter Conference (AspenWinter 2026): Theoretical Physics for Artificial Intelligence, January 11–16, 2026
Some of the world’s most ambitious and consequential experiments are taking place not in particle accelerators or space telescopes but in silicon, training ginormous neural networks. The results have been transformative, yet much of the progress has been driven by empirical advances, with theoretical understanding struggling to keep pace. This meeting will explore how the tools and insights of theoretical physics can deepen our understanding of modern artificial intelligence. The meeting will bring together physicists and computer scientists, with a shared goal of illuminating the principles underlying successful machine-learning methods—and ultimately guiding the development of better architectures and algorithms. Apply at https://aspenphys.org/winter-conferences/! Apply by September 15, 2025!
U.S. National Committee (USNC) for the International Union of Radio Science (URSI) 2026 National Radio Science Meeting, January 6–9, 2026
This meeting will include scientific sessions, a plenary session, an invited Hans Liebe Lecture, commission meetings, workshops/short courses, exhibits, a Women in Radio Science (WIRS) reception, a student paper competition, and a student mentoring luncheon. Authors have their choice of submitting either one-page abstracts or two-page summaries and having them archived on IEEE Xplore. The deadline for submission to the Call for Papers is September 12, 2025!
Northwestern University and Toyota Technological Institute at Chicago Junior Theorists Workshop 2025, December 8–9, 2025
The focus of this workshop will be on junior researchers in all areas of theoretical computer science (including foundations of data science and machine learning). Register by December 4, 2025!
Funding Opportunities
SkAI Satellite Early Education for Discovery (SEED) Program, June 15–August 14, 2026
SEED applications for Summer 2026 are now open to undergraduate students within SkAI’s Satellite Network. The program will run from June 15–August 14, 2026. Applications are due by February 15, 2026, and students will need to solicit a letter of recommendation from a professor at their institution. Please apply via this Application Form. The application deadline is February 15, 2026!
LSST Discovery Alliance Call for Proposals in Early Science with Rubin’s LSST
The LSST Discovery Alliance (LSST-DA) is inviting proposals from
PIs at U.S. academic institutions for funding in support of early science with the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). This program seizes the scientific opportunity presented by Rubin Observatory’s early data by injecting fast-turnaround grant funds into the U.S. science community. The deadline to submit a proposal is February 17, 2026, 9:59 p.m. CT!
AI Institute researchers may request funding prior to an international trip or engagement. AIVO will reimburse the researcher personally up to the amount approved. Preference will be given to researcher engagement in Japan, India, Australia, and USA. Please complete the form by June 15, 2026!
AI Institute researchers may request prior approval for subsequent reimbursements of expenses for traveling to a conference or event. AIVO will reimburse the researcher personally up to the amount approved.
Simons Foundation Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) Division Targeted Grants in MPS
This program supports high-risk projects of exceptional promise and scientific importance on a case-by-case basis.Letter of Intent submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.
This grant program provides NVIDIA cloud, hardware, and/or software grants for research. Eligible subject areas are Generative AI: Training and Model Development; Generative AI: Alignment and Inference; and Robotics and Edge AI.
Past Funding Opportunities
The Presidential AI Challenge seeks to inspire young people and educators to create AI-based innovative solutions to community challenges while fostering AI interest and competency. Students and educators of all backgrounds and expertise are encouraged to participate and ignite a new spirit of innovation as we celebrate 250 years of independence and look to the next 250. Registration for the Challenge is open for all K-12 educators and youth. Youth will work in small groups, think of a problem they are encountering in their communities, and then either (1) propose how AI technologies could be used in a unique and effective way to solve the problem, OR (2) use AI technologies widely available online to create an app, website, or program to either solve or diminish the impact of the problem. Educators will be able to either (1) create new ways of teaching AI concepts and technologies to their students or (2) create or use AI technologies to advance learning in ways only possible with AI technologies. The project submission deadline is January 20, 2026!
Funding Partners
The SkAI Institute is one of the National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation and Simons Foundation.
SkAI Institute
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