Funded MSc and PhD Research Position at Resonance AI4D Lab, AAU

 

Call for Applications 2025/26

Funded MSc and PhD Research Position at Resonance AI4D Lab, AAU

Are you a passionate and driven individual eager to apply Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) in real-world contexts? Do you aspire to conduct impactful research that addresses critical challenges in Ethiopia? The Resonance AI4D Lab, based at Addis Ababa University (AAU), is excited to announce its call for applications for funded MSc and PhD research positions for new and currently enrolled students, focusing on Health, Agriculture, Governance, and Energy & Climate.

Why Join Resonance AI4D Lab?

At Resonance AI4D Lab, we believe in the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, responsible AI development, and fostering diversity and inclusion to drive genuine innovation. We offer a unique environment where your research can directly contribute to sustainable development in Ethiopia and beyond.

💡 Impact-Driven Research

Work on real-world AI projects with tangible societal benefits.

🤝 Interdisciplinary Focus

Collaborate with experts across diverse fields including computer science, engineering, agriculture, health sciences, law, and social sciences.

 

 

🌱 Nurturing Talent

Access state-of-the-art lab infrastructure, including computing resources, software tools, IoT kits, and curated datasets.

💰 Financial Support

Eligible students receive monthly research stipends and funding support for research activities (e.g., data collection, fieldwork, prototyping), based on project contribution, availability of funds, and satisfactory progress.

📚 Growth Opportunities

Co-author publications, present at conferences, attend workshops, training, hackathons, and participate in regional AI4D exchange programs.

🌍 Commitment to Diversity

We actively encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, and candidates from underrepresented groups.

 

Who Are We Looking For?

We are seeking candidates with a strong commitment to ethical AI, equity, and solving development challenges. Brilliance is universally distributed, and we encourage you to "choose adventure" in your collaborative journeys!

General Principles

• Interdisciplinary Focus
• Responsible AI Alignment
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Co-creation and Impact Orientation
• Full-Time Commitment
• English Proficiency
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Project Alignment
• No Other Full Scholarships

MSc Program Entrance Criteria

• Academic Qualification: BSc (min CGPA 3 or 75%)
• Enrollment Status: Ongoing Year 1 MSc student at AAU
• Technical Prerequisites: Programming (Python), statistics, or domain expertise
• Application Documents: Letter, CV, Admission letter, Proof of registration, Statement of Purpose, Research Concept Note, 2 Recommendation Letters, Identification Document

PhD Program Entrance Criteria

• Academic Qualification: MSc (min CGPA 3.3, Thesis Good)
• Enrollment Status: New or Year 1 PhD candidate
• Technical Proficiency: Strong AI/ML background with domain expertise
• Application Documents: Letter, CV, Admission letter (if applicable), Proof of registration (if applicable), Research Proposal (max 4-page), Statement of Purpose, 2 Recommendation Letters, Identification Document
• Publication Track (Preferred)

Choose Your Impact: Explore Our Research Projects

We invite you to delve into our diverse project areas. For your application, **please select ONE specific topic** from the list below that aligns with your research interests and expertise. Your research proposal should be developed based on this chosen topic.

⚡ Energy & Climate Projects

• AI-supported strategic planning: Electricity distribution system monitoring and upgrade in Addis Ababa

AI for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and optimization in urban energy distribution, addressing challenges like power losses and frequent outages in Addis Ababa.

• AI-Driven Solutions for Off-Grid Energy Systems

Advanced understanding of AI/ML for optimization and control (e.g., reinforcement learning, evolutionary algorithms), experience with modeling hybrid off-grid systems (solar, wind, biomass, storage), proficiency in HOMER, OpenDSS, or similar simulation tools.

• AI for Sustainable Urban Mobility and EV-Grid Integration

Strong modeling skills in urban mobility (e.g., using SUMO, MATSim), experience with power system load analysis and EV-grid integration, competence in emissions modeling and lifecycle analysis.

❤️ Health Projects

• AI-powered Child Symptom Identifier

Addressing challenges in accurate symptom identification in children, particularly for childhood cancer, where non-specific behavioral changes make diagnosis difficult. This project aims to create an AI-powered tool to help parents interpret non-verbal cues and provide actionable information to medical teams.

• AI-powered Outbreak Early Detection

Analyzing vast amounts of medical data (disease frequency, geographic distribution, severity patterns, patient demographics) to proactively flag potential outbreaks (e.g., cholera, measles, malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, acute watery diarrhea, meningitis, influenza). This aims to enable timely and targeted interventions in low-resource settings like Ethiopia.

🌾 Agriculture Projects

• Integrated Smart Dairy System

Developing mobile applications for data acquisition (e.g., physiological and environmental data from sensors/IoT devices) and improving software components for enhanced decision-making in smallholder dairy farming. This project aims to address limitations of existing systems like ODK Collect regarding mobile compatibility, form issues, interoperability, and customization.

• AI-Driven Precision Farming Tools for Smallholder Farmers

Focusing on low-cost AI tools to optimize water and fertilizer use, increase crop yields, and enhance market linkages for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. This includes developing solutions for disease detection, yield prediction, and resource optimization.

🏛️ Governance Projects

• Supreme Court/High Court Caseload Management

Deploying an AI-driven case management system capable of automatically classifying filings into categories, flagging high-priority or time-sensitive matters, and suggesting optimal hearing schedules to reduce delays and backlogs in the Federal Supreme Court and High Courts in Ethiopia.

• AI-Based (Voice-Enabled Chatbot) Legal Aid Services

Developing a voice-enabled chatbot to provide timely access to basic legal guidance on issues ranging from land disputes and labor rights to family law and criminal procedure, especially for Ethiopians in rural communities with limited literacy. This will include robust data-privacy safeguards and an escalation mechanism to human advisors.

• Language Accommodation in High Courts

Integrating advanced natural language processing (NLP) AI tools for bilingual case summaries and contextual understanding to streamline judicial review in Ethiopia's linguistically diverse environment.

• Equitable Provision of Government Services

Investigating how AI can ensure fair and unbiased delivery of government services (e.g., housing, healthcare, education) in Addis Ababa, focusing on promoting transparency and accountability.

• Optimization of Government Resource Utilization

Creating AI tools to help the Addis Ababa city administration allocate resources more efficiently, reduce waste, and minimize corruption (e.g., traffic flow optimization, waste management efficiency, public procurement transparency).

Application Timeline

July 28, 2025 – Application Deadline of MSc Applicants

August 11, 2025 – Application Deadline for PhD Applicants

August 12-18, 2025 – Shortlisting & Assessment

August 20-25, 2025 – Interviews

August 29, 2025 – Final Selection & Offers

September 12, 2025 – Program Commencement

Ready to Make a Difference?

Submit your application and required documents to join a pioneering initiative using AI for sustainable development in Ethiopia! Choose adventure and join the Resonance AI4D Lab!

Apply Now

For inquiries, please email: resonance@aau.edu.et