Overview
The Next Generation of AI Chemists Programme is open to undergraduate students currently in their penultimate year of study and aims to break down barriers for those students from backgrounds under-represented within the chemistry sector. The programme will provide training opportunities to help to progress digital skills, alongside insights into the career options available to students interested in artificial intelligence (AI) for Chemistry.
The programme will consist of a two-day workshop at Imperial College London, where students will receive hands-on training in relation to coding and machine learning, and hear from people working at the AI-Chemistry interface. This will be followed up with online surgeries focussing on skills and career development.
Purpose
This fund is designed to support undergraduate students who are from backgrounds that are less well represented in the chemistry sector, as seen from the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 2022 Diversity Data Report. It is known that many students from these backgrounds leave chemistry following their undergraduate studies, and we wish to offer support to these students to help them to pursue a career within chemistry, particularly within the field of AI in chemistry.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the programme, students must be currently studying at a UK university and within the penultimate year of their course. Students must identify with one or more of the following under-represented groups within the chemistry sector:
- Are a woman (or identify as a woman)
- From an ethnic minority group
- LGBT+ e.g. lesbian, gay, bi and trans as well as other marginalised sexes, sexualities and genders, including those who identify as intersex, queer, questioning, asexual and pansexual
- Have a disability, or experience barriers or limitations in your day-to-day activities relating to a disability or long-term illness or impairment (either mental or physical)
- Have caring responsibilities such as day-to-day responsibilities for an adult and/or child(ren)
- From a low socio-economic background, e.g. individuals from households with limited financial resources, low parental occupational status, and/or residence in areas of high deprivation.
- First in family to go to university, e.g. at the age of 18 none of your parents or guardians had completed a university degree course or equivalent.
What the programme will entail
The programme will consist of a two day in-person workshop at Imperial College London on Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th July 2026, followed by a series of online skills and career surgeries from September through to December 2026. The topics and timing for these sessions will be determined during the in-person event to ensure they are tailored to the group of participants. Examples include career surgeries with representatives from different sectors to discuss what it’s like to work in each sector along with hints and tips on how to get your application noticed, and skills surgeries to help progress your coding and/or machine learning skills.
Agenda
The outline agenda for the in-person workshop is below. There may be slight changes once the selected participants are known, so that we can tailor elements of the workshop to those attending.
| DAY 1 | |
| 11.00 – 11.30 | Registration and refreshments |
| 11.30 – 11.45 | Introduction to the event |
| 11.45 – 12.15 | Icebreaker session |
| 12.15 – 13.15 | Lunch |
| 13.15 – 15.15 | Hands on training – either Introduction to Python or Introduction to Machine Learning |
| 15.15 – 15.45 | Break |
| 15.45 – 17.30 | Mini hackathon – you will be put into groups to ensure a range of AI experience and given a task to complete using GenAI. |
| 17.30 – 18.00 | Check into University accommodation |
| 18.00 – 20.00 | Group Dinner |
| DAY 2 | |
| 08.00 – 9.00 | Breakfast at your leisure (check out of university accommodation) |
| 09.00 – 10.00 | Talk on different ways that AI is used in Chemistry |
| 10.00 – 10.30 | Break |
| 10.30 – 12.00 | Careers Session – with talks from a variety of speakers working across different sectors covering AI and chemistry. |
| 12.00 – 12.30 | What next? What options do you want to hear about in the follow up career and skills sessions? How can we help you? |
| 12.30 – 12.40 | Wrap up |
| 12.40 – 14.00 | Lunch and networking with speakers |
| 14.00 | Depart |
Costs and support available
The AIchemy Hub will cover the costs of UK travel and accommodation for all participants. Accommodation will be provided in Imperial Halls of Residence, with travel costs reimbursed following the in-person workshop.
Any student selected to take part in the programme for whom the upfront travel costs may be prohibitive should contact the AIchemy Hub where alternative arrangements can be made.
The AIchemy Hub also has a ‘Conference Care Fund’ which can be used for anyone who may find attending the in-person workshop difficult due to caring responsibilities. Examples of the support available are detailed on the EDI page of our website. In addition, and where applicable, additional financial support for costs related to accessibility needs and caring responsibilities might also be available via the RSC Accessibility Grants and Grants for Carers. Check if you are eligible to apply at Accessibility Grants and Grants for Carers.
We will support a cohort of up to 30 students to take part in this programme.
How to Apply:
Applications should be completed using the online application form available via our website. This should be submitted by Friday 6th March 11:59pm. This is a one stage application.
The online application form has the following sections:
- Details of Applicant
- Programme Eligibility
- Questions related to why you want to take part in the programme (only this part is assessed)
- Why you are interested in AI for Chemistry?
- What you hope to get out of the programme?
- Questions to help us design the programme (not assessed)
- Employment sectors of interest
- Experience of python and machine learning (note there is no expectation to have any experience in either)
Assessment Process:
Applications will be reviewed by members of the AIchemy management team using the following criteria:
Interest in AI for Chemistry – We are looking for individuals who are passionate about learning more about AI for Chemistry and who could benefit from a programme that will show them where this passion can lead them.
Personal Development – Successful applicants will demonstrate their personal understanding of how the Next Generation of AI Chemists Programme can support them in planning their future career, at whatever stage they are currently at.
Applicants will be contacted with the outcome of their application by Friday 3rd April 2026.