The Tencent AI Lab Rhino-Bird Visiting Scholars Program is open to applications from outstanding scholars who have common research interests with Tencent AI Lab. Visiting scholars joining this program can identify challenging research problems in industry applications, use Tencent AI Lab's computing and data resources, and work closely with senior researchers to achieve win-win cooperation.
Who Can Apply?
- Full-time faculties, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers (hereinafter referred to as applicants) from universities or research institutions around the world can apply to participate in the program.
- Applicants should conduct research in AI fields including machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing and speech signal processing. The specific research fields are introduced in Attachment 1: 2019 Tencent AI Lab Rhino-Bird Visiting Scholars Program_Research Topics.
- Applicants have obtained consent from their employers for their participation in the program as visiting scholars at Tencent AI Lab (hereinafter referred to as the Lab), and can visit the Lab in concentrated periods of two months or more.
- Non-Chinese applicants applying to sit in the Shenzhen office need to hold a visa that allows them to engage in paid work in China; non-US applicants applying to sit in the Seattle office need to hold a visa to engage in paid work in the U.S.
How to Apply?
Finish the Application Form：Download application form template in Attachment 2: 2019 Tencent AI Lab Rhino-Bird Visiting Scholars Program_Application Template.
Submit Application:
Click Apply at the bottom of this page, log in with your WeChat account or QQ account. (Click Here to see how to download the WeChat App and create an account if you don’t have one).
If you decide to apply, we would encourage you to submit basic information as early as possible (with or without the Application Form), so that you can get timely updates via email. In the follow-up procedure, please log in with the same account for information updates (submitting the Application Form). You may update your application many times prior to the deadline.
If you decide to abandon the application process, please let us know by sending us an email.
Note: Do not include any confidential information in the application materials or during discussions with Tencent personnel such as information that you do not have the right to disclose to Tencent or unpublished research work. The system will prompt you to read and agree to accept the confidentiality agreement before you submit the application.
How Applications will Be Reviewed？
The review process will take into account the research background of the applicant and team, the relevance, feasibility and innovation of the research plan and Tencent AI Lab (hereinafter referred to as the Lab).
The review process will be divided into the preliminary field review and final Lab review. At least three researchers from relevant fields at the Lab will participate in the preliminary field review and a comprehensive list of recommendations in this field will be selected. In the final Lab review, the final list of projects will be formulated from those recommended in the preliminary field review.
The results of the review will be announced via email to all applicants.
How to Become a Visiting Scholar?
Visiting agreement: Tencent will sign a visiting scholar cooperation agreement with each selected scholar to specify terms regarding the visiting date, fee, research plan, confidentiality and intellectual property rights. There is no employment, labor service or labor relationship between Tencent and visiting scholars.
In principle, selected scholars should not withdraw from the program. In special cases, scholars may sign the Visiting Scholar Program Withdrawal Statement, which will be archived by Tencent.
Where the visiting scholar cooperation agreement is not signed, the selected scholar will lose their eligibility for the current year and will need to re-apply for eligibility next year.
Visiting date: The visiting period is 2-6 months. In principle, the start date must be no later than September 1, 2019.
Visiting fee: The Lab will provide fees for visiting scholars. The amount will be determined according to the visiting scholar's academic title and research plan.
Cooperation mode: The Lab will assign relevant senior researchers as research partners for each visiting scholar. Visiting scholars need to sit in Tencent AI Lab in order to use relevant resources and conduct in-depth cooperation.
Termination: After signing the visiting scholar cooperation agreement, if the visiting scholar fails to complete the visit due to reasons attributable to the scholar, the scholar needs to sign the termination agreement and refund or reimburse the visiting fee according to the actual circumstances.
When Is the Application Deadline?
Application deadline: 14:00, January 22nd, 2019 (Beijing time, UTC+8)
Notification date: March 2019
How to Contact the Program?
Tencent AI Lab Rhino-Bird Visiting Scholars Program Review Board: Focused_Research@tencent.com
FAQ
Q: I know a researcher at the Lab. Can I talk with him/her when I fill out the application form?
A: We encourage you to talk with research fellows at the Lab so that your application meets mutual interests. However, please do not disclose any confidential information such as information that you do not have the right to disclose to Tencent or unpublished research work.
Q: I do not know any researchers at the Lab. Can you assign a researcher to help me understand Lab’s research interest?
A: Sorry, we are not able to assign you a research fellow in advance as we receive a great number of applications. However, you may:
1.Visit the Lab's website (ai.tencent.com) and WeChat official account (腾讯AI实验室, which literally means Tencent AI lab);
2.Read the Lab's academic papers and latest presentation materials;
3.Meet researchers from the Lab at international academic conferences.
