Computational Morphogenesis Research Fellow

The Computational Morphogenesis Research Fellow program is a focused 12-week research sprint at the intersection of bioelectricity, morphogenesis, and computation. The Fall 2026 pilot cohort starts August 15, 2026. Fellows commit roughly 5–10 hours per week, work fully remotely, receive a $2,000 stipend, and produce one research paper plus a final presentation. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the cohort fills.

Who should apply

Anyone, anywhere — students, postdocs, faculty, engineers, and independent researchers. No credential or affiliation is required. Apply for yourself at /fellows/apply, or nominate someone at /fellows/nominate.

Research tracks

Applicants pick one track (or propose their own project):

  • Bioelectricity Benchmark — Can AI systems reason about bioelectricity and morphogenesis? Target output: A Benchmark for Evaluating Machine Reasoning About Bioelectricity and Morphogenesis.
  • Active Inference and Morphogenesis — Can developmental systems be understood as inference systems? Target output: Morphogenesis as Active Inference: A Formal Treatment of Developmental Goal-Directedness.
  • Probabilistic Knowledge Graphs for Bioelectricity — Can we make the bioelectricity literature computable? Target output: A Probabilistic Knowledge Graph of the Bioelectricity Literature.
  • Morphogenesis as Search and Control — How do living systems search the space of possible forms? Target output: Morphogenesis as Search and Control Over Morphospace.
  • Computational Life Evaluation Framework — How should we evaluate artificial life and synthetic organisms? Target output: An Evaluation Framework for Computational Life and Synthetic Developmental Systems.
  • Collective Intelligence Across Scales — From cells to swarms to AI agents. Target output: Collective Intelligence Across Scales: Shared Principles from Cells to Agents.
  • Inter-Embryo and Inter-Organism Communication — What evidence exists for communication between developing organisms? Target output: Inter-Embryo Communication: Evidence, Mechanisms, and Computational Models.
  • Grand Challenges in Computational Morphogenesis — A roadmap for the field. Target output: Grand Challenges in Computational Morphogenesis: A Roadmap.

    • The 12-week sprint

  • Week 0: Onboarding — Meet your cohort, finalize your track, and set up tooling and access. Kickoff call.
  • Week 1: Scope — Sharpen the question into a concrete, paper-sized deliverable with a clear claim.
  • Weeks 2–4: Research map — Map the prior work, assemble sources, and lock the methods. Produce an outline.
  • Weeks 5–8: Build & draft — Do the core work — build, model, analyze — and write the first full draft.
  • Weeks 9–10: External feedback — Circulate the draft, gather review from mentors and peers, and revise.
  • Weeks 11–12: Release & present — Polish to a release candidate and deliver your final presentation to the cohort.

    • FAQ

    Who can apply?

    Anyone, anywhere. There is no credential, degree, or affiliation requirement. Students, postdocs, faculty, engineers, and independent researchers are all encouraged to apply.

    How long is the program?

    It's a focused 12-week research sprint. The cohort starts on August 15, 2026, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until then or until the cohort fills.

    How much time does it take?

    Plan on roughly 5–10 hours per week for the full 12 weeks. It's designed to fit alongside existing work or study.

    Is it paid?

    Yes. Fellows receive a $2,000 stipend for completing the program and delivering their output.

    What's the output?

    Each fellow produces one research paper (or equivalent deliverable for their track) and gives a final presentation to the cohort in week 12.

    Do I have to pick one of the listed tracks?

    You pick a single track when you apply, but you can also propose your own project if it fits the mission. Choose "I'd like to propose a different project" on the application.

    Is it remote?

    Yes, the fellowship is fully remote and asynchronous-friendly, with occasional live calls (kickoff, feedback, and final presentations).

    How do I apply or nominate someone?

    Use the application form to apply for yourself, or the nomination form to suggest someone who'd be a great fit. We review everything personally.