Doctoral Student in Earth Observation, Data Science, and AI for Poverty Estimation Scholarship – Eligibility, Benefits & How to Apply

🌟 About the Scholarship

Opens
Closes13 Jun, 2026

Chalmers University of Technology, in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg, Linköping University, and Harvard University, offers the Doctoral Student in Earth Observation, Data Science, and AI for Poverty Estimation Scholarship. The PhD position provides full funding from the beginning at Chalmers University of Technology. Selected doctoral students receive a starting monthly salary of approximately 34,550 SEK along with full employee benefits in Sweden. In addition, the position includes healthcare coverage, parental leave, pension contributions, and Swedish language training opportunities. The appointment lasts four years and may extend to five years through teaching responsibilities. Furthermore, students benefit from extensive international research collaboration and access to leading global AI and remote sensing networks.

🎓 Scholarship Snapshot

Here’s everything you need at a glance: the documents to prepare, what the award covers, and key dates so you don’t miss a beat. From transcripts and essays to tuition and living support, this gives you a clear picture of the Doctoral Student in Earth Observation, Data Science, and AI for Poverty Estimation Scholarship before you apply.

Eligible Countries

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, North Korea, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestine, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Seirra Leone, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Korea, South Sudan, South-Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Trinidad-Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Wales, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Study Fields

Artificial Intelligence, Data Science

GPA / Grade

Languages

C1 Advanced 180, IELTS 6.5, PTE A 62, TOEFL iBT 90

Tests

Study Levels

Doctoral, PhD

Total Scholarships

Transcripts

Yes

Degrees

Yes

Essay

Yes

Passport ID

Recommendation Letters

Result Date

Program Start

September 2026

Tuition Fee

Covered

Living Allowance

Yes

34,550 SEK/month

Travel Allowance

Research Grant

Health Insurance

Yes

Visa Assistance

📞 Contact Information

Call if you want a quick answer, send an email for detailed questions, or follow the university’s social channels to keep an eye on updates and reminders. Use whatever fits your style and timezone.

Scholarship Summary

Award Amount34,550 SEK/month
Deadline13 Jun, 2026
LevelDoctoral, PhD
InstitutionChalmers University of Technology
CountrySweden
ModeOnline
TypeFully funded

Apply Now

Chalmers University of Technology, in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg, Linköping University, and Harvard University, offers the Doctoral Student in Earth Observation, Data Science, and AI for Poverty Estimation Scholarship. The project is hosted within the AI and Global Development Lab under the Division of Data Science and AI. This fully funded PhD opportunity combines artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, and earth observation technologies to estimate poverty and living conditions across Africa. In addition, the research contributes to global sustainable development initiatives through data-driven poverty analysis.

Background and Purpose

Chalmers University of Technology established this interdisciplinary project to support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through advanced AI and remote sensing research. Therefore, the project focuses on building high-resolution poverty estimation models using satellite imagery and deep learning techniques. Moreover, the research evaluates different satellite systems such as Sentinel-2, Landsat, and Pléiades to balance computational efficiency and predictive accuracy. Through explainable AI methods, the project also aims to improve transparency and trust in AI-based policy tools.

Doctoral Student in Earth Observation, Data Science, and AI for Poverty Estimation Scholarship Benefits

The PhD position provides full funding from the beginning at Chalmers University of Technology. Selected doctoral students receive a starting monthly salary of approximately 34,550 SEK along with full employee benefits in Sweden. In addition, the position includes healthcare coverage, parental leave, pension contributions, and Swedish language training opportunities. The appointment lasts four years and may extend to five years through teaching responsibilities. Furthermore, students benefit from extensive international research collaboration and access to leading global AI and remote sensing networks.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must hold a strong academic background in computer science, artificial intelligence, data science, remote sensing, engineering, or related fields. In addition, candidates should demonstrate experience or interest in deep learning, satellite data analysis, machine learning, or programming. Strong analytical and computational skills are highly desirable. However, admission remains highly competitive and depends on academic excellence, research potential, and alignment with the project objectives.

Doctoral Student in Earth Observation, Data Science, and AI for Poverty Estimation Scholarship Application Process

Students must apply through the official recruitment system of Chalmers University of Technology. Therefore, applicants should prepare academic transcripts, a CV, and supporting research documents before the deadline. In addition, candidates may need to demonstrate technical expertise in AI, machine learning, or geospatial data analysis. The university then evaluates applications based on qualifications, research experience, and suitability for the project.

Opportunities for Scholars

Doctoral students participate in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research involving AI, remote sensing, and global development. Scholars develop deep-learning models, analyze satellite imagery, and contribute to open-source software development. In addition, students collaborate with international researchers from Sweden, the United States, India, Chile, and the United Kingdom. These experiences prepare graduates for careers in academia, AI research, geospatial analytics, international development, and policy-focused data science. Overall, the program provides advanced research training, international exposure, and full financial support in Sweden.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this PhD position about?

It is a fully funded doctoral project focused on using satellite imagery and deep learning to estimate poverty levels and support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in Africa.

What skills are required?

A Master’s degree in computer science, data science, statistics, physics, engineering, or related fields, along with strong Python programming and deep learning experience.

What experience is preferred?

Remote sensing, satellite imagery, geospatial libraries (GDAL, rasterio, geopandas), spatio-temporal modeling, and exposure to causal inference are strong advantages.