Overview:
The AI Expert-in-Residence will explore how ResearchNB can leverage artificial intelligence to improve our business. Through a six-month residency, the Expert-in-Residence will connect regularly with members of our organization, generate a deeper understanding of our business model, and assess the potential for AI to improve our abilities to deliver on our mandate of powering discovery together.
More specifically, the Expert-in-Residence will work with ResearchNB to explore the effective use of AI to answer the following questions:
- AI for Evaluation – how can we use artificial intelligence to evaluate the impact of ResearchNB’s funding on the province of New Brunswick?
- AI for Connection – how can we use artificial intelligence to foster a more connected and collaborative research and innovation ecosystem?
- AI for Communications – how can we use artificial intelligence to make research matter to more people?
- AI for Operations – how can we use artificial intelligence to improve our ability to provide services in both official languages in New Brunswick?
Expected Activities
- AI Strategy and Implementation Planning: Develop practical recommendations and roadmaps for implementing AI solutions that align with organizational priorities and capacity.
- Data Readiness Assessment: Evaluate the readiness of ResearchNB's data assets for AI adoption, including data quality, storage, accessibility, and the ability of existing systems and data pipelines to support AI applications without compromising privacy or security.
- Workflow Analysis: Review current processes and stakeholder experiences to identify opportunities for AI-enabled improvements.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be employed at an institution listed in Appendix B of the ResearchNB Award Guidelines.
- The applicant must be currently residing in New Brunswick.
- Demonstrate expertise in artificial intelligence and/or generative AI applications
- Experience working with organizations and/or partners to assess systems and workflows.
- Demonstrated experience in one or more of the activities outlined in the “Expected Activities” section.
- Strong understanding of the responsible use of AI policies and guidelines established by the Tri-Council and/or other Canadian research funding organizations.
- Availability to complete the residency within the 2027 calendar year.
This program is currently:
Open (Closes November 6, 2026)
Funding Program Details
Applications open (1:00pm ADT):
October 6, 2026
Applications close (11:59am ADT):
November 6, 2026
Anticipated notice of decision date:
December 11, 2026
Award Term:
6 months
Award Amount:
Up to $30,000
Leverage:
N/A
Eligible Expenses:
These funds are exclusively used to pay principal investigator salaries.
Application Process:
Applications for this fund are only accepted through the ResearchNB application portal and are evaluated against the evaluation criteria for this fund. Evaluation for this Award will be completed through an internal review by the ResearchNB Senior Leadership Team.
Short-listed applicants will be invited for an in-person interview. Interviews will be held in-person from November 30 through December 4, 2026.
Award Duration & Reporting:
This award is for a period of six months. A final report will be due at the end of the grant period, which must include a strategy for AI adoption at ResearchNB, along with a roadmap for implementation. There will be no requirement for Impact Reports following submission of the final report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Seed Funding?
ResearchNB Seed Funds are funding programs that focus on building capacity for future federal, private, or public research investments in New Brunswick and catalyze research. Seed Funds do not have matching funding requirements.
Does every project need to align with the priority sectors listed on the ResearchNB website? The website lists Health, Energy, Forestry, Oceans, and Agriculture, but there are also Advanced Manufacturing, ICT, and Data & AI included in the portal application?
Advanced Manufacturing, ICT, and Data & AI are enabling platforms that support and enhance advancement within the priority sectors. While some funding programs don’t require direct alignment with these sectors, they do require a demonstrated impact on New Brunswick. Within these funding programs, projects that don’t directly address a priority area will be evaluated equally, as long as the impact on New Brunswick is clearly outlined in the application.