Emerging Leaders in AI (ELAI) - Grad Prep Program

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The Emerging Leaders in AI (ELAI) is a cohort-style, facilitated program with mentorship offerings. It is structured to align with graduate school academic calendars and is designed to be a hands-on, 6-month program focusing on all aspects of graduate school readiness. Free and available to participants all over the globe, ELAI’s focus on financial accessibility, knowledge sharing, and community building continues to increase access to MS and PhD programs in AI-related disciplines.

For the 2023/2024 program, we had 590+ applicants from across the globe, and selected 127 participants in total. We plan to report the outcomes of the 2023/2024 program here by summer 2024.

The 2024/2025 program is expected to begin in fall of 2024 and will conclude in spring of 2025. For those interested in applying to the 2024/2025 cohort, more information about the application process and deadline will be posted here and on our social media platforms in June of 2024. 

If you have any other questions you can email the Education and Career Programs team at academic@blackinai.org.

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Testimonials

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Emmanuel Ikpesu

PhD Candidate, University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX, USA), Petroleum Engineering with a focus in Data and AI

"Black-In-AI gave the organization I needed to prepare my applications well, on time, and track my process... In addition, the cohort system gave me a sense of belonging and motivation to see other like-minded individuals and have the opportunity to be helped by others and help others."

Sitota Ezra Mersha

Ph.D. Candidate, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) in Computer Science and Engineering

"Participating in the Emerging Leaders in AI program has been a transformative experience. The mentorship from AI leaders and the structured approach to the graduate admission process provided invaluable support as I navigated my PhD applications. Moreover, forming connections and learning from a diverse cohort of aspiring AI professionals has enriched my journey, empowering me to break through barriers and confidently pursue my ambitions in the AI field."

Eberechukwu Uwadoka

PhD Candidate, Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR, USA) in AI

"The ELAI - Grad Prep Program was instrumental in my graduate school application process. The comprehensive curriculum, comprising application guidance and school tracking, combined with insightful cohort sessions, equipped me with the skills and confidence needed for applications. I highly recommend this program to anyone serious about getting into graduate school."

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