Yahoo! Labs is working hard to develop world-class science that will unveil the next generation of the Internet, and we want you to join us.

This is your chance to get an inside look at the big challenges Yahoo! research scientists are working on while driving your research forward. Learn more about the real-world problems facing our industry, then focus on and solve these fundamental challenges alongside the top minds in the field.

As a part of the Yahoo! Key Scientific Challenges Program, you’ll receive $5,000 seed funding, exclusive access to Yahoo! research scientists and select datasets, and an invite to the Key Scientific Challenges Graduate Student Summit.

We invite PhD students working in each of our core research areas to review the challenges listed below and submit an application between January 18 and February 26, 2010 to be considered for the Key Scientific Challenges Program.

Key Scientific Challenges Program

News

Thank you for your interest in our Key Scientific Challenges Program and Graduate Student Summit. We are currently in the process of updating and expanding our list of scientific challenges, and will publish our revised list in mid-December. The application window will open on January 18, 2010. Please check back for more information in December.

Yahoo! Honors Future Thought Leaders Through Inaugural Key Scientific Challenges Program
Congratulations to the 2009-2010 Yahoo! Key Scientific Challenges Program Award Winners! We were extremely impressed with all of the applicants and would like to thank each student and professor who applied to the program this year. The response was overwhelming, and our review committee had an extremely difficult time selecting the winners. Read More

Community Infrastructure and Information Management


Computational Advertising


Economics and Social Systems


Machine Learning


Search Technologies

Key Scientific Challenges award recipients receive

  • $5,000 unrestricted research seed funding which can be used for conference fees and travel, lab materials, professional society membership dues, etc.
  • Exclusive access to select Yahoo! datasets
  • The unique opportunity to collaborate with our industry-leading scientists
  • An invitation to this summer's exclusive Key Scientific Challenges Graduate Student Summit where you'll join the top minds in academia and industry to present your work, discuss research trends and jointly develop revolutionary approaches to fundamental problems

How to Apply

To be considered for the Key Scientific Challenges Program please email the following items to ksc@yahoo-inc.com by midnight PDT, March 6th 2009

All applications must be received via email and must include:

  • A nomination letter from your academic advisor
  • A clear statement about the Key Scientific Challenge you are addressing
  • A short summary (2-4 pages) describing your research and how it will make an impact in the KSC area you are addressing
  • Resume or CV

Criteria

To be eligible, you must be currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at any accredited institution.

Key Scientific Challenges Program FAQs

To learn more about the program, visit Key Scientific Challenges Program FAQs