The Alan Turing Institute
The UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence.

The University of Cambridge was a founding partner of The Alan Turing Institute and is now a member of the Turing University Network. Launched in 2023, the Turing University Network gives UK universities with an interest in data science and AI the opportunity to engage and collaborate with each other, the Turing and its broader networks. A list of members can be found at: Turing University Network | The Alan Turing Institute
The relationship between Cambridge and the Turing is supported by the Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery (C2D3).
Founded in 2015 by five universities - Cambridge, Edinburgh, Oxford, UCL and Warwick – and the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Turing is the UK's national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. It is named in honour of Alan Turing, whose pioneering work in theoretical and applied mathematics, engineering and computing is considered to have laid the foundations for modern-day data science and artificial intelligence. Headquartered in the British Library, the Turing's mission is: ‘To make great leaps in the development and use of data science and artificial intelligence (AI) in order to change the world for the better.’
In 2023 the Turing shared its vision for the future called Turing 2.0. This vision has three ambitious goals:
- Advance world-class research and apply it to national and global challenges
- Build skills for the future
- Drive an informed public conversation
Turing 2.0's science and innovation agenda is focused on three grand challenges:
- Defence and National Security
- Environment and Sustainability
- Transformation of Health
Fundamental research in data science and AI supports the delivery of these challenges. More information about Turing 2.0 can be found at Our strategy | The Alan Turing Institute
Cambridge researchers of all career levels can engage with the Turing in a variety of ways:
Apply for funding
Open funding calls organised by the Turing can be found at: Research and funding calls | The Alan Turing InstituteAttend seminars, lecture and events
Events taking place at the Turing and across the Turing University Network can be found at: Events | The Alan Turing Institute
Relevant events and opportunities are published on C2D3's Opportunities and Events pages and will be included in C2D3’s fortnightly bulletin. University of Cambridge staff and students can sign up here to receive this.
Join a Turing interest group
Interest groups gather researchers around areas of shared interest in data science and AI to share knowledge and spark new collaborations. Find out more and view the wide range of groups available at: Interest groups | The Alan Turing InstituteAdvertise your events to the Turing community
If you are running an event or seminar that you would like to advertise to the Turing University Network and wider Turing community please contact Alison (turing@admin.cam.ac.uk) with the details.
More details available at: Engage with the Turing as a researcher | The Alan Turing Institute
PhD students and Early career researchers (ECRs) are encouraged to engage with the Turing in the ways listed above. The Turing also provides some exciting opportunities specifically for these groups:
Turing PhD Enrichment Scheme
The Turing PhD Enrichment Scheme offers students currently enrolled on a doctoral programme at a UK university the opportunity to enrich their studies by undertaking a nine-month placement at the Turing. Students continue their doctorate with their current supervisor at their home university, while gaining the opportunity to expand their research horizons, develop new skills and build collaborations amongst the Turing's diverse community of researchers. This programme typically opens for applications at the start of the calendar year with placements starting in October.
Find out more at: Turing PhD Enrichment scheme | The Alan Turing Institute
Three Cambridge students are taking part in the 2025-26 Enrichment Scheme:
- Ieva Raminta Staliunaite (Department of Computer Science and Technology)
- Sophie-Charlotte Perret (Department of Engineering)
- Pritthijit Nath (Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics)
Turing Internship Network (PhD students)
The Turing Internship Network provides opportunities for current or recently graduated PhD students to acquire industry experience working on real-world problems in data science and artificial intelligence at leading organisations across industry, government and the third sector in the UK and Ireland. Internships typically last between three and twelve months and the host organisation will hire and provide a salary for the successful interns. Roles are advertised three times a year in January, May and September.
More details including eligibility criteria, open calls and examples of previous projects can be found at: Turing Internship Network | The Alan Turing Institute
Data study groups (PhD students and ECRs)
Data study groups (DSGs) are intensive "collaborative hackathons" where a team of talented multi-disciplinary researchers tackle a real-world problem posed by an organisation from industry, government or the third sector.
Join a challenge group: Regular open calls are held for researchers interested in joining a challenge group. Groups are typically made up of PhD students and ECRs from across the UK. DSGs can take place in-person at The Alan Turing Institute in London or virtually lasting 1-2 weeks. For more information see: Get involved as a researcher | The Alan Turing Institute
Become a Principal Investigator (PI): Every DSG challenge requires a PI to act as the academic lead. Working closely with the organisation proposing the challenge the PI will determine the challenge scope, understand the nature of the proposed data set, support the participants during the event and report the outcomes. This is a paid opportunity for ECRs to gain valuable experience in academic leadership and working collaboratively with industry, government or the third sector. For more information and to register your interest in becoming a PI visit: Get involved as a PI | The Alan Turing Institute
Events for PhD students and ECRs
As part of the Turing Connections Initiative the Turing organises a number of events for PhD students and ECRs including:
- Regular PhD student presentation and networking days
- PhD Connect (an annual 2-day AI and data science conference for PhD students)
- AIUK ECT Connect (an ECR event at AI UK)
Cambridge researchers collaborate with the Turing across a wide range of research areas from Mental Health to the Environment and Sustainability. A full list can be found at People | The Alan Turing Institute with the University of Cambridge as the partner institution.
Several Cambridge academics hold leadership roles at the Turing including:
- Professor Mark Girolami (Department of Engineering) - Chief Scientist
- Professor Jon Crowcroft (Department of Computer Science and Technology) - Researcher at Large
- Dr Adrian Weller (Department of Engineering) - Head of Safe and Ethical AI
- Professor Richard Turner (Department of Engineering) - Research Lead, AI for Weather Prediction
- Professor Alexandra Brintrup (Department of Engineering) - Theme Lead, Digital Manufacturing in Data-Centric Engineering
Turing Fellows
Turing Fellows are appointed annually via a competitive open call. The next generation of world leading researchers, they have proven research excellence in data science, artificial intelligence, or a related field, and research interests aligned to the Turing’s Science and Innovation priorities. Three Cambridge researchers currently hold Turing Fellowships.
- Professor Angela Wood (Department of Public Health and Primary Care)
- Professor Matthew Juniper (Department of Engineering)
- Professor Michael Inouye (Department of Public Health and Primary Care)
Turing AI Fellows
Since 2019 four Cambridge researchers have been awarded prestigious Turing AI fellowships. These fellowships are delivered in partnership by The Alan Turing Institute, UK Research and Innovation and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
- Professor Zoubin Ghahramani (Department of Engineering) - Turing AI World-Leading Researcher Fellow
- Professor Jose Miguel Hernandez-Lobato (Department of Engineering) - Turing AI Acceleration Fellow
- Professor Neil Lawrence (Department of Computer Science and Technology) - Senior Turing AI Fellow
- Dr Adrian Weller (Department of Engineering) - Turing AI Acceleration Fellow
Contact us

Turing Liaison: Dr Alison Wilson
Alison is the Turing liaison for the University of Cambridge. A member of the C2D3 team, she provides the key professional services link with the Turing.
If you are a Cambridge student or researcher interested in hearing more about the Turing and the opportunities it offers or looking for support engaging with the Turing please reach out to Alison at turing@admin.cam.ac.uk

Academic Liaison: Professor Zoe Kourtzi
Zoe Kourtzi is a Professor of Cognitive Computational Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge. Zoe’s research aims to develop predictive models of neurodegenerative disease and mental health with translational impact in early diagnosis and personalised interventions. Zoe received her PhD from Rutgers University and was a postdoctoral fellow at MIT and Harvard. She was a Senior Research Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics and then a Chair in Brain Imaging at the University of Birmingham, before moving to the University of Cambridge in 2013. She is a Royal Society Industry Fellow, Responsible AI fellow, Turing Academic Liaison for the University of Cambridge and Co-director of Cambridge’s Centre for Data Driven Discovery.