The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) has unveiled its first cohort of 26 incoming Ellison Scholars, which includes seven undergraduate Scholars who will join Jesus College in October 2025, subject to meeting the conditions of their University of Oxford offer.

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EIT’s mission is to translate scientific and technological breakthroughs into real world benefit for society’s most enduring problems. The Ellison Scholars programme plays a crucial role in this, by nurturing the next generation of global innovators and leaders, who will work together with EIT to generate effective solutions.

Of the first cohort, 20 will become undergraduate Ellison Scholars, and six doctoral candidates will become graduate Ellison Scholars. All Scholars have successfully applied to the University of Oxford through its independent admissions process.

Dr Alexandra Lumbers, Academic Director at Jesus, said, “We are delighted that the College will be welcoming seven undergraduate Ellison Scholars to join our community later this year. As a College that welcomes students from all over the world, we’re excited that our newest members will be joining us from countries across four different continents, and bringing with them significant skills and innovation that will no doubt inspire their peers, and our wider academic community.”   

The Scholars will receive comprehensive funding for their studies at Oxford, including full tuition, living expenses, and research support. Beyond their academic work, they will engage in innovative and world-benefitting projects at EIT’s state-of-the-art Oxford campus. They will work alongside world-renowned experts on practical solutions across EIT’s four Humane Endeavours: Health and Medical Science, Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture, Climate Change and Clean Energy, and Government Innovation in Era of AI.

EIT’s vision for the programme is to cultivate a lifelong network of purpose-driven leaders and innovators. After graduation, Scholars will maintain access to EIT technology and network of experts as they continue working toward profound change in their home country and around the world, whilst also providing mentorship to future cohorts.

The undergraduate cohort

The inaugural undergraduate offer holder cohort includes 20 intellectually curious and innovation-driven candidates who are already putting their expertise into action to solve problems. The cohort spans 11 countries across five continents, bringing extraordinary achievements in science, technology, and innovation. Selected Scholars have already made significant contributions through published research and impactful scientific and technological developments, from developing drought-resistant rice varieties to creating AI models for early disease detection. Many have won international competitions and earned recognition in fields ranging from molecular biology to quantum computing.

The graduate cohort

EIT will also welcome six exceptional doctoral Scholars, whose groundbreaking research will directly advance EIT’s mission. The incoming Scholars completed their previous degrees at the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, Brown and ETH Zurich. They have stellar research experience and publications, and some exceptional clinical backgrounds – all preparing them well to hit the ground running with their chosen projects at EIT. Each Scholar has been awarded full funding for their DPhil studies at Oxford, where they will work at the intersection of their academic research areas and EIT’s innovative projects.

All Ellison Scholars will work at EIT’s new Oxford campus, scheduled for completion in 2027. The facility will house cutting-edge laboratories for robotics, proteomic analysis, and genomic sequencing, along with advanced cloud-controlled greenhouses and a 16,000-node NVIDIA H100 GPU supercluster for AI research. The campus will also include specialised facilities such as the Robotics Lab, IoT Sensor Lab, Drug Design Lab, and an oncology imaging and preventative care clinic.

Larry Ellison, Founder and Funder of EIT Oxford, and CTO of Oracle

“The next generation of political and entrepreneurial leaders will inhabit a world being continuously transformed by technological advancement. Progress in artificial intelligence, genetics, robotics and data science will fundamentally transform a majority of our economy and change the way we live, work and govern ourselves. This scholarship programme was created to equip and train the next generation of innovators to lead this global transformation in directions that benefit the world.”

Professor Sir John Bell, EIT Oxford President commented:

“We stand at a pivotal moment where technology and human ingenuity can reshape our future. Today, I’m thrilled to announce the selection of our inaugural class of Ellison Scholars – 26 brilliant minds who will pursue groundbreaking research in urgent challenges facing humanity, from developing novel therapeutics to creating resilient food systems. The inaugural cohort are hugely intelligent, capable and driven to make beneficial impact. We look forward to working with them on projects that matter.”

Dr Laura Lewis, Ellison Scholars Programme Director

“By providing these exceptional scholars with full funding and resources, we’re investing in more than just research – we’re nurturing a generation of innovators who will bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world impact. Their work represents our commitment to fostering entrepreneurial thinking in advanced research, ensuring that transformative ideas don’t just remain in labs but evolve into solutions that can improve lives across the globe.”

Read the full article on the EIT website here.