Getting to know our Programme Directors has been one of the real privileges of this job.
They’re among the most curious, ambitious and technically serious people I’ve worked with, and watching them take an idea from conviction to live programme has reminded me, again and again, what ARIA is for.
Our job is to give exceptional technical leaders the resources and autonomy to run well-resourced, interdisciplinary programmes around audacious goals. Programme Directors set the direction, build the teams and communities around it, and actively steer portfolios of research towards scientific progress and societal impact.
Today we’re opening applications for our third cohort of Programme Directors.
If you’re a scientific or technical leader with deep expertise and a vision for the future you want to build, we want to hear from you. You don’t need a fully-formed plan — you need the imagination and judgement to see what bets could be truly transformational.
If these current cohorts have taught me anything, it’s how much talent is out there waiting for the right environment to do the best work of their careers. I can’t wait to meet our next one.
Kathleen Fisher, ARIA CEO
Join our open webinar
Hear more from the ARIA team about the recruitment process, what we’re looking for, and how to make the most of your application.
Application timeline
Early bird deadline: 7 September
Applications close: 28 September
Virtual interviews: October-November
In-person finalist day: 10 December
Start date: May 2027
Opportunities to engage with us
High Risk, High Reward: Unlocking the frontier of deep tech innovation – Venture Café Edinburgh – 27 August 2026. Find out more.
The edge of the possible with ARIA: Pitching the future of climate tech – Malmö – 15 September 2026. Register your interest.
Key resources
Information on applying as a co-Programme Director