Build on Trainium: Responsible AI call for proposals - Fall 2025

Building the future of AI with AWS Trainium.

About this CFP

What is Build on Trainium?
Build on Trainium is a $110MM credit program focused on AI research and university education to support the next generation of innovation and development on AWS Trainium. AWS Trainium chips are purpose-built for high-performance deep learning (DL) training of generative AI models, including large language models (LLMs) and latent diffusion models. Build on Trainium provides compute credits to novel AI research on Trainium, investing in leading academic teams to build innovations in critical areas including new model architectures, ML libraries, optimizations, large-scale distributed systems, and more. This multi-year initiative lays the foundation for the future of AI by inspiring the academic community to utilize, invest in, and contribute to the open-source community around Trainium. Combining these benefits with Neuron software development kit (SDK) and recent launch of the Neuron Kernel Interface (NKI), AI researchers can innovate at scale in the cloud. The program can also support model inference on AWS Trainium chips and the closely-related AWS Inferentia chips.

What are AWS Trainium and Neuron?
AWS Trainium is a purpose-built AI chip developed by AWS for accelerating building and deploying machine learning models. Built on a specialized architecture designed for deep learning, Trainium accelerates the training and inference of complex models with high output and scalability, making it ideal for academic researchers looking to optimize performance and costs. This architecture also emphasizes sustainability through resource-efficient design, reducing environmental impact. Amazon has established a dedicated Trainium research cluster featuring up to 40,000 Trainium chips, accessible via Amazon EC2 Trn instances. These instances are connected through a non-blocking, petabit-scale network using Amazon EC2 UltraClusters, enabling seamless high-performance ML training. Trn instances is optimized to deliver substantial compute power for cutting-edge AI research and development. This unique offering not only enhances the efficiency and affordability of model training but also presents academic researchers with opportunities to publish new papers on underrepresented compute architectures, thus advancing the field.

Focus on Responsible AI (RAI)
The focus of this CFP is on Responsible AI (RAI) - a major field of AI research that is critically needed for greater adoption of AI technology. Broadly speaking, AWS defines RAI to include the dimensions of 1/ Fairness, 2/ Explainability, 3/ Privacy and Security, 4/ Safety, 5/ Controllability, 6/ Veracity and robustness, 7/ Governance, and 8/ Transparency. Within RAI the five topics below are priority topics for research, based on their expected benefits to builders, customers and the scientific community.

Please develop your grant proposal addressing one or more of these topics, or make a strong case for another topic within RAI.

  1. AI safety and alignment. It is critical to ensure that artificial intelligence systems remain beneficial, controllable, and aligned with human values as AI becomes increasingly capable and autonomous. We seek proposals that utilize Trainium to advance:
    1. Robustness and Reliability: ensuring AI systems perform consistently and safely under all conditions, including adversarial attacks, distribution shifts, and edge cases
    2. Alignment and Value Learning: ensuring AI systems understand and act in accordance with human values and intentions, including inverse reinforcement learning, reward modeling, superalignment and preference learning
    3. Scalable oversight: maintaining meaningful human control over AI systems as they become more capable to include reasoning, tool usage and distributed across agents.
    4. Fairness, privacy protection and bias mitigation: Training foundation models and multi-agent AI systems with inbuilt fairness objectives, bias mitigation and protection of privacy
  2. Multi-lingual language models. Humans worldwide speak thousands of languages, but only a small fraction of these languages are used to natively train LLMs. There is a growing demand for advanced AI solutions for every human language. We seek work that:
    1. Introduces novel deep learning architectures, techniques, data and software that advance multi-lingual LLMs
    2. Trains models that excel in rarer human languages and releases datasets and tools, such as data preparation and tokenization tools for non-Latin alphabets
    3. Trains multilingual small language models (SLMs) for applications like guardrails for Asian languages
    4. Develops standardized benchmarks in knowledge, reasoning and other competencies in non-English languages with a focus on fairness and cultural inclusion
  3. Representation engineering (RE). RE is focused on understanding, analyzing, and manipulating the internal representations learned by artificial neural networks. This field investigates how models encode, transform, and utilize information to make decisions. We seek proposals that utilize Trainium for RE, including:
    1. Analysis and Visualization: techniques for understanding how neural networks encode information, including feature visualization, attribution methods, and dimensionality reduction approaches
    2. Transparency and Interpretability: methods for explanation generation, decision verification, and model inspection
    3. Modification and Control: steering how models learn representations, including architecture design, training objectives, and direct manipulation of learned representations and unlearning
    4. Security and Counter-Hallucination: detection and prevention of adversarial attack or hallucinations using RE, including through data path injections.
  4. Sustainability, Efficiency and Small Language Models (SLMs). The rapid advancement of generative AI technologies has raised resource consumption and environmental impact to a top concern of decision makers and application developers. Meanwhile, advances in SLMs enable more efficient and performant LLMs. Using cost and resource allocation as a proxy for carbon emissions offers benefits both to reduce carbon and to increase access to AI. We seek proposals that advance:
    1. Training and inference efficiency: improving the efficiency of training and inference using novel architectures, training curriculum and schedule optimization, LLM Ops and other techniques
    2. Novel SLMs: novel architectures, datasets and training strategies that advance the state of the art in SLMs such as pruning, matrix factorization, quantization, neural architecture search, and other strategies.
    3. Resource consumption of existing GenAI solutions: utilizing tools such as the Neuron SDK and Neuron Kernel Interface, research novel approaches to reduce computational overhead. Develop new algorithms, refine model architectures, and create software optimizations that significantly improve efficiency without compromising AI capabilities
    4. Real-time monitoring and optimization techniques for GenAI resource consumption: design intelligent systems capable of dynamically adjusting resource allocation based on workload demands and resource constraints. Predictive models for resource usage, adaptive algorithms for power management, and innovative approaches to balance performance and efficiency in live GenAI environments
  5. Deep learning models for synthetic data generation. VAEs, GANs and other techniques can generate fully-synthetic data such as text, images and even entire databases. These datasets can accelerate application development while protecting privacy and is indispensable for high-risk and regulated industries. The related techniques of data augmentation can accelerate the training of neural models. We seek proposals that utilize Trainium for:
    1. Foundational research: conceptual breakthroughs in realism, efficiency, scale and user control over model developer for synthetic data generation
    2. Hierarchical, multimodal and structured data: novel techniques for using models to generate fully-synthetic hierarchical and logically-constrained data as found in relational databases or multimodal and time-dependent data
    3. Advanced data augmentation: novel data augmentation methods and models for single- and multi-modal data

Timeline

Submission period: October 1 — November 12, 2025 (11:59PM Pacific Time)
Decision letters will be sent out in March 2026

Award details

Principal Investigators (PIs) may receive the following:

  • Applicants are encouraged to request AWS Promotional Credits in one of two ranges:
    • AWS Promotional Credits, up to $50,000
    • AWS Promotional Credits, up to $250,000 and beyond
  • AWS Trainium training resources, including AWS tutorials and hands-on sessions with Amazon scientists and engineers

Awards are structured as one-time unrestricted gifts. The budget should include a list of expected costs specified in USD, and should not include administrative overhead costs. The final award amount will be determined by the awards panel.

Your receipt and use of AWS Promotional Credits is governed by the AWS Promotional Credit Terms and Conditions, which may be updated by AWS from time to time.

Eligibility requirements

Please refer to the ARA program rules on the rules and eligibility page.

Proposal requirements

PIs are encouraged to exemplify how their proposed techniques or research studies advance kernel optimization, LLM innovation, distributed systems, or developer efficiency. PIs should either include plans for open source contributions or state that they do not plan to make any open source contributions (data or code) under the proposed effort. Proposals for this CFP should be prepared according to the proposal template and are encouraged to be a maximum of 3 pages, not including Appendices.

Selection criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the following:

  • Creativity and quality of the scientific content
  • Potential impact to the research community and society at large
  • Interest expressed in open-sourcing model artifacts, datasets, and development frameworks
  • Intention to use and explore novel hardware for AI/ML, primarily Trainium and Inferentia.

Expectations of Recipients

To the extent deemed reasonable, award recipients may acknowledge the support from ARA (“(e.g., “Research reported in this [publication/press release] was supported by an Amazon Research Award, [Cycle /Year].”). Award recipients will inform ARA of publications, presentations, code and data releases, blogs/social media posts, and other speaking engagements referencing the results of the supported research or the Award. Award recipients are expected to provide updates and feedback to ARA via surveys or reports on the status of their research. Award recipients will have an opportunity to work with ARA on an informational statement about the awarded project that may be used to generate visibility for their institutions and ARA.

US, MA, N.reading
Amazon Industrial Robotics Group is seeking exceptional talent to help develop the next generation of advanced robotics systems that will transform automation at Amazon's scale. We're building revolutionary robotic systems that combine cutting-edge AI, sophisticated control systems, and advanced mechanical design to create adaptable automation solutions capable of working safely alongside humans in dynamic environments. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of robotics and automation at an unprecedented scale, working with world-class teams pushing the boundaries of what's possible in robotic dexterous manipulation, locomotion, and human-robot interaction. This role presents an opportunity to shape the future of robotics through innovative applications of deep learning and large language models. At Amazon Industrial Robotics Group, we leverage advanced robotics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to solve complex operational challenges at an unprecedented scale. Our fleet of robots operates across hundreds of facilities worldwide, working in sophisticated coordination to fulfill our mission of customer excellence. We are pioneering the development of dexterous manipulation system that: - Enables unprecedented generalization across diverse tasks - Enables contact-rich manipulation in different environments - Seamlessly integrates low-level skills and high-level behaviors - Leverage mechanical intelligence, multi-modal sensor feedback and advanced control techniques. The ideal candidate will contribute to research that bridges the gap between theoretical advancement and practical implementation in robotics. You will be part of a team that's revolutionizing how robots learn, adapt, and interact with their environment. Join us in building the next generation of intelligent robotics systems that will transform the future of automation and human-robot collaboration. A day in the life - Work on design and implementation of methods for Visual SLAM, navigation and spatial reasoning - Leverage simulation and real-world data collection to create large datasets for model development - Develop a hierarchical system that combines low-level control with high-level planning - Collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams to co-design hardware and algorithms for dexterous manipulation
US, NY, New York
We are seeking an Applied Scientist to lead the development of evaluation frameworks and data collection protocols for robotic capabilities. In this role, you will focus on designing how we measure, stress-test, and improve robot behavior across a wide range of real-world tasks. Your work will play a critical role in shaping how policies are validated and how high-quality datasets are generated to accelerate system performance. You will operate at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and human-in-the-loop systems, building the infrastructure and methodologies that connect teleoperation, evaluation, and learning. This includes developing evaluation policies, defining task structures, and contributing to operator-facing interfaces that enable scalable and reliable data collection. The ideal candidate is highly experimental, systems-oriented, and comfortable working across software, robotics, and data pipelines, with a strong focus on turning ambiguous capability goals into measurable and actionable evaluation systems. Key job responsibilities - Design and implement evaluation frameworks to measure robot capabilities across structured tasks, edge cases, and real-world scenarios - Develop task definitions, success criteria, and benchmarking methodologies that enable consistent and reproducible evaluation of policies - Create and refine data collection protocols that generate high-quality, task-relevant datasets aligned with model development needs - Build and iterate on teleoperation workflows and operator interfaces to support efficient, reliable, and scalable data collection - Analyze evaluation results and collected data to identify performance gaps, failure modes, and opportunities for targeted data collection - Collaborate with engineering teams to integrate evaluation tooling, logging systems, and data pipelines into the broader robotics stack - Stay current with advances in robotics, evaluation methodologies, and human-in-the-loop learning to continuously improve internal approaches - Lead technical projects from conception through production deployment - Mentor junior scientists and engineers
US, WA, Seattle
Come be a part of a rapidly expanding $35 billion-dollar global business. At Amazon Business, a fast-growing startup passionate about building solutions, we set out every day to innovate and disrupt the status quo. We stand at the intersection of tech & retail in the B2B space developing innovative purchasing and procurement solutions to help businesses and organizations thrive. At Amazon Business, we strive to be the most recognized and preferred strategic partner for smart business buying. Bring your insight, imagination and a healthy disregard for the impossible. Join us in building and celebrating the value of Amazon Business to buyers and sellers of all sizes and industries. Unlock your career potential. Amazon Business Data Insights and Analytics team is looking for a Data Scientist to lead the research and thought leadership to drive our data and insights strategy for Amazon Business. This role is central in shaping the definition and execution of the long-term strategy for Amazon Business. You will be responsible for researching, experimenting and analyzing predictive and optimization models, designing and implementing advanced detection systems that analyze customer behavior at registration and throughout their journey. You will work on ambiguous and complex business and research science problems with large opportunities. You'll leverage diverse data signals including customer profiles, purchase patterns, and network associations to identify potential abuse and fraudulent activities. You are an analytical individual who is comfortable working with cross-functional teams and systems, working with state-of-the-art machine learning techniques and AWS services to build robust models that can effectively distinguish between legitimate business activities and suspicious behavior patterns You must be a self-starter and be able to learn on the go. Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required as you will work very closely with diverse teams. Key job responsibilities - Interact with business and software teams to understand their business requirements and operational processes - Frame business problems into scalable solutions - Adapt existing and invent new techniques for solutions - Gather data required for analysis and model building - Create and track accuracy and performance metrics - Prototype models by using high-level modeling languages such as R or in software languages such as Python. - Familiarity with transforming prototypes to production is preferred. - Create, enhance, and maintain technical documentation
US, TX, Austin
Amazon Leo is an initiative to launch a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide low-latency, high-speed broadband connectivity to unserved and underserved communities around the world. As a Systems Engineer, this role is primarily responsible for the design, development and integration of communication payload and customer terminal systems. The Role: Be part of the team defining the overall communication system and architecture of Amazon Leo’s broadband wireless network. This is a unique opportunity to innovate and define groundbreaking wireless technology at global scale. The team develops and designs the communication system for Leo and analyzes its overall system level performance such as for overall throughput, latency, system availability, packet loss etc. This role in particular will be responsible for leading the effort in designing and developing advanced technology and solutions for communication system. This role will also be responsible developing advanced physical layer + protocol stacks systems as proof of concept and reference implementation to improve the performance and reliability of the LEO network. In particular this role will be responsible for using concepts from digital signal processing, information theory, wireless communications to develop novel solutions for achieving ultra-high performance LEO network. This role will also be part of a team and develop simulation tools with particular emphasis on modeling the physical layer aspects such as advanced receiver modeling and abstraction, interference cancellation techniques, FEC abstraction models etc. This role will also play a critical role in the integration and verification of various HW and SW sub-systems as a part of system integration and link bring-up and verification. Export Control Requirement: Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.
US, MA, Boston
The Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) team is seeking a dedicated, skilled, and innovative Applied Scientist with a robust background in machine learning, statistics, quality assurance, auditing methodologies, and automated evaluation systems to ensure the highest standards of data quality, to build industry-leading technology with Large Language Models (LLMs) and multimodal systems. Key job responsibilities As part of the AGI team, an Applied Scientist will collaborate closely with core scientist team developing Amazon Nova models. They will lead the development of comprehensive quality strategies and auditing frameworks that safeguard the integrity of data collection workflows. This includes designing auditing strategies with detailed SOPs, quality metrics, and sampling methodologies that help Nova improve performances on benchmarks. The Applied Scientist will perform expert-level manual audits, conduct meta-audits to evaluate auditor performance, and provide targeted coaching to uplift overall quality capabilities. A critical aspect of this role involves developing and maintaining LLM-as-a-Judge systems, including designing judge architectures, creating evaluation rubrics, and building machine learning models for automated quality assessment. The Applied Scientist will also set up the configuration of data collection workflows and communicate quality feedback to stakeholders. An Applied Scientist will also have a direct impact on enhancing customer experiences through high-quality training and evaluation data that powers state-of-the-art LLM products and services. A day in the life An Applied Scientist with the AGI team will support quality solution design, conduct root cause analysis on data quality issues, research new auditing methodologies, and find innovative ways of optimizing data quality while setting examples for the team on quality assurance best practices and standards. Besides theoretical analysis and quality framework development, an Applied Scientist will also work closely with talented engineers, domain experts, and vendor teams to put quality strategies and automated judging systems into practice.
US, MA, Boston
The Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) team is seeking a dedicated, skilled, and innovative Applied Scientist with a robust background in machine learning, statistics, quality assurance, auditing methodologies, and automated evaluation systems to ensure the highest standards of data quality, to build industry-leading technology with Large Language Models (LLMs) and multimodal systems. Key job responsibilities As part of the AGI team, an Applied Scientist will collaborate closely with core scientist team developing Amazon Nova models. They will lead the development of comprehensive quality strategies and auditing frameworks that safeguard the integrity of data collection workflows. This includes designing auditing strategies with detailed SOPs, quality metrics, and sampling methodologies that help Nova improve performances on benchmarks. The Applied Scientist will perform expert-level manual audits, conduct meta-audits to evaluate auditor performance, and provide targeted coaching to uplift overall quality capabilities. A critical aspect of this role involves developing and maintaining LLM-as-a-Judge systems, including designing judge architectures, creating evaluation rubrics, and building machine learning models for automated quality assessment. The Applied Scientist will also set up the configuration of data collection workflows and communicate quality feedback to stakeholders. An Applied Scientist will also have a direct impact on enhancing customer experiences through high-quality training and evaluation data that powers state-of-the-art LLM products and services. A day in the life An Applied Scientist with the AGI team will support quality solution design, conduct root cause analysis on data quality issues, research new auditing methodologies, and find innovative ways of optimizing data quality while setting examples for the team on quality assurance best practices and standards. Besides theoretical analysis and quality framework development, an Applied Scientist will also work closely with talented engineers, domain experts, and vendor teams to put quality strategies and automated judging systems into practice.
US, MA, Boston
The Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) team is seeking a dedicated, skilled, and innovative Applied Scientist with a robust background in machine learning, statistics, quality assurance, auditing methodologies, and automated evaluation systems to ensure the highest standards of data quality, to build industry-leading technology with Large Language Models (LLMs) and multimodal systems. Key job responsibilities As part of the AGI team, an Applied Scientist will collaborate closely with core scientist team developing Amazon Nova models. They will lead the development of comprehensive quality strategies and auditing frameworks that safeguard the integrity of data collection workflows. This includes designing auditing strategies with detailed SOPs, quality metrics, and sampling methodologies that help Nova improve performances on benchmarks. The Applied Scientist will perform expert-level manual audits, conduct meta-audits to evaluate auditor performance, and provide targeted coaching to uplift overall quality capabilities. A critical aspect of this role involves developing and maintaining LLM-as-a-Judge systems, including designing judge architectures, creating evaluation rubrics, and building machine learning models for automated quality assessment. The Applied Scientist will also set up the configuration of data collection workflows and communicate quality feedback to stakeholders. An Applied Scientist will also have a direct impact on enhancing customer experiences through high-quality training and evaluation data that powers state-of-the-art LLM products and services. A day in the life An Applied Scientist with the AGI team will support quality solution design, conduct root cause analysis on data quality issues, research new auditing methodologies, and find innovative ways of optimizing data quality while setting examples for the team on quality assurance best practices and standards. Besides theoretical analysis and quality framework development, an Applied Scientist will also work closely with talented engineers, domain experts, and vendor teams to put quality strategies and automated judging systems into practice.
US, WA, Bellevue
We are seeking a passionate, talented, and inventive individual to join the Applied AI team and help build industry-leading technologies that customers will love. This team offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the customer experience and contribute to the design, architecture, and implementation of a cutting-edge product. The mission of the Applied AI team is to enable organizations within Worldwide Amazon.com Stores to accelerate the adoption of AI technologies across various parts of our business. We are looking for a Senior Applied Scientist to join our Applied AI team to work on LLM-based solutions. On our team you will push the boundaries of ML and Generative AI techniques to scale the inputs for hundreds of billions of dollars of annual revenue for our eCommerce business. If you have a passion for AI technologies, a drive to innovate and a desire to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to become a valued member of our team. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining the systems and tools that enable us to accelerate knowledge operations and work in the intersection of Science and Engineering. You will push the boundaries of ML and Generative AI techniques to scale the inputs for hundreds of billions of dollars of annual revenue for our eCommerce business. If you have a passion for AI technologies, a drive to innovate and a desire to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to become a valued member of our team. We are seeking an experienced Scientist who combines superb technical, research, analytical and leadership capabilities with a demonstrated ability to get the right things done quickly and effectively. This person must be comfortable working with a team of top-notch developers and collaborating with our research teams. We’re looking for someone who innovates, and loves solving hard problems. You will be expected to have an established background in building highly scalable systems and system design, excellent project management skills, great communication skills, and a motivation to achieve results in a fast-paced environment. You should be somebody who enjoys working on complex problems, is customer-centric, and feels strongly about building good software as well as making that software achieve its operational goals.
IN, KA, Bengaluru
Do you want to lead the development of advanced machine learning systems that protect millions of customers and power a trusted global eCommerce experience? Are you passionate about modeling terabytes of data, solving highly ambiguous fraud and risk challenges, and driving step-change improvements through scientific innovation? If so, the Amazon Buyer Risk Prevention (BRP) Machine Learning team may be the right place for you. We are seeking a Senior Applied Scientist to define and drive the scientific direction of large-scale risk management systems that safeguard millions of transactions every day. In this role, you will lead the design and deployment of advanced machine learning solutions, influence cross-team technical strategy, and leverage emerging technologies—including Generative AI and LLMs—to build next-generation risk prevention platforms. Key job responsibilities Lead the end-to-end scientific strategy for large-scale fraud and risk modeling initiatives Define problem statements, success metrics, and long-term modeling roadmaps in partnership with business and engineering leaders Design, develop, and deploy highly scalable machine learning systems in real-time production environments Drive innovation using advanced ML, deep learning, and GenAI/LLM technologies to automate and transform risk evaluation Influence system architecture and partner with engineering teams to ensure robust, scalable implementations Establish best practices for experimentation, model validation, monitoring, and lifecycle management Mentor and raise the technical bar for junior scientists through reviews, technical guidance, and thought leadership Communicate complex scientific insights clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders Identify emerging scientific trends and translate them into impactful production solutions
US, MA, Boston
The Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) team is seeking a dedicated, skilled, and innovative Applied Scientist with a robust background in machine learning, statistics, quality assurance, auditing methodologies, and automated evaluation systems to ensure the highest standards of data quality, to build industry-leading technology with Large Language Models (LLMs) and multimodal systems. Key job responsibilities As part of the AGI team, an Applied Scientist will collaborate closely with core scientist team developing Amazon Nova models. They will lead the development of comprehensive quality strategies and auditing frameworks that safeguard the integrity of data collection workflows. This includes designing auditing strategies with detailed SOPs, quality metrics, and sampling methodologies that help Nova improve performances on benchmarks. The Applied Scientist will perform expert-level manual audits, conduct meta-audits to evaluate auditor performance, and provide targeted coaching to uplift overall quality capabilities. A critical aspect of this role involves developing and maintaining LLM-as-a-Judge systems, including designing judge architectures, creating evaluation rubrics, and building machine learning models for automated quality assessment. The Applied Scientist will also set up the configuration of data collection workflows and communicate quality feedback to stakeholders. An Applied Scientist will also have a direct impact on enhancing customer experiences through high-quality training and evaluation data that powers state-of-the-art LLM products and services. A day in the life An Applied Scientist with the AGI team will support quality solution design, conduct root cause analysis on data quality issues, research new auditing methodologies, and find innovative ways of optimizing data quality while setting examples for the team on quality assurance best practices and standards. Besides theoretical analysis and quality framework development, an Applied Scientist will also work closely with talented engineers, domain experts, and vendor teams to put quality strategies and automated judging systems into practice.