Junior Research Fellowship
Junior Research Fellowship
OVERVIEW
Our Junior Research Fellowship is designed to immerse our selected candidates into the field of AI and global catastrophic risks, help them develop high-impact projects, and give them the kind of career capital they require to have a strong professional future.
Our Junior Research Fellowship is designed to immerse our selected candidates into the field of AI and global catastrophic risks, help them develop high-impact projects, and give them the kind of career capital they require to have a strong professional future.
Our Junior Research Fellowship is designed to immerse our selected candidates into the field of AI and global catastrophic risks, help them develop high-impact projects, and give them the kind of career capital they require to have a strong professional future.
What are the details of the Junior Research Fellowship?
This year, we’re offering two fellowship tracks: governance and technical.
This year, we’re offering two fellowship tracks: governance and technical.
This year, we’re offering two fellowship tracks: governance and technical.
JRFs in the governance track will conduct research on AI policy, regulation, and legal frameworks, while those in the technical track will focus on AI safety evaluation and mechanistic interpretability.
JRFs in the governance track will conduct research on AI policy, regulation, and legal frameworks, while those in the technical track will focus on AI safety evaluation and mechanistic interpretability.
JRFs in the governance track will conduct research on AI policy, regulation, and legal frameworks, while those in the technical track will focus on AI safety evaluation and mechanistic interpretability.
JRFs will attend our weekly seminar sessions from early April to late June 2026. From early August to the end of November 2026, they will dedicate at least 20 hours per week to their projects.
JRFs will attend our weekly seminar sessions from early April to late June 2026. From early August to the end of November 2026, they will dedicate at least 20 hours per week to their projects.
JRFs will attend our weekly seminar sessions from early April to late June 2026. From early August to the end of November 2026, they will dedicate at least 20 hours per week to their projects.
The programme is remote with occasional in-person meetups.
The programme is remote with occasional in-person meetups.
The programme is remote with occasional in-person meetups.
What are the perks of being an ILINA JRF?
You’ll learn a lot about how AI works, the interaction between AI and catastrophic risks, trends in AI governance and technical AI safety, and how to do high-impact research.
You’ll learn a lot about how AI works, the interaction between AI and catastrophic risks, trends in AI governance and technical AI safety, and how to do high-impact research.
You’ll learn a lot about how AI works, the interaction between AI and catastrophic risks, trends in AI governance and technical AI safety, and how to do high-impact research.
You’ll receive personalised attention and mentorship as you work on your project.
You’ll receive personalised attention and mentorship as you work on your project.
You’ll receive personalised attention and mentorship as you work on your project.
You’ll have access to a community of researchers working on related questions.
You’ll have access to a community of researchers working on related questions.
You’ll have access to a community of researchers working on related questions.
You’ll receive a 5,000 USD scholarship.
You’ll receive a 5,000 USD scholarship.
You’ll receive a 5,000 USD scholarship.
Who can apply?
Applicants to the governance track should have a social science or humanities background.
Applicants to the governance track should have a social science or humanities background.
Applicants to the governance track should have a social science or humanities background.
Applicants to the technical track should have programming experience (particularly in Python) and a background in mathematics, statistics, or machine learning.
Applicants to the technical track should have programming experience (particularly in Python) and a background in mathematics, statistics, or machine learning.
Applicants to the technical track should have programming experience (particularly in Python) and a background in mathematics, statistics, or machine learning.
Each candidate must also meet the following minimum requirements:
(i) Has completed their undergraduate degree (or is on track to complete it by early August 2026).
(ii) Be able to commit at least 7 hours per week from early April to late June 2026.
(iii) Be able to commit at least 20 hours per week from early August to the end of November 2026.
Each candidate must also meet the following minimum requirements:
(i) Has completed their undergraduate degree (or is on track to complete it by early August 2026).
(ii) Be able to commit at least 7 hours per week from early April to late June 2026.
(iii) Be able to commit at least 20 hours per week from early August to the end of November 2026.
Each candidate must also meet the following minimum requirements:
(i) Has completed their undergraduate degree (or is on track to complete it by early August 2026).
(ii) Be able to commit at least 7 hours per week from early April to late June 2026.
(iii) Be able to commit at least 20 hours per week from early August to the end of November 2026.
What sort of candidate are we looking for?
Our ideal candidate is anyone who:
Can reason clearly, carefully and analytically.
Can reason clearly, carefully and analytically.
Can reason clearly, carefully and analytically.
Has an interest in learning more about AI risks and how they can be prevented.
Has an interest in learning more about AI risks and how they can be prevented.
Has an interest in learning more about AI risks and how they can be prevented.
Is interested in research.
Is interested in research.
Is interested in research.
Is self-motivated and intellectually curious.
Is self-motivated and intellectually curious.
Is self-motivated and intellectually curious.
Is keen to have an impactful career.
Is keen to have an impactful career.
Is keen to have an impactful career.
APPLICATION & SELECTION
APPLICATION & SELECTION
APPLICATION & SELECTION
Governance Track
Applicants to the governance track must complete an online application form (which will require responses to some prompt questions and the submission of a research proposal) after which shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 1 hour interview.
Applications must be submitted by 27 February 2026, and final decisions will be communicated by 3 April 2026.
Before applying, we strongly recommend that you read through our project tips page here.
Our AI Use Policy
Applicants may use AI tools to improve fluency, prose, and clarity, and to support background research. However, the intellectual substance of an applicant's research proposal must reflect the applicant's own thinking, and applicants should not offload core reasoning to AI tools.
Governance Track
Applicants to the governance track must complete an online application form (which will require responses to some prompt questions and the submission of a research proposal) after which shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 1 hour interview.
Applications must be submitted by 27 February 2026 and final decisions will be communicated by 3 April 2026.
Before applying, we strongly recommend that applicants read through our project tips page here.
Our AI Use Policy for the Governance Track
Applicants may use AI tools may be used to improve fluency, prose, and clarity, and to support background research. However, the intellectual substance of applicants' research proposals must reflect the applicants' own thinking, and applicants should not offload core reasoning to AI tools.
Technical Track
Applicants to the technical track must complete an online application form which will require responses to some prompt questions and the submission of some materials.
The materials to be submitted will include: one code sample (submitted as a file or GitHub link); and a response to an open-ended question (up to 300 words) on an underexplored or poorly measured AI safety problem and how they would begin investigating it. Shortlisted candidates will thereafter be invited for a 1 hour interview.
Applications must be submitted by 27 February 2026, and final decisions will be communicated by 3 April 2026.
Before applying, we strongly recommend that you read through our project tips page here.
