Application Deadline: September 13, 2026
About the Fellowship
The ERA Fellowship is a comprehensive ten-week research and entrepreneurship programme based in Cambridge, UK, focused on understanding and mitigating catastrophic risks associated with frontier AI systems. Scheduled from 18th January to 26th March 2027, the programme aims to bring together leading researchers and entrepreneurs who are dedicated to addressing some of the most pressing and complex challenges in the field of artificial intelligence. The fellowship provides a unique opportunity for participants to engage in deep, impactful research projects tailored to their expertise and interests, with the goal of advancing knowledge and developing practical solutions to prevent potential AI-related catastrophes. The programme emphasizes professional growth through personalized mentorship and high-touch support from experts in AI safety, policy, and entrepreneurship. Participants receive guidance on their individual research initiatives, as well as career development resources designed to foster long-term impact in the field. The fellowship also includes opportunities for collaboration, networking, and engagement with the broader AI safety and biosecurity communities, aiming to catalyze innovative approaches and build a strong community of dedicated individuals working toward shared safety goals. In addition to the core fellowship, an additional programme focused on AIxBiosecurity is being offered during the same period. This specialized fellowship is targeted at individuals working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and biosecurity, with the aim of addressing emerging risks and developing safeguards in this critical area. Applications for the AIxBiosecurity fellowship will be opening soon, providing an additional pathway for researchers and entrepreneurs interested in contributing to the safety and security of both AI technologies and biological systems.
What Fellows Receive
- Individual research projects tailored to your interests and expertise
- High-touch mentorship from experienced researchers and practitioners
- Career support throughout the programme
- A generous stipend for the duration of the fellowship
- Travel and visa expense support
- Access to ERA’s broader network of researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers
- Opportunities to become strong researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers shaping the future of advanced AI
Fellowship Tracks
For the ERA:AI Winter 2027 cohort, we are accepting fellows across three tracks:
- AI Governance – Policy and governance approaches to mitigating catastrophic risks from advanced AI
- Technical AI Governance – Technical approaches to governance, including monitoring, verification, and control
- Technical AI Safety – Technical research on alignment, robustness, and safety of frontier AI systems
Who Should Apply
The programme is particularly interested in hearing from early-career researchers, PhD students, and working professionals from fields such as law, engineering, computer science, or related disciplines. However, it is also noted that this list is non-exhaustive, and applicants from other backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Furthermore, applicants are advised to submit their applications even if they are uncertain about meeting all the criteria or if they feel they do not have the ideal background.
Why This Fellowship Matters
The ERA Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for researchers and entrepreneurs to work on one of the most critical challenges of our time: mitigating catastrophic risks from frontier AI systems. By combining individual research, mentorship, and career support, the programme enables fellows to make meaningful contributions to AI safety, governance, and security.
For early-career researchers, PhD students, and working professionals from law, engineering, computer science, and related fields, this fellowship offers:
- A ten-week immersive programme in Cambridge, UK
- Generous stipend and travel support
- High-touch mentorship from leading experts
- Access to a powerful network of researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers
- A pathway to impact on AI risk mitigation
Application Process
This stage of the application process primarily consists of short essay questions and should take you about 2 hours. In your responses, we recommend focusing on content rather than polish. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis. Applicants who progress to the next stage will be invited for two interviews.
Important Notes on Academic Integrity: We take academic integrity extremely seriously in our fellowship selection process. All written responses must be entirely your own, reflecting your personal experiences, insights, and reasoning. Any form of external assistance, including consultation with other individuals or the use of AI tools for generating or refining text, is strictly prohibited. If we detect that your responses are not exclusively your own work, you may be disqualified from the application process.
Visa and Passport Requirements:
While we can sponsor visas, you must ensure that:
- Your passport has at least one blank page available for the visa vignette
- Your passport is valid until at least 26th September 2027
If this is not the case, we recommend starting the renewal process now, as it can take some time.
Application Deadline: September 13, 2026 (11:59 Anywhere on Earth)
How to Apply
It is advised that applicants visit the official ERA Fellowship page for full details and to access the application portal. It is strongly recommended that applicants review ERA’s website prior to applying, with particular attention to the sections on Past Research and AI Risk, in order to gain a clear understanding of the scope and focus of the work the fellowship is interested in supporting.
Application Link: Click here
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