Arcadia Impact AI Governance Taskforce – Autumn 2026 Cohort (Remote, Part-Time Research Programme) – Applications Open

Application Deadline: August 31, 2026

About the Taskforce

The AI Governance Taskforce supports experienced professionals transitioning into frontier AI governance careers focused on reducing catastrophic risks, both acute and systemic, from transformative AI. The programme builds credentials and connections through policy research conducted remotely alongside existing commitments. Research Associates work in multidisciplinary teams of four, led by a Research Team Leader and working with an expert partner who provides research direction and oversight. Expert partners are senior practitioners in AI safety and governance, drawn from organisations such as the UK AI Security Institute (AISI), GovAI, the AI Incident Database (AIID), MIT’s AI Risk Initiative (AIRI), the Centre for Long-Term Resilience (CLTR), SaferAI, The Future Society (TFS), the Future of Life Institute (FLI), and academia. The work produces policy-relevant research outputs and gives participants the credentials and connections to transition into work in the field.

Programme Details

• Duration: 12 weeks (October 12 – December 18, 2026; January 4 – 15, 2027, with a two-week year-end break)
• Hours: 8 hours per week
• Location: Remote-only, global
• Remuneration: Voluntary, unpaid
• Places: Approximately 20 Research Associate places
• Eligibility: Global

What the Taskforce Offers

Alumni of the Taskforce have gone on to work at Google DeepMind, SaferAI, Pour Demain, ControlAI, collaborate with Yoshua Bengio, the Oxford Martin AI Governance Initiative, MIT AI Risk Initiative, Centre for Long Term Resilience (CLTR), and take up AI governance relevant academic positions, research management positions at other fellowships, and placements via Talos, at The Future Society. Taskforce teams have produced research that has been accepted at the International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML) Technical AI Governance workshop, including a best paper award, obtained co-authorship with expert partners, and been featured in Time magazine, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and the AI Policy Bulletin.

About the Research Associate Role

Requirements:

• Committed to a career reducing catastrophic and systemic risks from frontier AI (not general AI risk, corporate AI compliance, or AI ethics)
• Able to commit at least 8 hours per week across the cohort dates
• Willing to work in a small, structured, remote research team

Selection Criteria:

• Readiness and drive: already moving towards this work
• Situational awareness of the frontier AI landscape: capabilities, actors, risks, and work already underway
• Demonstrable competency and expertise from another field that transfers to frontier AI governance research
• Strong reasoning and clear writing, research and policy skills
• Judgement about what matters and what is tractable in frontier AI governance
• Self-direction: pursuing goals without an existing mandate or structure

Already moving towards the field: Given the pace of frontier AI development, the programme prioritises candidates who have already started moving toward this work through study, writing, volunteering, foundational programs, or applications elsewhere.

NOTE: No deep technical understanding of frontier AI is required.

Application Process

No writing sample is required at any stage.

Stage 1: General Application
Submit your CV and short written answers. Assessment focuses on motivation and readiness, situational awareness of frontier AI risk, judgement about priorities and interventions, how existing expertise transfers, self-direction, and clarity of reasoning.

Stage 2: Project Application
Shortlisted candidates receive project briefs and are invited to apply to projects that fit them best, completing a short written task related to their chosen project.

Stage 3: Interview
A remote interview to get to know you and expand on aspects of your application.

Stage 4: Offers
Successful candidates are offered a place on a specific project team.

Key Dates

• Applications Open: August 5, 2026
• General Applications Close: August 31, 2026 (23:59 AoE)
• Stage 2 Invitations Issued By: September 7, 2026 (AoE)
• Stage 2 Project Applications Due: September 13, 2026 (AoE)
• Stage 3 Interview Invitations Issued By: September 21, 2026
• Offers Made: Week commencing October 5, 2026
• Cohort Dates: October 12 – December 18, 2026; January 4 – 15, 2027

How to Apply

Application Link: Click here

For More Information: Visit the Official Arcadia Impact AI Governance Taskforce Page