Artificial intelligence is moving fast. And making sure it moves safely is one of the most important challenges of our generation. If you are a researcher who cares about that and has the technical skills to work on it, the AI Alignment Foundation Fellowship 2026 was built for you. This is a paid, full-time research fellowship for AI alignment researchers, run by AIAF in partnership with AE Studio. You will work at the speed of an industry research team on projects that actually work toward solving alignment. A total eight-week fellowship, which you have to complete remotely with a $12,000 USD stipend. And only six spots are available worldwide. This is one of the most selective and focused AI research fellowships open right now without IELTS and an application fee.

About AI Alignment Foundation

The AI Alignment Foundation funds, accelerates, and advocates for AI alignment research. It focuses specifically on neglected approaches, the areas of alignment that other organizations and funders overlook. Its mission is to grow the talent pipeline in this critical field. The fellowship is run in partnership with AE Studio, a research and development company deeply invested in the technical side of AI safety. Together they bring industry-speed research methodology into an academic-style fellowship structure. AIAF is a registered nonprofit organization based in Marina Del Rey, California.

Key Details at a Glance

• Program Name: AIAF Fellowship 2026

• Run by: AI Alignment Foundation in partnership with AE Studio

• Duration: 8 weeks full-time

• Format: Fully remote — work from anywhere in the world

• Stipend: USD $12,000 for the full program

• Available Spots: 6 — highly selective

• Program Start: September 8, 2026

• Application Deadline: August 17, 2026

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Financial Benefits

• USD $12,000 total stipend: Paid in two installments during the program

• Full compute budget: Cloud GPU access and API credits provided to each team at zero personal cost

• Travel and accommodation: Fully covered for in-person Demo Day attendance in Los Angeles; if you can make it there, AIAF handles every expense

• Full research infrastructure: Access to project management tools, code repositories, shared drives, and communication platforms

• Published output: Every team produces a written research post and reproducible work, with active support toward co-authoring a published paper

• Career support: AIAF actively connects outstanding fellows with relevant opportunities at partner organizations after the program ends

Research Areas

Fellows work on projects defined by AIAF and shaped by the partner research team. Project assignments happen after selection and are based on each fellow's background and the overall strengths of the cohort.

Current active research directions include:

• Building AI systems with access controls embedded at the pretraining stage rather than applied afterward

• Developing methods that help language models interpret and explain their own internal reasoning

• Studying how large language models resist external attempts to change their behavior and identifying the circuits responsible

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Eligibility Criteria

The fellowship is open to researchers at any career stage. Recent PhD graduates, master's students, self-taught researchers, and professionals transitioning into AI alignment from adjacent technical fields are all welcome.

Strong candidates typically have the following:

1. A solid machine learning foundation, you can design experiments, implement research papers, and fix your own code without needing someone to walk you through it

2. Genuine time spent engaging with AI alignment thinking, Not just surface-level reading

3. At least one example of independent technical work , a research write-up, a thesis chapter, a side project, a competition submission, or anything that shows you can take initiative and finish something

4. The ability to work independently for a full week and arrive at the end with meaningful progress to show

5. Flexibility to work on assigned research directions rather than a personal agenda

6. Full availability for 40 hours per week across the entire eight-week period

Required Application Materials

• Updated CV highlighting your academic background, research experience, and technical skills

• Short questionnaire covering your background, what you are currently working on, and links to any relevant work you have produced, such as code repositories, papers, write-ups, or projects

• Five-minute video recorded on any device with no production setup required. The video must answer two specific questions:

  • Why does AI alignment matter to you personally?

  • After reviewing AIAF's current research directions, choose one that genuinely interests you. Describe at least one critique you have of it, one thing you would extend or explore further, and what direction you think could be most valuable to pursue

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Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1. Study AIAF's current research directions.
Before writing a single word of your application, spend time reading about what AIAF is actively working on.

Step 2. Record your five-minute video.
Choose the research direction that most genuinely interests you. Record yourself speaking naturally about it.

Step 3. Submit your application.
Complete the online application form, upload your CV, submit your questionnaire answers, and include your video before August 17, 2026.

Step 4. Complete the technical test if shortlisted.
Candidates whose applications stand out are invited to complete a short technical test. This assesses your practical ability to work on alignment problems.

Step 5. Attend the final interview.
Finalists who pass the technical test are invited to a one-on-one interview. The conversation covers your research background, how you think about alignment, and how well you would fit with the cohort. Decisions are sent by early September.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply from outside the United States?

Yes. The fellowship is fully remote and open to researchers from every country. You need to be available for meetings that overlap with Pacific Time, but there is no location requirement.

Is there a job offer at the end?

No guaranteed job offer.

Can I apply while still finishing my PhD or master's degree?

Yes, provided you can genuinely commit to 40 hours per week for the full eight weeks. Be honest with yourself about your schedule before applying. A partial commitment will not produce the results the program expects.

Apply on the official website. The link is provided below