Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming societies, economies, governments, and global security systems. As AI capabilities continue to advance, there is growing demand for professionals who can help shape AI governance, strengthen AI safety, improve AI security, and ensure responsible deployment of powerful AI systems.
Several prestigious fellowships and leadership programs are currently accepting applications for 2026 cohorts. These opportunities provide funding, mentorship, networking, research support, career development, and direct engagement with leading experts working at the forefront of artificial intelligence policy, governance, security, and safety.
This article highlights some of the most significant opportunities currently available to professionals, researchers, students, engineers, policymakers, and emerging leaders seeking to contribute to the future of AI.
1. Oxford University Accelerator Fellowship Programme 2026: Funding and Support for High-Impact Ethical AI Projects
The BASE Fellowship is a 13-week remote programme running from September 2026 through December 2026. The initiative is specifically designed to support and develop Black talent in critical AI-related fields that are shaping the future of technology and society.
Applications are now open for the prestigious Accelerator Fellowship Programme at the Institute for Ethics in AI, University of Oxford. Designed to advance responsible and ethical artificial intelligence, this pioneering fellowship supports individuals and teams working on impactful projects that can influence policy, industry, public understanding, and the future direction of AI.
The programme is seeking 3–4 fellows for its current cohort and offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with one of the world’s leading centres for AI ethics research.
The Accelerator Fellowship Programme is a flagship initiative of the Oxford Institute for Ethics in AI. The programme was created in response to the growing ethical challenges posed by the rapid advancement and adoption of artificial intelligence technologies across society.
Unlike traditional research fellowships that focus primarily on academic outputs, this programme emphasizes real-world impact. It seeks to support projects that can shape the development of AI in ethical and socially beneficial directions while extending the influence of research already taking place within the Institute.
The fellowship is grounded in:
- Philosophical inquiry
- Academic independence
- Interdisciplinary collaboration
- Practical impact
- Responsible innovation
- Apply Here
2. BASE Fellowship Fall 2026
The BASE Fellowship is a 13-week remote programme running from September 2026 through December 2026. The initiative is specifically designed to support and develop Black talent in critical AI-related fields that are shaping the future of technology and society.
The programme focuses on three major areas:
- AI Safety
- AI Governance
- AI Security
Through structured mentorship, collaborative learning, and practical research projects, fellows gain the knowledge and experience necessary to contribute meaningfully to the AI safety ecosystem and emerging governance discussions worldwide.
The fellowship aims to ensure that the Black diaspora remains actively involved in shaping the development and regulation of advanced AI systems rather than being excluded from these transformative conversations.
Mission of Black in AI Safety and Ethics (BASE)
Black in AI Safety and Ethics was established to create a connected and informed Black community within the fields of AI safety, governance, and security.
The organisation’s mission includes:
- Increasing Black representation in AI leadership
- Supporting Black researchers and practitioners
- Promoting ethical and equitable AI systems
- Building a global network of Black AI experts
- Preventing the marginalisation of Black communities in the age of artificial intelligence
- Ensuring fairness, accountability, and collective well-being in future AI systems
As artificial intelligence increasingly influences economies, governance, communication, employment, and public life, BASE seeks to guarantee that Black voices remain influential in shaping AI policy and technological development. Apply here
The BASE Fellows Fall 2026 programme is now accepting applications from Black researchers, professionals, students, and practitioners interested in advancing their expertise in AI Safety, AI Governance, and AI Security. Designed as a fully remote and part-time fellowship, the programme offers a unique opportunity for members of the Black diaspora to gain hands-on research experience, expert mentorship, and foundational training in some of the world’s most important and rapidly evolving fields in artificial intelligence.
Organised by Black in AI Safety and Ethics, the fellowship seeks to increase Black representation and leadership within the global AI ecosystem while ensuring that future AI systems are safe, equitable, accountable, and human-centered.
Applications for the BASE Fellows Fall 2026 programme close on 16 June 2026 at 11:59 PM Anywhere on Earth (AOE).
3. Talos Network Artificial Intelligence Policy Leaders Programme 2026
The Talos Network Artificial Intelligence Policy Leaders Programme is designed for experienced professionals who are ready to influence the future of AI governance in Europe.
The programme aims to strengthen Europe’s capacity to govern advanced AI systems safely and effectively by supporting professionals with extensive experience in policy, government, international organizations, academia, industry, and related sectors.
Programme Tracks
Placement Track
The Placement Track is intended for professionals with at least eight years of experience who want to transition into AI governance.
Participants receive:
- A 12-month paid placement at an AI-focused organization
- Base compensation of EUR 5,000 per month for Brussels-based placements
- Cost-of-living adjustments for placements in other cities
- Career transition support
- Mentorship and networking opportunities
Training Track
The Training Track targets senior professionals with at least twelve years of experience who want to incorporate AI governance and AI safety considerations into their current roles.
Participants receive:
- Advanced AI governance training
- Strategic positioning support
- Access to high-level policy networks
- Career coaching and mentorship
Programme Components
Virtual European AI Policy Bootcamp
- Dates: 10 September – 22 October 2026
- Weekly sessions every Thursday
- Approximately 10 hours per week
- Compatible with full-time employment
Policymaking Summit
- Dates: 3 October – 9 October 2026
- Location: Brussels
- Fully reimbursed participation
- Workshops, networking, and engagement with senior policymakers
Additional Benefits
- One-on-one mentoring
- Career coaching
- Conference funding support
- Coworking support
- Access to Talos Network alumni
- Strategic career planning
- Connections across government, think tanks, industry, and European institutions
Who Should Consider Applying?
- Government professionals
- Policy experts
- Think tank researchers
- Industry professionals
- Academics
- Professionals interested in AI governance careers
4. Black in Artificial Intelligence Safety and Ethics Fellowship Fall 2026
The Black in Artificial Intelligence Safety and Ethics Fellowship is a 13-week remote programme designed to support Black researchers, practitioners, and future leaders working in AI safety, AI security, and AI governance.
Programme Dates
- Start Date: 8 September 2026
- End Date: 18 December 2026
Research Tracks
Participants may specialize in:
AI Alignment
Areas include:
- Interpretability
- Oversight and control
- Agency research
- Machine learning safety
AI Security
Areas include:
- Cybersecurity
- Adversarial robustness
- Risk management
- Threat detection
AI Governance
Areas include:
- Policy frameworks
- Standards
- Evaluations
- Systemic risk analysis
Programme Structure
Phase One: Foundations and Training
Weeks 1–5 focus on:
- AI safety seminars
- Expert-led training
- Structured curriculum
- Technical and analytical skills development
Phase Two: Research and Project Development
Weeks 6–13 focus on:
- Mentor-guided research
- Weekly supervision
- Capstone project development
Potential Capstone Outputs
- Research preprints
- Technical articles
- Fellowship applications
- Grant proposals
Benefits
- Expert mentorship
- AI safety training
- Research experience
- Professional development
- Access to AI safety networks
- Career preparation opportunities
Deadline
Applications are currently open. Applicants should monitor the official programme page for closing dates and updates.
5. Secure Program Synthesis Fellowship 2026
The Secure Program Synthesis Fellowship is a collaborative initiative led by Apart Research and Atlas Computing.
The fellowship focuses on one of the most important emerging challenges in AI safety: ensuring that AI-generated software behaves as intended and remains secure.
Programme Dates
- June – September 2026
Focus Areas
Participants may work on projects involving:
Specification Elicitation
Developing methods for translating informal requirements into formal specifications.
Specification Validation
Creating tools that verify the accuracy and completeness of specifications.
Specification-Driven Development
Building systems that generate and evaluate implementations based on formal specifications.
Adversarial Robustness
Exploring weaknesses and failure modes in AI-assisted software development systems.
Benefits
- Research mentorship
- Compute resources
- API support
- Community engagement
- Travel funding
- Demo Day participation
- Publication opportunities
- Research collaboration
Commitment
- 8–30 hours per week
- Fully remote
Deadline
The participant application deadline was 14 June 2026.
6. Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation Artificial Intelligence Fellowships 2026–2027
Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation offers prestigious fellowship opportunities focused on AI, international security, geopolitics, and strategic competition.
Open Fellowship Tracks
- Artificial Intelligence in Strategic Stability and Military Competition Fellowship
- Geopolitics of Artificial Intelligence Fellowship
Benefits
- One academic year of research
- Faculty mentorship
- Access to Stanford researchers
- Participation in seminars
- Collaborative research environment
- Professional development opportunities
Deadline
Applications close on 8 June 2026.
Ideal Candidates
- Researchers
- Scholars
- Security experts
- AI governance professionals
- International affairs specialists
7. Constellation Visiting Fellowship Fall 2026
The Constellation Visiting Fellowship supports AI safety researchers through an immersive research residency in Berkeley, California.
Duration
- Three to six months
Benefits
Housing and Travel
- Fully covered housing
- Travel support
Workspace
- 24/7 office access
- Collaborative research environment
Meals
- Lunch and dinner provided on weekdays
Networking
- Access to more than 100 researchers
- Research talks and events
Visa Support
- Guidance for international participants
Program Requirements
Applicants should be working full-time on AI safety or closely related research.
Deadline
Applications close on 12 June 2026 at 11:59 PM Anywhere on Earth.
8. Coefficient Giving Navigators Incubator – Artificial Intelligence Security Cohort
The Navigators Incubator is a leadership development programme focused on solving neglected and high-impact global catastrophic risk challenges.
The first cohort focuses on securing transformative artificial intelligence.
What Participants Receive
- Salary matching support
- Research funding
- Compute resources
- Conference budgets
- Networking opportunities
- Advisory support
- Potential long-term project funding
Program Duration
- Six months to two years
Focus Areas
Participants may work on:
- AI model security
- Infrastructure protection
- Compute verification
- AI integrity
- AI control
- Rogue deployment detection
Locations
- Washington, D.C.
- San Francisco
- London
- Tel Aviv
- Remote participation available
Ideal Candidates
- Cybersecurity professionals
- National security experts
- AI security researchers
- Technical founders
- Security engineers
Deadline
Applications are currently open. Interested candidates should apply as early as possible.
9. Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence Research Fellowship
The Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence (CHAI) at the University of California, Berkeley, offers a prestigious research fellowship designed to train outstanding postdoctoral researchers working to advance beneficial and human-compatible artificial intelligence. Fellows work closely with leading AI researchers, including Stuart Russell, Pieter Abbeel, and Anca Dragan, while collaborating with Berkeley AI Research and affiliated institutions.
About the Fellowship
The fellowship is intended for highly qualified researchers interested in developing AI systems that remain aligned with human values and interests. Fellows have significant freedom to pursue original research across a wide range of AI-related disciplines.
Research Areas
Potential research topics include:
- Theoretical foundations of intelligent agent architecture
- Probabilistic programming and formal probability models
- Long-term decision making
- Lifelong learning systems
- Human-in-the-loop planning and reinforcement learning
- Human-robot interaction
- Human preference modeling
- Multi-human value alignment
- Robust cooperation in multi-agent systems
- Mechanism design for human-machine systems
Fellowship Benefits
Participants receive:
- Funding for two years, with the possibility of renewal up to three years based on performance
- Competitive salary based on University of California, Berkeley salary scales
- Visa sponsorship eligibility
- Visa cost support for fellows and eligible dependents
- Access to world-leading AI researchers and research networks
- Opportunities to supervise students and lead research collaborations
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
- Hold or be close to completing a PhD in computer science, statistics, mathematics, theoretical economics, or a related technical discipline
- Demonstrate a strong publication and research record
- Have a solid understanding of modern AI and statistical learning methods (preferred)
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- One-page statement of research interests
- Contact details for two academic referees
Deadline
No application deadline is specified. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Why These Opportunities Matter
The future of artificial intelligence will be shaped by the people who understand both its capabilities and its risks. These fellowships and leadership programmes provide unique opportunities to gain specialized expertise, build influential networks, contribute to impactful research, and help shape policies governing some of the most consequential technologies of our time.
Whether your background is in policy, engineering, cybersecurity, governance, academia, or international affairs, these programmes provide pathways to become part of the growing global ecosystem working to ensure advanced AI systems remain safe, secure, and beneficial.
Given the rapidly approaching deadlines for several opportunities, interested applicants should prepare their materials and submit applications as soon as possible.
Discover more Global Fellowship Opportunities on OFY here.
Find more AI related opportunities here https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/?s=Artificial+Intelligence
