Apply to the Cambridge ERA:AI Fellowship 2025

The Cambridge ERA:AI Fellowship has opened applications for an in-person, paid, 8-week Summer Research Fellowship focused on catastrophic AI risk mitigation, taking place from 29th June to 24th August 2025 in Cambridge, UK, and aimed at a variety of aspiring researchers.

To apply and find out more, please visit the ERA website. The deadline to apply is April 8th, 2025 (11:59pm UTC).

If you are interested in mentoring fellows on this programme, please submit your name, email and research area here, and we will get in touch with you in due course.

For more information, you can also sign up for our information and application Q&A sessions:

Signup to the info session at 16:30 in UTC on 26th March (Q&A 1)
Signup to the info session at 16:30 in UTC on 1st April (Q&A 2)

If you know other people who would be a good fit, please encourage them to apply (people are more likely to apply if you recommend they do, even if they have already heard of the opportunity!) If you are a leader or organiser of relevant community spaces, we encourage you to post an announcement with a link to this post.

Applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, and we encourage early applications, as offers will be sent out as soon as suitable candidates are found. We will accept applications until April 8th, 2025 (23:59 UTC).

The Cambridge ERA:AI Fellowship is a fantastic opportunity to:

Build your portfolio by researching a topic relevant to understanding and mitigating risks from frontier AI (in our 3 research areas of Technical AI Safety, AI Governance, and Technical AI Governance)
Receive guidance and develop your research skills, via weekly mentorship from a researcher in the field.
Form lasting connections with other fellows who care about mitigating AI risks, while also engaging with local events including discussions and Q&As with experts.

Why we are running this programme

Our mission as an organisation is to reduce the probability of catastrophic outcomes caused by AI. We believe that one of the key ways to reduce this risk lies in fostering a community of dedicated and knowledgeable AI safety, security, & governance researchers. Through our summer research fellowship programme, we aim to identify and support aspiring researchers in this field, providing them with the resources and the mentorship needed to succeed.

What we provide

Full funding: Fellows receive a salary equivalent to £34,125 per year, which will be prorated to the duration of the Fellowship. On top of this, our fellows receive complimentary accommodation, meal provisions during working hours, visa support, and travel expense coverage.
Expert mentorship: Fellows will work closely with a mentor on their research agenda for the summer. See our Mentors page to learn about previous mentors (but do note that we match our fellows with mentors once they are accepted, and this list is only indicative to guide brainstorming).
Research Support: Many of our alumni have gone on to publish their research in top journals and conferences, and we provide dedicated research management support to help our fellows become strong researchers / policymakers in the field.
Community: Fellows are immersed in a living-learning environment. They will have a dedicated desk space at our office in central Cambridge and are housed together at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Networking and learning opportunities: We assist fellows in developing the necessary skills, expertise, and networks to thrive in an AI security or policy career. We can facilitate introductions to many organisations in the field. In special cases, we also provide extra financial assistance to support impactful career transitions.

What we are looking for

We are excited to support a wide range of research across our focus areas of Technical AI Safety, AI Governance, and Technical AI Governance. See our programme information for more details.

Who we are looking for

Anyone can apply to the fellowship! We are a talent-first programme and care about much more than just credentials. In fact, we are excited to support fellows from a wide range of subject areas who are committed to our mission. There are no formal eligibility restrictions beyond being 18 or older.

We are looking to support proactive individuals from a wide range of subject areas who have a high potential to do impactful work in the future.

Application process

The first stage consists of essay-style questions. Applicants will then progress through two interview stages before final offers are extended. Successful applicants will be notified by late April, and afterwards we will work with accepted fellows to develop their project ideas and pair them with relevant mentors.

Questions?

Please check out our Frequently Asked Questions section first. If you have questions about anything else which is not covered in our FAQs, please email us at hello@erafellowship.org.