TL;DR: SPAR is accepting mentee applications for Spring 2026, our largest round yet with 130+ projects across AI safety, governance, security, and (new this round) biosecurity. The program runs from February 16 to May 16. Applications close January 14, but mentors review on a rolling basis, so apply early. Apply here.
The Supervised Program for Alignment Research (SPAR) is now accepting mentee applications for Spring 2026!
SPAR is a part-time, remote research program that pairs aspiring researchers with experienced mentors for three-month projects. This round, we're offering 130+ projects, the largest round of any AI safety research fellowship to date[1].
We've expanded SPAR's scope to include any projects related to ensuring transformative AI goes well, including biosecurity for the first time. Projects span a wide range of research areas:
Spring 2026 mentors come from organizations that include Google DeepMind, RAND, Apollo Research, MATS, SecureBio, UK AISI, Forethought, American Enterprise Institute, MIRI, Goodfire, Rethink Priorities, LawZero, SaferAI, and Mila, as well as universities like Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford, and MIT, among many others[2].
SPAR is open to undergraduates, graduate students, PhD candidates, and professionals at various experience levels. Projects typically require 5–20 hours per week.
Mentors often look for candidates with:
Some projects require specific skills or domain knowledge, but we don't require prior research experience, and many successful mentees have had none. Even if you don't perfectly match a project's criteria, apply anyway. Many past mentees were accepted despite not meeting every listed requirement.
SPAR creates value for everyone involved. Mentees explore research in a structured environment while building safety-relevant skills. Mentors expand their capacity while developing research management experience. Both produce concrete work that serves as a strong signal for future opportunities.
Past SPAR participants have:
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we recommend you apply early. Spots are limited, and popular projects fill up fast.
Questions? Email us at spar@kairos-project.org or ask in the comments.