TL;DR: SPAR is now accepting mentee applications for Fall 2025 with 80+ AI safety and governance research projects available, nearly double our last round. We expect to accept over 200 mentees. Applications close August 20th.
The Supervised Program for Alignment Research (SPAR) is now accepting mentee applications for Fall 2025, with 80+ projects available!
SPAR is a research program that connects aspiring AI safety researchers with experienced mentors for three-month AI safety and governance research projects. We're thrilled to announce that we've nearly doubled our project offerings from last cycle, with over 80 projects across AI safety, policy, security, and strategy. We've also substantially increased our share of projects related to AI policy, to over 30.
Apply nowThe Fall 2025 cycle of SPAR will run virtually from September 15 to December 20, 2025. You can explore all 80+ projects here to find ones that match your interests and background.
Applications close August 20th. Most mentors review applications on a rolling basis, so we strongly encourage applying early to maximize your chances of matching with your preferred projects.[1]
SPAR is open to undergraduate and graduate students, PhD candidates, and professionals at various experience levels. SPAR requires only part-time dedication, from 5 hours a week to 20 hours a week. As a SPAR mentee, you'll work on a focused research project under the guidance of an experienced mentor.
Mentors typically look for candidates with either:
Some projects may require specific knowledge of research areas, techniques, or tools, but we don't require previous research experience, and many successful mentees have had none. Even if you don't perfectly match a project's criteria, we encourage you to apply! Many past mentees have been accepted despite not meeting every requirement.
SPAR creates value for everyone involved. Mentors expand their research output while developing research management skills. Mentees get to explore safety research in a structured, supportive environment while building safety-relevant skills. Both produce concrete work that serves as a strong signal for future opportunities in AI safety.
With 80+ projects and plans to accept over 200 mentees this cycle, we're offering an unprecedented scale of research opportunities, from technical alignment work to governance frameworks to defensive cybersecurity.
Questions? Email us at spar@kairos-project.org or drop them in the comments below.
Also note that some projects are "off-cycle", meaning they will start earlier than SPAR does, and will therefore focus on applications over the coming two weeks.