BASE Fellows Spring 2026

The Black in AI Safety & Ethics (BASE) Fellowship is a 12-week, part-time remote program beginning in April 2026, designed to develop Black researchers, practitioners, and leaders in AI Safety, AI Security, AI Governance. Fellows gain structured expert mentorship, foundational training, and hands-on research experience to prepare them for impactful research in the rapidly evolving AI safety ecosystem.

Apply by January 9 2026, 11:59PM (AoE)

Apply to join the first class of BASE Fellows!

APPLY HERE

Program Structure

The program conducts three specialized research track:

  • AI Alignment (technical ML safety research: Interpretability, Oversight & Control, Agency)

  • AI Security (Cyber/infosec, Risk Management, Adversarial robustness, Threat detection)

  • AI Governance (Policy and Frameworks, Evaluations, Standards, Systemic Risk Analysis)

Fellows will undergo two phases of the program to build strong foundations and support meaningful research outcomes:

Weeks 1–4: Foundations & Training Curriculum

  • Informed training based on selected stream (Technical AI Safety, AI Governance, and InfoSec/AI Security)

  • AI Safety seminars and events led by practitioners and researchers.

  • Milestone-based assignments to build technical and analytical fundamentals

Weeks 5–12: Research & Project Development

  • Fellows work on a focused AI safety project with a mentor aligned with one of the program tracks.

  • Hands-on mentorship with weekly check-ins, feedback sessions, and structured research support.

    • Required: Weekly meeting with your mentor to discuss project progress totaling to at least 1hr

  • Development of a meaningful capstone outcome, such as:

    • A research preprint

    • A technical blog post

    • A fellowship or grant application to further research goals

Eligibility & Requirements

  •  Must be currently enrolled in or have completed a BA/BS degree

  • Identify as Black or as a member of the Black/African Diaspora 

  • We prioritize applicants whose lived experiences align with BASE’s mission to empower the global Black diaspora in AI safety

  • Commit 20-25 hours a week to research and learning, curriculum completion, participate in weekly seminars, and work closely with a mentor who provides guidance, feedback, and professional support

  • Must submit a capstone project, such as a research preprint, blog post, or fellowship/grant application

Preferred Qualifications & Fit

  • Prior research experience or work in fast paced collaborative environments

  • Intention to continue pursuing work in AI safety, security, or Governance after completing the fellowship

  • This may include graduate study, research positions, technical roles, policy internships, or continued independent work

  • Commitment to BASE's values

  • Skills By Track:

    • AI Safety:

      • Background in computer science, machine learning, mathematics, or a related technical discipline. Familiarity with Python, ML models, or research workflows

    • AI Security:

      • Background in cybersecurity, information security, threat detection, adversarial ML, or related areas.

    • AI Governance:

      • Background or demonstrated interest in policy, law, political science, economics, sociology, or technology governance

Application & Selection process

Phase 1: Initial Review - Application and References

  • All applicants who pass the initial round of reviews will receive prescreen test: coding tests for technical tracks or work test for non-technical tracks

  • Fellow's who successfully pass the pre-screening stage will be able to apply to specific mentor projects, aligned by selected track. During this time references may be contacted

Phase 2: Mentor Application and Offers

  • Mentors receive applicants who selected their track and passed the initial review stages.

  • Mentors choose their mentee(s)

  • Acceptance Offers will be sent out by the BASE Team in early March

Fellowship Q&A Sessions

Have questions about the fellowship and application process?

For more information we’ll be hosting live Q&A sessions this Friday, December 19th, to answer questions about the program, eligibility, and the application process, sign up times below:

WHY JOIN US?

BASE is building a connected and informed Black community in AI Safety, Governance, and Security. Our goal is to ensure that the Black diaspora has a lasting voice and influence in the technologies shaping the future. We aim to ensure that future AI systems reflect fairness, accountability, and collective well-being for all people.

APPLY