Application Deadline: June 16, 2026

Program Timeline: September 8, 2026 – December 18, 2026

The Black in AI Safety & Ethics (BASE) Fellowship is a 13-week, part-time, fully remote program running from May through July 2026.

The BASE Fellowship is split into two phases:

Curriculum Phase

May 4 – June 5, 2026

• 2-hour live curriculum sessions held Monday–Friday
  
  

• Fellows must attend at least 3 out of 5 weekly group sessions via video call
  
  

• Missed sessions must be made up by reviewing session recordings
  
  

• Minimum 2 hours of self-study per day focused on key skills across:
  
  

  • Alignment

  • Governance

  • Security

  • Responsible AI
    
    

Research Phase

June 8 – July 31, 2026

• Work on a focused AI safety research project with a mentor
  
  

• Weekly mentor meetings (minimum 1 hour; additional time encouraged)
  
  

• Weekly check-ins with a Research Manager to support progress, resolve bottlenecks, and improve mentor–fellow communication
  

• Completion of a mid-research phase project proposal to track progress and prepare for final outputs
  

The fellowship requires a minimum of 10 hours per week across curriculum and research. Additional time during the research phase is strongly recommended for fellows aiming to produce more advanced outputs.

Fellows receive two formal feedback rounds during the research phase.

Yes. Mentors and research mentors provide structured feedback at both the midpoint and end of the research phase, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for growth.

Applicants must:

• Be 18 years or older before the program start date
  

• Be U.S. or non-U.S. citizens (global applicants welcome)
  

• Have completed or be in the process of completing a BA/BS degree
  

  • Students transferring to a four-year institution are eligible to apply

The fellowship offers four tracks:

• Alignment
  

• Security
  

• Governance

• Responsible AI
  

Applicants may apply to multiple tracks, though we recommend applying to no more than two to best showcase your skills and interests.

Yes. The BASE Fellowship is fully remote and accepts fellows globally. Fellows select one curriculum session to attend and coordinate mentor meetings at times that work across time zones.

References are contacted via email for applicants who advance to the pre-screening stage of the application process.

Applicants who pass the pre-screening stage will have the opportunity to apply to multiple mentor-led research projects aligned with their interests. Mentors propose research directions based on their expertise and current work.

Fellows will produce a meaningful capstone outcome, such as:

• A research preprint
  

• A technical blog post
  

• A fellowship or grant application to continue their research

• Early to mid-career students and professionals
  

• Individuals with more extensive experience who are looking to transition into AI safety research or practice

We advise those with significant AI Safety, Security, or Governance experience to apply to be a mentor in future cohorts.