Deadline: September 27, 2026
Applications are open for the Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS) AI Policy Fellowship 2027. The IAPS AI Policy Fellowship is a fully funded, three-month program for professionals from varied backgrounds seeking to strengthen practical policy skills for securing a positive future in a world with powerful AI.
The IAPS Policy Fellowship is designed to cultivate the talent needed to ensure AI policy can meet the magnitude of challenges emerging from the frontier. Participants embed into the live AI policy field, responding to priority policy windows, and developing the skills to further their careers at leading organizations in the field.
Fellowship Tracks
Two tracks are available to participants:
- Research Track: The Research track pairs you with an IAPS researcher (or an external supervisor at a partner organization) to produce a substantive piece of AI policy research over the course of the Fellowship. You will scope a question with your supervisor in the first weeks, then take primary ownership of the analysis and writing, with regular feedback on research direction, methods, and drafting for a policy audience. The goal is developing the ability to carry a research project from open question to evidence-based conclusions, and to produce a publishable output. Former Fellows have published reports written during their time with IAPS.
- Applied Track: The Applied track focuses more on hands-on policy work rather than a single research output. You will work with a supervisor on projects closer to the practice of AI policy that will require adaptability to real-life, evolving situations rather than building deep specialization on a research question. This track would suit people coming from an adjacent field (government, programs, operations, event organizing, grantmaking, etc.) who want to fast-track the conversion of existing professional skills into AI policy experience, or researchers who want to transition to practitioner roles. Former Fellows have run policy workshops, assisted in evaluating grant applications, and collaborated on policy memos.
Financial Support
- Senior Fellows will receive $24,000 and Fellows $18,000 as a stipend to work full-time during the three-month program.
- Fellows on the DC or London track will also receive an additional $3,000 stipend.
- They can provide part-time options for exceptional candidates.
- They will provide financial support for travel and accommodation for the two-week D.C. event.
Eligibility
- They are looking for people who want to develop a career in AI policy and address the lasting implications of frontier AI.
- They encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with IAPS’s areas of focus by checking out their research.
- Applicants with policy, technical, academic, and government backgrounds are strongly recommended, but they are open to a wide variety of backgrounds.
Application
The application takes about 45 minutes, in five sections:
- About you (5 min): basic details and eligibility.
- Your experience (5 min): where you have worked, for how long, and what you did.
- Your motivation (10 min): rank the AI policy issues that motivate you, then two short written answers – a research interest (up to 300 words) and your career goals (150-200 words).
- Communicating with stakeholders (10 min): one written reply to a policy conversation (100-200 words).
- Timed reasoning (15 min): logic and reasoning questions with a timer. This comes last, and you start it when you are ready.
For more information, visit IAPS AI Policy Fellowship.
