Research Fellowship
The Pivotal Research Fellowship is a 9-week program designed to enable promising researchers to produce impactful research and accelerate their careers in AI safety, AI governance, and biosecurity. Throughout the fellowship, fellows collaborate with experienced mentors, engage in workshops and seminars, and build strong networks within the AI safety research community in London and beyond.
The 2025 Q1 Research Fellowship will run from February 3rd to April 4th. Fellows will receive:
Direct mentorship from established researchers
Conduct research in person in London at the London Initiative for Safe AI alongside leading AI Safety researchers
£5000 stipend, meals included, support for travel, accommodation, and compute costs
This marks our 5th research fellowship, building on a strong track record of supporting researchers in tackling important questions about the safety and governance of emerging technology.
Applications are open until November 21st, 2024.
For questions about the application process, please reach out.
Deadline: November 21st, 2024 (AoE)
Dates & Locations
February 3rd to April 4th,
London UK
Eligibility
Anyone passionate about a career in global catastrophic risk
Financial Support
£5,000 stipend, relocation support, free weekday lunches
We will also run a Research Fellowship in summer 2025. Express interest in all upcoming opportunities.
Recommend others who may be a good fit.
Receive $100 for each accepted candidate we contact through you.
FAQs
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The exact application process might change. But we currently expect to have 3 short stages:
Short, Automated Interview
Personal Interview (with opportunity for applicants to ask questions)
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Fellows typically work on research papers ranging from 10-20 pages. However, alternative formats such as blog posts, forum posts, or audiovisual work are also welcome. Our main priority is ensuring a valuable learning process and giving you the opportunity to test your fit for this type of work.
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While most fellows work on individual research projects with mentor support, we are open to collaborative work on certain topics. After acceptance, we'll work together to determine the optimal arrangement of fellows, research projects, and potential teammates.
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While meeting all relevant entry requirements is each fellow's responsibility, we provide an information document on entry requirements for the Research Fellowship (accuracy and completeness not guaranteed). We may be able to offer assistance during the process, depending on the circumstances.
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Anyone who is at least 18 years old at the start of the fellowship is eligible to apply.
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To offer context for potential research areas, we have curated a selection of resources that cover possible directions: AI Governance & Policy (here, here, here), Technical AI Safety , Technical AI Governance, and Biosecurity.
These examples illustrate the range of research we support but are not meant to limit your options. We encourage you to develop your own original research proposal that reflects your interests and expertise.
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Global catastrophic risks (GCRs) are events or situations that pose a risk of major harm on a global scale, with the potential to impact millions or even billions of people.
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Pivotal is committed to addressing global catastrophic risks, which we consider to be among the most important and neglected global challenges. We believe that building a strong field of researchers, policymakers, and academics who are dedicated to reducing these risks is crucial. Our primary focus at the moment is on delivering a high-quality research fellowship to cultivate talent in the global catastrophic risk field. In the future, we may explore opportunities to create year-round research opportunities.
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We’re always excited about hearing from people who want to work with us in some form. You can find out at “Work With Us.”
Previous Mentors
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Jonas Schuett
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Ingvild Bode
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Sebastien Krier
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Jonas Sandbrink
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Jenny Xiao
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Marius Hobbhahn
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Dave Denkenberger
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Jakob Graabak
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Jérémy Scheurer
2022 Mentor
Research Scientist - AI Alignment at Apollo Research
Linkedin -
Lee Sharkey
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Sophie-Charlotte Fischer
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Nicolas Moës
2022 Mentor
Executive Director at The Future Society -
Michael Parker
Testimonials
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Pivotal Research Fellowship opened the door to AI governance, enabling me to conduct impactful research in this field and connecting me to the broader AI governance community and new opportunities.
– Kristina Fort, 2024 Cohort
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The fellowship allowed me to work with top AI safety researchers – a great privilege early in my career! People were surprised what can be accomplished in two months, including me.
- Lennart Finke, 2024 Cohort
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The research fellowship allowed me to gain exposure to AI governance research. I believe this experience was crucial for me now continuing my work in AI governance as a Winter Fellow at GovAI.
— Caroline Baumoehl, 2023 Cohort
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The fellowship had a profound impact on my research direction and career. It was essential for my participation in the Biological Weapon Convention 9th Review Conference and enabled enduring connections with local think tanks.
— Théo Knopfer, 2022 Cohort
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The fellowship allowed me to develop my thinking in AI security under the guidance of a knowledgeable mentor, who continues to offer advice, and supported my career development by helping me evaluate my strengths, desired skills, and AI policy roles I want to explore.
— Chiara Gerosa, AI Fellowship Director at Talos Network, 2021 Cohort
