The 2026 Fully-funded IAPS AI Policy Fellowship: Apply Now in-person in D.C. or remotely from around the world ( $15,000 stipend for 3 months)

Ednah Carrick January 13, 2026

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Closing Date: 2 February 2026

The 2026 Fully-funded IAPS AI Policy Fellowship: Apply Now in-person in D.C or remotely from around the world ( $15,000 stipend for 3 months)

This is a fully-funded, 3-month fellowship for professionals looking to pivot into AI policy. Whether you come from tech, public service, law, or academia, you’ll gain the skills, mentorship, and network to make an impact.

Join a cohort of policy professionals, technologists, and researchers working to secure a positive future in a world with powerful AI.

AI Policy Fellowship 2026

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

Fellowship Overview

Dates and Location

June 1st to Aug 21st, D.C. or remote. Applicants may choose to do the Fellowship fully in-person in D.C. or remotely. All fellows will come together for a required in-person residency in D.C. on June 1-12.

Financial Support

Senior Fellows will receive $22,000 and Fellows will receive $15,000 as a stipend to work full-time during the 3-month program. IAPS can provide part-time options for exceptional candidates.

Day-to-day

Fellows work independently on projects such as writing policy memos and reports, briefing government officials, and organizing ambitious convenings. They have weekly meetings with their mentor and an IAPS manager, and present their work in the final week.

Who Should Apply

IAPS welcome applicants with policy and technical backgrounds (e.g., industry, government, think tanks) at various seniority levels. Fellows range from those in the middle of their undergraduate studies to those with decades of experience. The common thread is a solid understanding of their subject matter, the AI policy priorities IAPS focuses on, or both.

About IAPS

The Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS) is a nonpartisan think tank that produces policy research to address the implications of AI, from today’s most advanced models to potential AGI and super intelligence. IAPS work equips policymakers and industry leaders to protect innovation while navigating high-magnitude risks and opportunities at the intersection of AI, national security, and geopolitics.

About the Fellowship

Fellows join IAPS to conduct an independent AI policy project, with mentorship from a leading expert in the field. Each fellow is paired with a mentor, either from the IAPS team or from within in our network.

Tackle real-world AI policy challenges

Fellows will begin with a two week, in-person residency in D.C. for the start of the Fellowship, from June 1-12th. During the kickoff residency, they will explore the AI policy landscape and get the opportunity to meet other fellows, IAPS researchers, and a variety of AI policy experts.

Afterwards, they will spend the remaining 10 weeks working with an AI policy expert, who will mentor them on projects that will influence national and global AI policies. Key policy fields include national security implications of AI, government acquisition and procurement of AI, CBRN capabilities of AI models, export controls, evaluations, geopolitics of AI, hardware-enabled mechanisms, jurisdictionally-focused policy questions (e.g., U.S., U.K., and E.U.), among several others.

Fellows’ projects can have a variety of formats depending on each expert and fellowship coordinator, and will be set in partnership with each fellow. Examples of projects that fellows have worked on include:

Authoring policy briefs or memos
Giving briefings or presentations to government officials
Writing or contributing to a research report
Organizing a 200-attendee international conference
Publishing an op-ed about a salient or neglected AI policy issue
Providing strategic advice to a think tank expanding their operations to a new jurisdiction
Helping streamline the operations of a newly-created AI policy organization
Shaping the strategy for and helping run a track II event

These concrete outputs help strengthen fellows’ AI policy track record while achieving impactful outcomes.

Preparing you for after the Fellowship

The Fellowship is designed to support a smooth transition into an AI policy career. Whether you’re aiming to work in government, a think tank, or industry, the program equips you with the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to succeed.

In addition to working closely with a leading expert in the field, fellows receive:

Weekly one-on-one coaching from an IAPS Fellowship Coordinator focused on career development, project management, and productivity;
Ongoing support from IAPS researchers and policy staff, including direct feedback on their projects, such as via weekly work-in-progress sessions;
Access to our professional network, including many networking opportunities during our two-week kickoff in DC; and
Additional financial assistance, in select cases, to support career transitions after the program.

The program is well suited for both those with policy experience looking to transition into AI, or those with AI expertise looking to build more policy experience. Alumni of the Fellowship have gone on to full-time roles in industry, government, and at top think tanks like RAND, the Institute for Progress, the Center for Health Security and IAPS itself.

Join the community in Washington, D.C.

All fellows will begin the program with a two-week in-person residency in Washington, D.C. (June 1–12), where they will connect with the full IAPS team and partner experts. During this time, fellows will meet with their expert supervisor, participate in trainings on AI systems and policy challenges, workshop their Fellowship projects, and take part in a range of events—including roundtables, policy briefings, and informal networking gatherings.

For fellows based in D.C. throughout the program, IAPS will offer office space and regular in-person events to support ongoing collaboration and engagement.

Join remotely from around the world

IAPS welcomes remote fellows from many countries and provides multiple ways to stay connected and engaged. Every fellow (D.C. or remote) receives a support budget that can be used for in-person opportunities, such as attending conferences or meeting with their assigned expert.

As a remote-first organization, IAPS has the systems and experience to fully support remote participation and are able to legally hire in many countries. However, due to administrative or legal constraints, there may be some exceptions. These vary by individual circumstance, and IAPS will follow up directly if there are any limitations based on your location. If you have questions about a specific country, feel free to contact us at [email protected].