Selected Research
SPAR research has been accepted at ICML and NeurIPS, covered by TIME, and led to full-time job offers for mentees.
Check out some of our work:
We're a part-time, remote research fellowship that connects rising talent with experts in AI safety or policy, to do 3-month research projects together.
SPAR (Supervised Program for Alignment Research) is a part-time, remote research program pairing aspiring AI technical safety and policy researchers with professionals in the field to work together on impactful research projects. Mentees gain research experience and guidance, and mentors get assistance with their projects.
Mentees can choose to commit anywhere from 5-20 hours/week.
The program runs for 3 months with options for extension, culminating in a Demo Day attended by top AI safety orgs.
We accept mentees with relevant technical or policy background at any level, from undergraduate students to mid-career professionals.
SPAR research has been accepted at ICML and NeurIPS, covered by TIME, and led to full-time job offers for mentees.
Check out some of our work:
Build the skills to break into AI technical safety or policy research and learn whether this path is right for you. SPAR and your mentor provide structured support to help you start your journey.
Get advice and support from experienced researchers to support your development of key scientific skills.
Most projects in SPAR result in papers. Our demo day gives you the opportunity to present your research in front of researchers from organizations like METR, MATS, Constellation, Redwood, and many others.
Join a research team of peers with shared interests who support each other's growth. Virtual coffee chats and in-person meetups provide additional opportunities to connect.
Conduct real, cutting-edge research to help the world answer the most pressing questions of our time. Most projects lead to published papers or preprints with mentee co-authors.
Last year we awarded $7,000 total at our Demo Day, which rewards the best posters and talks for projects in the program.
From application to publication, here's what you can expect.
STEP 01
Explore available projects and express interest for the next round to work on ones you're excited about.
STEP 02
Spend 5-20 hours/week on real AI safety research with your team. Receive structured support and regular feedback.
STEP 03
Present your research at our virtual mini-conference attended by leading AI safety organizations. The best posters and lightning talks will be eligible for prizes!
STEP 04
Many mentorship pairs continue working together after the program ends, leading to publications and career opportunities.
The program is open to undergraduate, graduate/PhD students, and professionals of different experience levels. Mentors often look for a technical background (e.g., ML, CS, cybersecurity, math, physics, etc.) or knowledge relevant to policy and governance (e.g., law, international relations, public policy, political science, economics, etc.).
Some projects may require additional background knowledge, like knowledge of specific research areas, techniques, or tools (e.g. ML frameworks).
We don't require previous research experience, and many mentees have none.
Even if you do not entirely meet these criteria, we encourage you to apply! Several past mentees have been accepted even though they didn't completely match a project's criteria.
The SPAR program follows this timeline:
During the research period, mentees work closely with their mentors on AI safety projects, culminating in presentations at our Demo Day.
