AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2026–2027 | $5,000 Stipend | Part-Time Hybrid Fellowship

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2026–2027 is now accepting applications from professionals interested in turning frontier artificial intelligence safety ideas into practical policy solutions. The fellowship offers a $5,000 stipend, additional travel support, professional development, mentorship, and opportunities to engage with policymakers and experts.

Organized by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship will run from September 30, 2026, to February 28, 2027. The opportunity is designed as a part-time fellowship, requiring approximately 5 hours per week, with a combination of remote participation and in-person events.

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AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2026–2027

The Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship (PEF) helps participants move policy ideas from the concept stage toward real-world implementation.

For this particular cohort, Fellows will focus on frontier AI safety, security, governance, and policy. Participants will work as part-time FAS affiliates while developing a concrete policy proposal and engaging with decision-makers, experts, institutions, and other stakeholders.

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship is especially suitable for early- to mid-career professionals who have expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, law, national security, academia, civil society, industry, policy research, or related fields.

Fellowship Details

Fellowship Detail	Information
Fellowship Name	AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship
Organization	Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
Fellowship Type	Part-Time Fellowship
Work Arrangement	Hybrid
Fellowship Period	September 30, 2026 – February 28, 2027
Time Commitment	Approximately 5 hours per week
Stipend	$5,000
Potential Merit Award	Additional $1,000
Travel Support	Available for select fellowship events
California Retreat	Tentatively November 4–7, 2026
Washington, DC Capstone	Tentatively week of February 22, 2027
Application Deadline	September 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET

About the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship is designed for individuals who want to go beyond research and help advance practical policy solutions.

Instead of focusing only on producing research, Fellows will learn how to identify policy opportunities, engage decision-makers, build coalitions, and develop strategies for moving policy proposals toward implementation.

During the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship, each participant will develop a policy idea addressing a specific frontier AI safety challenge and create a realistic pathway for that idea to be adopted.

Potential pathways could include:

• Legislation
• Regulation
• Standards
• Government procurement
• Institutional design
• Governance mechanisms
• Other policy approaches

The fellowship therefore provides an opportunity to combine AI safety expertise with policy entrepreneurship.

AI Safety Topics Covered

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship will focus on a broad range of frontier AI safety and governance challenges.

Applicants may explore areas including:

1. Technical AI Safety

Fellows may investigate ways to ensure that frontier AI systems are reliable, aligned with human values, secure, and predictable.

2. AI Governance and Policy

Participants may develop frameworks and policies for the safe and secure development, deployment, and use of frontier AI systems.

3. AI Risk Assessment and Mitigation

The fellowship welcomes proposals focused on identifying, assessing, and reducing risks associated with advanced AI systems.

4. Transparency and Accountability

Applicants may explore approaches for improving transparency and accountability in AI development and deployment.

Other Frontier AI Safety Issues

The fellowship is particularly interested in policy proposals addressing:

• Cybersecurity
• Capability thresholds
• AI risk taxonomies
• Critical infrastructure
• Compute governance
• Model proliferation
• Open versus closed AI systems
• AI policy design
• Governance capacity
• Catastrophic AI risks

Applicants are expected to identify a specific and concrete frontier AI safety problem and propose a feasible pathway toward policy adoption.

What Will Fellows Do?

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship provides participants with flexibility to pursue policy projects while receiving support and guidance from FAS.

Fellows will be expected to:

Develop a Policy Memo

Each Fellow will develop and publish a policy memo addressing a specific frontier AI safety challenge.

The policy memo should include:

• A clearly defined policy problem
• A practical policy solution
• Relevant evidence and analysis
• Key stakeholders
• Institutions responsible for implementation
• A strategy for engaging decision-makers
• A pathway toward policy adoption

Participate in Policy Entrepreneurship Training

Fellows will participate in training sessions and reading groups designed to strengthen their understanding of:

• Frontier AI safety
• AI governance
• Policymaking processes
• Policy entrepreneurship
• Stakeholder engagement
• Translating technical expertise into policy impact

Attend the California Retreat

Fellows are expected to attend an in-person California retreat, tentatively scheduled for November 4–7, 2026.

The retreat will focus on:

• Mentorship
• Community building
• Policy project development
• Collaboration
• Advancing individual fellowship projects

Attend the Washington, DC Capstone Event

Fellows will also attend an in-person capstone event in Washington, DC, tentatively scheduled for the week of February 22, 2027.

The capstone will provide an opportunity to launch and disseminate policy memos and engage with:

• Policymakers
• AI experts
• Policy professionals
• Researchers
• Other relevant stakeholders

Who Can Apply for the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship?

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship welcomes applicants from diverse professional and academic backgrounds.

The fellowship is particularly suitable for early- to mid-career professionals who have limited direct experience in public policy but want to translate their technical or subject-matter expertise into practical policy impact.

Potential applicants may come from:

• AI research
• Computer science
• Academia
• Think tanks
• Civil society
• Technology industry
• Law
• Cybersecurity
• National security
• Public policy
• Science and technology
• Related disciplines

AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed holistically.

Successful applicants should demonstrate:

Understanding of Frontier AI Risks

Applicants should have a clear understanding of an important frontier AI safety, security, or governance challenge.

A Concrete Policy Idea

Applicants should present a practical, implementation-oriented policy idea with a credible route toward real-world adoption.

Stakeholder Awareness

Applicants should understand the institutions, decision-makers, experts, and stakeholders that would be necessary to implement their proposed solution.

Understanding of Policymaking

Applicants should demonstrate awareness of the practical challenges involved in developing and advancing public policy.

Curiosity and Initiative

The fellowship seeks people who demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and a genuine interest in translating ideas into practical policy impact.

Professional Development Opportunities

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship offers participants several professional development opportunities.

Fellows will receive:

• Twice-monthly group check-ins
• Mandatory FAS programming
• Policy entrepreneurship training
• Reading groups
• Monthly individual meetings with an FAS staff mentor
• Additional meetings and communication as needed
• Access to relevant FAS programming
• Curated updates on the federal science and technology landscape
• Interactive deep-dive sessions on policy entrepreneurship
• Opportunities to connect with experts and policy actors

The fellowship is structured around an average commitment of 5 hours per week or approximately 20 hours per month.

The fellowship period is September 30, 2026, through February 28, 2027.

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AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship Benefits

One of the major attractions of the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2026–2027 is the financial and professional support provided to Fellows.

$5,000 Fellowship Stipend

Selected Fellows will receive a $5,000 stipend for participating in the fellowship.

In addition, the Fellow who develops the most specific and actionable policy memo and advocacy plan may receive an additional $1,000 merit award.

Travel Stipend

Fellows will also receive an additional travel stipend to cover select expenses associated with the California retreat and Washington, DC capstone event.

Professional Editing

FAS will provide professional editing support for written products developed during the fellowship.

Policy Engagement Training

Participants will receive policy-engagement training from staff at the Federation of American Scientists.

Expert Connections

FAS will support Fellows in connecting with relevant experts and key actors who can help advance their policy projects.

Mentorship

Fellows will receive monthly individual check-ins with a dedicated FAS staff mentor, alongside additional communication and meetings where necessary.

Is the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship Part-Time?

Yes. The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship is a part-time fellowship.

Fellows must commit an average of 5 hours per week, equivalent to approximately 20 hours per month, throughout the fellowship period.

This makes the fellowship potentially suitable for professionals who are working or pursuing other commitments while developing an AI safety policy project.

Is the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship Hybrid?

Yes. The fellowship follows a hybrid format.

Much of the fellowship work can be undertaken as part of the flexible fellowship structure, but Fellows are expected to participate in important in-person events.

These include the planned:

• California retreat: November 4–7, 2026
• Washington, DC capstone: Week of February 22, 2027

Selected travel expenses will be supported through an additional travel stipend.

How Long Is the Fellowship?

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2026–2027 runs for approximately five months.

Start date: September 30, 2026

End date: February 28, 2027

During this period, Fellows will dedicate approximately 5 hours per week to their fellowship activities.

How Much Is the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship Stipend?

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship provides a $5,000 stipend.

There is also an opportunity for an additional $1,000 merit award for the Fellow who produces the most specific and actionable policy memo and advocacy plan.

Selected fellowship-related travel expenses may also be supported through an additional travel stipend.

How to Apply for the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship

Interested applicants should prepare their application before the deadline.

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship application deadline is September 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET).

Applications must be submitted through the designated FAS application platform.

Applicants should carefully review the fellowship requirements and prepare their materials around a specific frontier AI safety challenge, a concrete policy solution, and a credible strategy for achieving policy adoption.

Application Deadline

Deadline: September 7, 2026

Time: 11:59 PM ET

Applications submitted after the deadline may not be considered.

Why Apply for the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship?

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2026–2027 provides an opportunity for professionals to build practical policy skills while working on some of the most important challenges associated with frontier artificial intelligence.

The fellowship combines:

• $5,000 stipend
• Potential $1,000 merit award
• Travel support
• AI safety policy training
• Professional editing
• Expert connections
• Dedicated mentorship
• Policy entrepreneurship training
• Networking opportunities
• In-person fellowship events
• Opportunity to publish a policy memo

For professionals interested in AI safety, AI governance, cybersecurity, public policy, technology policy, national security, or science and technology policy, this fellowship can provide a valuable opportunity to develop an idea and work toward real-world policy impact.

Final Thoughts

The AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship 2026–2027 is a valuable opportunity for professionals who want to bridge the gap between frontier AI expertise and practical policymaking.

With a $5,000 stipend, potential additional $1,000 merit award, travel support, mentorship, policy training, professional editing, and opportunities to engage directly with policymakers and experts, the fellowship offers both financial and professional development benefits.

If you have a strong idea for addressing a frontier AI safety, security, or governance challenge, the AI Safety Policy Entrepreneurship Fellowship could provide the resources, mentorship, and policy network needed to move that idea toward real-world implementation.

Application deadline: September 7, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.