Kairos is accepting applications for the Pathfinder Fellowship, Spring 2027, a selective, semester-long programme for university students who organise AI safety or AI policy student groups anywhere in the world. Fellows get mentorship from experienced organisers, funding for group activities and, for graduate students, a possible stipend for their organising time.
Deadline: 24 November 2026. Open to students worldwide, including at African universities.
Key Details
- Organiser: Kairos
- Programme: Pathfinder Fellowship (Spring 2027 cohort)
- For: students running (or building) AI safety or AI policy groups at their university
- Location: online, international
- Funding: group activity funding; stipend option for graduate students
- Deadline: 24 November 2026
Benefits
- funding for your group’s activities, from compute to speaker events to snacks at meetings
- a possible stipend for graduate students’ organising time
- one-to-one mentorship from experienced organisers; many mentors have worked at organisations such as METR, RAND and Anthropic
- workshops on outreach, involving graduate students and running in-person courses
- access to the AI Safety Groups Resource Center
- an international community of student organisers
Kairos says recent participants have gone on to AI safety roles at organisations such as Coefficient Giving, Constellation and the UK AI Security Institute.
Eligibility
- a university student (undergraduate or graduate) anywhere in the world
- organising, or planning to organise, a technical AI safety or AI policy group at your university
- interest in a career in AI safety or AI governance
Experienced organisers who only need money can instead apply for Pathfinder Support Grants, which provide funding without the mentorship part. Check the FAQ on the official site for full eligibility details, including whether you need to be the lead organiser.
How to Apply
- Read the details and FAQ on the official Pathfinder Fellowship website.
- Click Apply Now and complete the application for the Spring 2027 cohort.
- Describe your group (or plans for one), your goals for the semester and the support you need.
- Submit before 24 November 2026.
Questions: [email protected].
Tips for African Students
- No AI safety group at your university yet? Explain your plan to start one, such as a reading group or a course, and who you’ll recruit.
- Link AI safety and policy to local issues: misinformation, AI in elections, data protection, AI in healthcare.
- Include a simple semester plan with activities and a modest budget.
- Mention any experience organising clubs, tech communities or events.
