The Vtalik Buterin Postdoctoral Fellowship in AI Existential Safety
Award: up to $80,000 for up to 3 years
Deadline: 1.5.26, SPA Proposal Request Form needs to be completed. Internal Deadline is 12.19.25
Interested? Please complete the Office of Sponsored Programs Research Request Form ASAP to be assigned a research administrator.
Overview
This fellowship is designed to support researchers for postdoctoral appointments who plan to work on AI existential safety research. Fellows would receive an annual $80,000 stipend and a $10,000 fund that can be used for research-related expenses such as travel and computing, and invitations to virtual and in-person events where they can interact with other researchers in the field.
A mentor is required.
Important Information
The funder defines AI existential research as:
• Research that analyzes the most probable ways AI technology could cause an existential catastrophe (permanently and drastically curtail humanity's potential, such as by causing human extinction), and which types of research could minimize risk.
• Technical research which could, if successful, assist humanity in reducing existential risk posed by highly impactful AI technology to extremely low levels.
Process
This is a single step application process.
• Interested parties should immediately complete the Sponsored Programs Administration's Proposal Request Form to be assigned a research administrator.
• The application will be managed by the SPA, and you will work with your assigned research administrator.
• All required information, in final form, needs to be submitted to SPA no later than five days before your submission deadline.