BASE Fellowship

Black in AI Safety and Ethics (BASE) Fellowship is a 13-week, part-time remote fellowship from BASE that develops Black researchers, practitioners, and leaders in AI Safety, AI Security, and AI Governance. Fellows progress through two phases: five weeks of structured curriculum and seminars followed by eight weeks of mentored research on a focused capstone project.

The program offers three research tracks: AI Alignment for technical safety research, AI Security for cybersecurity and adversarial robustness, and AI Governance for policy and standards. Fellows commit 20 to 25 hours per week.

Eligible applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree, relevant academic or professional experience in their selected track, and strong alignment with BASE's mission to empower the global Black diaspora in AI safety. Spring 2026 applications are now closed.

The Black in AI Safety & Ethics (BASE) Fellowship is a 13-week, part-time remote program beginning in April 2026 , designed to develop Black researchers, practitioners, and leaders in AI Safety, AI Security, AI Governance. Fellows gain structured expert mentorship, foundational training, and hands-on research experience to prepare them for impactful research in the rapidly evolving AI safety ecosystem.

Applications for the Spring 2026 cohort are now closed The program conducts three specialized research track: AI Alignment (technical ML safety research: Interpretability, Oversight & Control, Agency) AI Security (Cyber/infosec, Risk Management, Adversarial robustness, Threat detection) AI Governance (Policy and Frameworks, Evaluations, Standards, Systemic Risk Analysis) Fellows will undergo two phases of the program to build strong foundations and support meaningful research outcomes: Weeks 1–5: Foundations & Training Curriculum Informed training based on selected stream (Technical AI Safety, AI Governance, and InfoSec/AI Security) AI Safety seminars and events led by practitioners and researchers.

Milestone-based assignments to build technical and analytical fundamentals Weeks 6–13: Research & Project Development Fellows work on a focused AI safety project with a mentor aligned with one of the program tracks. Hands-on mentorship with weekly check-ins, feedback sessions, and structured research support.

Required: Weekly meeting with your mentor to discuss project progress totaling to at least 1hr Development of a meaningful capstone outcome, such as: A fellowship or grant application to further research goals Must be currently enrolled in or have completed a BA/BS degree We prioritize applicants whose lived experiences align with BASE’s mission to empower the global Black diaspora in AI safety For technical tracks, strong coding and ML skills are required Demonstrate relevant academic or professional experience in public policy, government, compliance, trust and safety Commit 20-25 hours a week to research and learning, curriculum completion, participate in weekly seminars, and work closely with a mentor who provides guidance, feedback, and professional support Must submit a capstone project, such as a research preprint, blog post, or fellowship/grant application Preferred Qualifications & Fit Prior research experience or work in fast paced collaborative environments Intention to continue pursuing work in AI Safety, Security, or Governance after completing the fellowship This may include graduate study, research positions, technical roles, policy internships, or continued independent work Commitment to BASE's values Background in computer science, machine learning, mathematics, or a related technical discipline.

Familiarity with Python, ML models, or research workflows Background in cybersecurity, information security, threat detection, adversarial ML, or related areas.

Background or demonstrated interest in policy, law, political science, economics, sociology, or technology governance Application & Selection process Phase 1: Initial Review - Application and References All applicants who pass the initial round of reviews will receive a prescreen test: coding tests for technical tracks or work test for non-technical tracks Fellow's who successfully pass the pre-screening stage will be able to apply to specific mentor projects, aligned by selected track.

During this time references may be contacted Phase 2: Mentor Application and Offers Mentors receive applicants who selected their track and passed the initial review stages. Mentors choose their mentee(s) Acceptance Offers will be sent out by the BASE Team in late March to early April Have questions about the fellowship and application process?

Watch this recap of the live Q&A session from Friday, December 19th , to answer your questions about the program, eligibility, and the application process. Click the image below to view: BASE is building a connected and informed Black community in AI Safety, Governance, and Security. Our goal is to ensure that the Black diaspora has a lasting voice and influence in the technologies shaping the future.

We aim to ensure that future AI systems reflect fairness, accountability, and collective well-being for all people.