What if you could spend three months doing full-time AI safety research — with a $6,000 monthly stipend and expert mentorship?
The ILIAD Fellowship in Applied Mathematics for AI Safety is an intensive research program for technically strong researchers interested in the mathematical foundations of AI alignment, agent foundations and AI safety.
The three-month fellowship combines structured mentorship with collaborative research on problems related to increasingly capable AI systems.
Fellowship Overview & Quick Facts
- Opportunity Type: AI Safety Research Fellowship
- Duration: 3 months
- Format: Full-time
- Cohorts: Fall 2026
- Cohort Start: October, November and December 2026 cycles
- Monthly Stipend: $6,000
- Travel Support: Available
- Application Fee: $0
- Target Audience: Quantitative researchers, mathematicians and technical researchers
- Research Areas: AI Safety, AI Alignment, Agent Foundations, Applied Mathematics
- Relevant Backgrounds: Applied Mathematics, Probability, Theoretical Computer Science and related quantitative fields
- Degree Requirement: PhD, Postdocs, researchers with equivalent experience
- Work Experience: No specific minimum stated
- Age Limit: No specific age limit stated
- Nationality: International / subject to program requirements
- Application Deadline: September 21, 2026 for the November cohort
What Is the ILIAD Fellowship?
The ILIAD Fellowship is a full-time research program focused on the mathematical side of AI safety.
Rather than focusing on general AI engineering or applied machine learning, the fellowship is aimed at researchers interested in deeper questions around:
- AI alignment
- Agent foundations
- Mathematical approaches to AI safety
- Theoretical foundations of advanced AI systems
Participants work in a collaborative research environment with structured mentorship.
What Will You Research?
The fellowship is particularly relevant if you’re interested in using mathematics and theoretical computer science to investigate foundational AI-safety questions.
Potentially relevant backgrounds include:
Applied Mathematics
Researchers with strong mathematical modelling and analytical skills.
Probability
Candidates with a strong understanding of probability theory and related mathematical frameworks.
Theoretical Computer Science
Researchers interested in the theoretical foundations of computation and intelligent systems.
AI Alignment & Agent Foundations
Researchers interested in understanding how advanced AI systems can be designed to behave in accordance with intended objectives and how intelligent agents should be understood theoretically.
How Much Does It Pay?
Selected fellows receive:
$6,000 per month
for the duration of the three-month fellowship.
That’s approximately $18,000 in stipend support over three months, before considering any additional travel support.
Travel support is also available according to the program’s applicable arrangements.
Important: The stipend is fellowship funding for the research period, not a permanent salary or degree scholarship.
How Long Is the Fellowship?
The program lasts:
3 months, full-time
The upcoming fall cycle includes cohorts beginning in October, November and December 2026.
The September 21 deadline in this listing corresponds to the November cohort cycle.
Who Is This For?
The fellowship is aimed at technically strong people who want to work on AI safety research.
You may be a good fit if you have a strong background in:
- Applied mathematics
- Probability
- Theoretical computer science
- Quantitative research
- Mathematical modelling
- Related technical disciplines
PhD researchers and mathematicians may be particularly well suited, but a PhD should not be treated as a universal hard requirement unless the current application explicitly states one.
Do You Need Previous AI Safety Experience?
Not necessarily.
A strong mathematical or theoretical background can be highly relevant even if your previous research wasn’t specifically labelled “AI safety.”
What matters is whether you have the technical foundation needed to engage with the fellowship’s research problems.
Is There an Age Limit?
No specific age limit is stated.
The program is focused on technical ability and research potential rather than a particular age range.
Is the Application Free?
Yes — there is no application, registration or placement fee.
Applicants should submit directly through the official fellowship application process.
Never pay an intermediary claiming they can guarantee admission, accelerate your application or secure a fellowship place.
Who Should Apply?
This is not a general AI fellowship.
It’s particularly worth considering if you are:
- A mathematician interested in AI safety
- A theoretical computer scientist
- A quantitative researcher
- A PhD researcher working on relevant mathematical problems
- A technical researcher exploring AI alignment
- Someone with strong probability or mathematical foundations who wants to transition into AI safety research
Deadline
September 21, 2026
This deadline is for the November 2026 cohort cycle.
If you’re targeting another cohort, check the applicable deadline before submitting.
How to Apply
- Review the current ILIAD fellowship requirements.
- Identify the cohort you want to join.
- Prepare your academic and research background.
- Highlight your mathematical, probabilistic or theoretical expertise.
- Explain your interest in AI safety and alignment.
- Demonstrate your ability to conduct independent technical research.
- Submit your application before the relevant deadline.
Don’t Miss This AI Safety Fellowship
$6,000/month + full-time research + AI safety + mathematical foundations makes this a particularly interesting opportunity for technically strong researchers who want to enter or deepen their work in AI safety.
If you have a strong background in mathematics, probability or theoretical computer science, don’t assume you need to already be an established AI-safety researcher to explore this opportunity.
Subscribe to Potenue to get more AI safety fellowships, paid research programs and hidden technical opportunities delivered straight to your inbox.
Don’t just search for opportunities. Let Potenue find them for you.