AIxBio Fellowship 2027 at Cambridge

Applications are open for the AIxBio Fellowship 2027, a 10 week fully funded programme in Cambridge, United Kingdom, for researchers, entrepreneurs, engineers, policy professionals and other individuals working on important problems at the intersection of advanced artificial intelligence and biosecurity. The fellowship is designed for people who are motivated to take ownership of concrete problems that could help reduce catastrophic biological risks.

The programme will run from January 18 to March 26, 2027, and fellows will participate full time and in person from Cambridge. The Winter 2027 cohort is expected to include approximately 10 to 15 fellows across three tracks: Research, Placement and Founding. Participants will receive dedicated research support, expert mentorship, practical resources and access to a community working across AI, biosecurity, policy and related fields.

The AIxBio Fellowship is run by ERA in partnership with the Cambridge Biosecurity Hub. Its mission is to accelerate scientific, technical and policy work that can strengthen society’s resilience to biological threats, including risks that may be amplified by increasingly capable AI and biotechnology. Fellows may work on questions involving biological AI safeguards, evaluation methods, synthesis screening, governance, biosecurity policy, technical tools or new organisational approaches.

About the Fellowship

The AIxBio Fellowship provides a focused period for fellows to investigate a concrete biosecurity problem with support from experienced researchers and practitioners. Each fellow is matched with an expert mentor and supported by an ERA Research Manager who can assist with project scope, milestones, research strategy and execution.

The programme also provides workshops, talks, networking opportunities and access to the wider Cambridge research community. Fellows work from a dedicated coworking space in central Cambridge and collaborate with others working on AI safety, biosecurity and related areas.

At the end of the programme, fellows are expected to present their research at the AIxBio Research Symposium and produce a written output suited to their project, such as a policy brief, working paper or technical report. Particularly promising projects and fellows may have an opportunity to continue through ERA’s Research Scholar programme for up to six additional months.

Fellowship Benefits

• £10,000 stipend for the 10 week programme

• Travel costs to and from Cambridge covered

• Visa sponsorship and support for eligible international participants

• Meals during working hours

• Dedicated workspace in central Cambridge

• Research expense allowance

• Access to computing resources where required

• Expert mentor matched to the project

• Dedicated ERA Research Manager

• Research and professional development workshops

• Access to researchers and practitioners across AI and biosecurity

• Community and wellbeing support

• Networking opportunities and fellowship events

• Opportunity to present research at the AIxBio Research Symposium

• Potential continuation through the Research Scholar programme

• Access to an alumni network after the fellowship

Fellowship Tracks

Research

The Research track is designed for applicants who want to investigate an open biosecurity question and produce evidence, methods or tools that could influence research or policy decisions. Possible projects may involve evaluating safeguards, studying biological AI risks or developing policy analysis.

Placement

The Placement track allows fellows to work within a biosecurity team and take responsibility for a defined workstream. Projects may involve research, engineering, policy or implementation and are developed around the priorities of the host organisation.

Founding

The Founding track is intended for people who identify neglected biosecurity problems that may require a new organisation, programme or initiative. Fellows can use the programme to test an idea, understand potential users, investigate technical assumptions and explore whether a dedicated organisation could address the problem.

Areas of Interest

The fellowship welcomes people whose expertise can contribute to reducing catastrophic biological risks. Relevant backgrounds may include:

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning

• Software engineering

• Computational biology

• Virology

• Molecular biology

• Microbiology

• Biochemistry

• Biophysics

• Biosecurity research

• Policy and governance

• Security

• Law

• Science and technology policy

• Technical research

• Entrepreneurship and organisation building

The listed areas are illustrative rather than restrictive. Applicants from other backgrounds are encouraged to apply if they can contribute meaningfully to the fellowship’s biosecurity mission.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be at least 18 years old by January 18, 2027

• Applicants from all nationalities are welcome

• Applicants can come from a wide range of academic, professional and technical backgrounds

• Graduate students, early career researchers, experienced researchers, engineers, policy professionals and founders can apply

• Prior formal research experience is helpful but not required

• Applicants should demonstrate strong critical thinking and ability to work through complex problems

• Applicants should have a genuine interest in reducing catastrophic biological risks

• Applicants must be able to participate in the 10 week programme

• The programme is primarily designed for full time, in person participation in Cambridge

• International applicants may receive visa support where applicable

Selection Criteria

The AIxBio Fellowship uses a holistic selection process and places greater emphasis on reasoning and problem solving than on formal credentials alone.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate:

• Strong reasoning and analytical ability

• Intellectual curiosity

• Ability to think through uncertain and complex problems

• Clear understanding of the problem they want to work on

• Potential to make meaningful contributions to AI and biosecurity

• Ability to learn quickly

• Willingness to acknowledge uncertainty and limitations in their knowledge

• Alignment with the fellowship mission

The programme particularly values reasoning transparency and epistemic humility because AI and biosecurity is a developing field with significant uncertainty.

Required Application Information

The first stage involves an online application containing personal and essay questions. Applicants should be prepared to provide information about:

• Personal and professional background

• Problems and questions they are interested in

• Their thinking about issues at the intersection of AI and biosecurity

• Relevant experience, skills or projects

• Their motivation for participating in the fellowship

The application is designed to assess how applicants reason about important problems rather than simply how polished their writing is. References are also contacted during the selection process.

Application Process

1. Review the AIxBio Fellowship information and identify the track that best matches your interests.
2. Consider a concrete AI and biosecurity problem that you could meaningfully investigate or contribute to during the programme.
3. Complete the online application form with your personal information and essay responses.
4. Explain your background, interests, reasoning and motivation clearly.
5. Submit the application before the October 19, 2026 deadline.
6. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview with the ERA team.
7. References will be contacted as part of the selection process.
8. Depending on the selected track, some candidates may be asked to complete between zero and three short work tests.
9. Final selections will be made using a holistic assessment of the application, interview, references and any relevant work tests.
10. Successful fellows will prepare to begin the programme in Cambridge on January 18, 2027.