London AI Safety Research (LASR) Labs Winter 2027 (£15,000 Stipend)

Applications are now open for the London AI Safety Research (LASR) Labs Winter 2027 programme. LASR Labs is a full-time technical AI safety research programme that brings together aspiring researchers and engineers to work on high-impact AI safety projects aimed at reducing risks associated with advanced artificial intelligence.

Participants will work in teams of three to four under the supervision of experienced AI safety researchers, taking a research project from proposal to publication over a 13-week period. The programme is hosted at the London Initiative for Safe AI (LISA), where participants collaborate alongside leading AI safety organizations and researchers.

About the Programme

London AI Safety Research (LASR) Labs focuses on action-oriented research addressing concrete AI safety challenges, particularly those related to reducing the risk of loss of control from increasingly capable AI systems.

Unlike traditional training programmes, LASR emphasizes producing tangible research outputs. Participants work collaboratively to develop technical research papers suitable for publication as preprints, workshop papers, or conference papers. Previous LASR research has been accepted at leading machine learning venues, including NeurIPS, ICLR, and ICML workshops.

The programme is designed for individuals seeking to transition into technical AI safety research or strengthen their research portfolio through hands-on collaboration with experienced mentors.

Programme Benefits

Selected participants will receive:

• A £15,000 stipend to cover living expenses during the programme.
• Food throughout the programme.
• Office space at the London Initiative for Safe AI.
• Travel support.
• Supervision from experienced AI safety researchers.
• Access to workshops on research, engineering, and AI safety.
• Career coaching and professional development.
• Opportunities to attend talks by leading AI safety experts.
• Networking opportunities with researchers and organizations working in AI safety.
• Support in producing and submitting a technical AI safety research paper.

Programme Structure

Week 0: Research Prioritization

Participants begin with an intensive orientation where they critically evaluate several AI safety research directions. This stage helps participants develop research judgment and understand which problems have the greatest potential impact.

At the end of the week, participants indicate their project preferences before being matched into research teams.

Weeks 1–13: Research Project

During the remaining weeks, teams work under the guidance of experienced supervisors to:

• Develop research questions.
• Design and conduct experiments.
• Analyze findings.
• Refine research methods.
• Write and prepare a technical research paper for publication.

Throughout the programme, participants receive continuous mentorship and attend technical workshops and networking events.

Eligibility Criteria

LASR Labs is looking for applicants with:

• Strong machine learning engineering or technical programming skills.
• Excellent quantitative and analytical abilities.
• Research aptitude, including the ability to experiment, iterate, and work under uncertainty.
• Strong communication skills, particularly the ability to explain technical findings clearly.
• A demonstrated interest in AI safety or closely related technical fields.

There are no strict academic or professional experience requirements. However, competitive applicants typically have one or more of the following:

• Experience building substantial technical projects.
• Machine learning or large language model (LLM) experience.
• Independent research experience.
• Evidence of self-directed learning.
• Software engineering or data science experience.
• Publications, experiments, technical analyses, or open-source contributions.

Ideal Candidates

The programme is particularly suitable for:

• Machine learning engineers.
• AI researchers.
• Computer scientists.
• Software engineers.
• Quantitative researchers.
• Graduate students.
• Independent researchers.
• Professionals transitioning into AI safety research.

Applicants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds are encouraged to apply if they can demonstrate strong technical and research potential.

Research Areas

Participants may work on projects related to:

• AI alignment.
• AI control.
• Interpretability.
• Evaluation of advanced AI systems.
• LLM safety.
• AI robustness.
• Monitoring and oversight.
• Other technical AI safety research topics selected by LASR supervisors.

Required Application Materials

Applicants should prepare:

• Completed online application form.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) or résumé.
• Information about technical projects or research experience.
• Responses to application questions.
• Any additional supporting materials requested during the application process.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Technical competence.
• Research potential.
• Problem-solving ability.
• Initiative and independent learning.
• Communication skills.
• Demonstrated interest in AI safety.
• Potential to contribute effectively within collaborative research teams.

How to Apply

To apply:

1. Visit the official LASR Labs application portal.
2. Complete the online application form.
3. Upload your CV and any requested supporting information.
4. Highlight your technical projects, research experience, and motivation for AI safety research.
5. Submit your application before the deadline.

Shortlisted applicants may be invited to participate in additional assessment or interviews as part of the selection process.