A five-day residential programme, followed by the two-day Digital Minds Strategy Workshop. Designed to build capacity in the digital minds space, combining technical and philosophical foundations, societal and policy thinking, and structured support for project development.

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3–9 August 2026. Cambridge University. 15 Fellows. Currently accepting applications. Deadline 27 March 2026.

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The Digital Minds Fellowship is an intensive programme for individuals interested in making significant contributions to research on AI consciousness, AI welfare, and the societal implications of digital minds.

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Unlike more established fields such as AI safety and governance, digital minds research is still nascent. This creates unique challenges: identifying promising research questions is harder, career paths are less clear, and the community is smaller. The fellowship is designed to address these challenges directly.

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Fellows will develop foundational knowledge spanning both the technical realities of current AI systems and philosophical frameworks for thinking about consciousness and moral status. Together, we will think strategically about long-term trajectories, identify intervention points, and evaluate where effort is best directed. We will also focus on scoping good projects in a field where this is particularly difficult.

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Why join?

• Paired with a leading researcher in digital minds who matches your interests and goals.
• Direct invitation to the weekend Digital Minds Strategy Workshop (Aug 8–9) with researchers, practitioners, and field leaders.
• All travel and accommodation at the beautiful Jesus College in Cambridge covered, plus £1,000 stipend (~$1,366).

The fellowship is designed for individuals who are well-positioned to make meaningful contributions to digital minds research and who would benefit from intensive training and community building.

• Graduate Students, Postdocs, and Early Career Academics - Especially those in philosophy who are already working on or adjacent to digital minds. Graduate students, postdocs, and early career academics can leverage university funding and positions to pursue research in this area.
• Professionals - Those in government, policy, or industry with existing roles who want to shift their focus toward digital minds. The fellowship can help you understand the landscape and identify how your skills and position could contribute.
• Exceptional Earlier-Stage Individuals - Those with strong demonstrated ability who are committed to working on digital minds questions, even if earlier in their careers.