The GovAI Research Fellow 2026 role pays up to £103,500 in London or $170,000 in Washington, DC. GovAI is recruiting experienced researchers for two-year AI governance roles, with London and Washington, DC as preferred locations. Applications close at 23:59 Anywhere on Earth on Sunday, 16 August 2026. Strong credentials alone will not secure this position. GovAI wants applicants who can identify consequential research questions, produce decision-ready analysis, and show how their work can influence governments, companies, or civil society.
GovAI Research Fellow 2026-Quick Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Host locations | London, UK; Washington, DC, USA; other locations may receive consideration |
| Organization | GovAI |
| Position | Research Fellow |
| Career level | Experienced researcher or policy professional |
| Contract | Full-time, two-year fixed-term contract with possible renewal |
| Salary | London: £84,000–£103,500 per year; Washington, DC: $134,500–$170,000 per year |
| Research areas | AI risk, threat modeling, economics, geopolitics, regulation, and technical governance |
| Deadline | 23:59 AoE, Sunday, 16 August 2026 |
| Eligible applicants | GovAI welcomes candidates from diverse international, academic, and professional backgrounds |
| Visa support | UK sponsorship available; US sponsorship only in exceptional cases |
| Application method | Online application, assessment, paid work tests, interviews, and references |
GovAI Research Fellowship Opportunity and Organization Snapshot
GovAI conducts research for government, industry, and civil society. Its researchers publish academic work, advise institutions, organize events, and shape research priorities.
GovAI reports publications in Science, Nature, NeurIPS, FAccT, and ICML. Its staff have also contributed to EU AI policy.
- GovAI appoints Research Fellows for independent AI governance research.
- Research Fellows produce publications, policy memos, reports, blog posts, and strategic advice.
- GovAI supervisors support fellows through guidance, networks, and research resources.
- Research Fellows mentor junior researchers, including Summer and Winter Fellows.
Research Areas You Can Pursue
GovAI accepts proposals across several AI governance areas:
- Risk management: Company decisions, responsible deployment, evaluation, auditing, innovation, and adoption.
- Threat modeling: Evidence for AI risks, uncertainty reduction, mitigation, and beneficial uses.
- Economics of AI: Labor markets, competition, productivity, growth, and economic effects.
- Geopolitics of AI: National strategies, international competition, and governance.
- Frontier AI regulation: Regulatory proposals and policy responses to advanced AI.
- Technical governance: Compute governance, evaluations, and governance-relevant technical tools.
- Additional themes: AI research automation, government use of AI, social resilience, and the distribution of AI benefits.
Who Can Apply for AI Governance Fellowship?
You can apply without a specific degree if you bring substantial research or policy experience, established expertise relevant to AI governance, broad field knowledge, and a strong proposal. GovAI typically expects several years of relevant work and clear evidence that you can produce rigorous, influential research. A detailed GovAI Research Fellow eligibility requirement is as follows;
Successful applicants should demonstrate:
- Excellent research ability within or near AI governance.
- Commitment to shaping AI’s long-term effects positively.
- Established expertise in a relevant technical, legal, economic, academic, or policy domain.
- Broad familiarity with AI governance.
- A compelling research proposal with a credible path to impact.
- Self-direction, sound prioritization, intellectual honesty, communication skills, and interest in mentorship.
GovAI welcomes applicants from computer science, political science, public policy, economics, philosophy, law, government, industry, and civil society. It especially values technical governance, frontier safety design, cybersecurity, and US policy.
What Your Application Needs to Prove
A strong application should show:
- Research quality: Evidence of rigor, originality, and clear reasoning.
- Topic ownership: A question that fits GovAI’s priorities and your expertise.
- Path to impact: A clear explanation of who can use your findings.
- Independent judgment: Evidence that you can prioritize and manage a research agenda.
- Research culture: An ability to collaborate, mentor, and support institutional decisions.
Do not submit a general statement about responsible AI. Connect a specific governance problem to a practical audience and a usable research output.
Your previous work should also support the proposal. Academic publications can provide that evidence, but GovAI also values policy advice, strategic projects, industry initiatives, and work within civil society.
How to Apply for GovAI Research Fellow 2026
Step 1: Choose a Focused Governance Problem
Select a question that matches GovAI’s agenda and your strongest expertise. Keep it narrow and consequential.
For example, do not simply propose work on AI regulation. Identify the regulatory decision, affected institution, unresolved evidence, and intended policy contribution.
Review the GovAI Research Fellow 2026 Application Guidelines
Step 2: Build Your Research Proposal
Define the problem, audience, method, intended outputs, and path to impact.
GovAI gives Research Fellows substantial autonomy. Your proposal should therefore show that you can set priorities, choose suitable publication formats, and manage a meaningful research agenda.
Step 3: Submit the Written Application
Complete the shared application by 23:59 AoE on 16 August 2026.
GovAI uses the same application for its Research Fellow and one-year Visiting Research Scholar roles. You only need to apply once.
Apply Now for GovAI Research Fellow 2026 for AI jobs Abroad
Step 4: Complete the Assessments
Candidates who advance complete an abstract reasoning assessment and one or two paid remote work tests. They also prepare a detailed two-year research agenda.
Some workstreams may include an additional paid work test.
Step 5: Attend Interviews and Provide References
The final stage includes two interviews and reference checks.
Applicants who require a decision by a particular date, disability-related assistance, or clarification about the process can contact GovAI’s recruitment team.
Careers Help Desk Strategic Counter-Angle: What Strong Applicants Do Differently
1. They Lead With a Decision, Not a Topic
Average applicants may propose “research on frontier AI regulation.” Stronger applicants identify a live decision, the institution facing it, and the evidence that would change the outcome.
A specific decision gives the selection team a clearer way to assess relevance, feasibility, and potential impact.
2. They Prove Impact Before Claiming Prestige
Publications help, but GovAI also values policy advising, strategic leadership, communication, and judgment.
Show who used your work, what changed, or why it shaped a research direction. A practical policy memo that informed a decision may strengthen your case more than an unrelated publication in a prestigious journal.
3. They Treat Mentorship as Part of the Role
This position includes supervision, hiring input, events, and strategy. Show how you improve other researchers’ work.
Explain how you have reviewed projects, guided junior colleagues, built collaborations, or created an environment where other researchers produced stronger results.
Alternative Research and Fellowship Options
GovAI may consider applicants with less research experience for its one-year Visiting Research Scholar position. You do not need to submit a separate application because GovAI uses the same application for both roles.
- If you have built a strong early-career research record and want to lead an ambitious independent project, consider the ERC Starting Grant 2027.
- If your research focuses on humanities, social sciences, public policy, law, economics, or the societal effects of AI, consider the British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027.
- If you want to develop an independent research project with a European or global host institution, consider the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a broad proposal without a defined decision-maker.
- Relying on credentials without explaining research impact.
- Ignoring mentorship and institutional contribution.
- Choosing a location that conflicts with your policy focus.
- Assuming GovAI normally sponsors US visas.
- Missing the 16 August 2026, 23:59 AoE deadline.
- Preparing only for interviews and overlooking assessments and paid work tests.
Salary, Benefits, and Work Location
London-based Research Fellows typically earn £84,000 to £103,500 per year. Washington, DC-based fellows typically earn $134,500 to $170,000 per year.
GovAI may offer additional compensation in higher-cost regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area.
Benefits include:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- £5,000 annual wellbeing budget, with a salary uplift for US-based staff
- £5,000 annual professional development budget
- £5,000 annual childcare budget
- £4,500 annual coworking budget for remote staff
- Flexible hours and extended parental leave
- Ergonomic equipment
- 10% employer pension contribution
- 33 days of paid vacation, including public holidays
GovAI prefers London or Washington, DC, but it considers other locations. Policy-focused researchers should generally live near the relevant government institutions.
Location also depends on the nature of your work. GovAI may prefer office-based arrangements for applicants who plan to manage projects, launch initiatives, or work closely with a particular supervisor.
Visa Sponsorship
GovAI can sponsor visas in the United Kingdom. It supports US visa sponsorship only in exceptional cases and often cannot support a US petition.
Applicants with location or sponsorship constraints can contact recruitment@governance.ai before applying.
Ready to Apply for AI Governance Jobs in the UK and US
The GovAI Research Fellow 2026 role suits researchers who combine rigorous analysis with practical influence. The selection process tests more than subject knowledge. Your strongest advantage will come from a focused proposal, a credible path to impact, and evidence that you can lead research while supporting other scholars. Submit your application by 23:59 AoE on Sunday, 16 August 2026 through the official source.
Official Source: GovAI Research Fellow 2026 Call for Applications
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the GovAI Research Fellow role require a PhD?
No. GovAI sets no strict educational requirement, but it typically expects several years of relevant research or policy experience and a strong record of high-quality work.
How much does a GovAI Research Fellow earn?
£84,000–£103,500 per year in London and $134,500–$170,000 per year in Washington, DC. GovAI bases final compensation on experience and location.
Can international applicants receive visa sponsorship?
Yes, in the United Kingdom. GovAI can sponsor UK visas, while it supports US sponsorship only in exceptional cases.
Can I work outside London or Washington, DC?
Yes. GovAI considers applicants elsewhere, but role content, policy focus, project responsibilities, and supervisor preferences can affect the final location.
What happens after the written application?
Three selection phases follow the initial application. Candidates complete an abstract reasoning assessment, paid work tests, two interviews, and reference checks.
Can less-experienced researchers apply?
Yes. GovAI uses the same application for its two-year Research Fellow role and one-year Visiting Research Scholar role.
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