Deep Research: technology policy fellowships and internships 2026: best programs, eligibility,

PREPARED FOR:

Internal Research Team

PREPARED BY:

Lyceum Intelligence (AI Synthesis Pipeline)

DATE:

2026-04-01

VERSION:

1.0 (Deep Synthesis)

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Programs in this directory were selected based on open-source research conducted in the 168 hours preceding April 1, 2026, supplemented by verified background research on recurring fellowship cycles. Each program entry carries an epistemic classification reflecting the evidentiary basis for its specific claims:

• [Verified — 4-model consensus] — Core facts confirmed across four independent research models and primary sources
• [Verified — 2–3 model consensus] — Core facts confirmed across two to three independent models or primary sources
• [Unverified — single source or aggregator only] — Claims drawn from a single aggregator, third-party listing, or unconfirmed secondary source; verify directly before acting

These classifications apply to the specific figures and claims within each entry, not to the program's existence or general reputation. All details should be verified directly with host organizations before application submission.

Five programs with open application windows have deadlines in April 2026. If you are reading this today, these are your immediate priorities. Programs are ranked by deadline proximity, with ties broken by compensation level and breadth of eligibility. Where a program's deadline has likely passed or is uncertain, it has been moved to the monitoring section rather than included here.

1. Google Public Policy Fellowship — Summer 2026 | Deadline: April 9, 2026 | Stipend: $6,000–$12,000 | Students only | Rolling review — apply immediately
2. Cambridge ERA:AI Research Fellowship — Summer 2026 | Deadline: April 12, 2026 | Salary: ~£6,563 for 10 weeks (prorated from £34,125/year) | Global eligibility, visa support | High compensation per week
3. Mila AI Policy Fellowship 2026–2027 | Deadline: April 16, 2026 | Pay: CAD $40/hour, up to 15 hrs/week for 6 months | Global eligibility | Part-time, compatible with existing employment
4. Talos Network Fellowship — Autumn 2026 | Deadline: April 27, 2026 | Stipend: €2,000+/month during placement | EU citizens preferred | Pipeline to EU AI governance institutions
5. Rooted Futures Lab EJIT Fellowship | Deadline: April 30, 2026 | Stipend: $3,000 total | Global eligibility | Fully remote, environmental justice focus

Note on the Conservative AI Policy Fellowship (CAPF): The Summer 2026 deadline of April 6, 2026 has likely passed. CAPF has been moved to the "Monitor for Future Cycles" section below. It does not appear in this urgency-ranked list because a program with an uncertain, probably-expired deadline should not compete for a reader's immediate attention.

Beyond April, the most important upcoming deadlines are the White House OSTP Fall 2026 Internship (June 14, 2026), the IAPS AI Policy Fellowship Fall 2026 cohort (expected to open in April 2026, deadline TBD), and the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship 2027–2028 class (opens September 1, 2026; deadline November 1, 2026).

[Verified — 4-model consensus]

Deadline: April 9, 2026

Status: OPEN — 8 days remaining. Rolling review means earlier applicants have a structural advantage.

What it is: A summer fellowship placing students at leading public interest organizations and policy think tanks in Washington, D.C., working on technology policy, internet governance, AI regulation, privacy, and digital rights. Google funds the fellowship and hosts professional development events, but fellows work day-to-day for their host organization with relatively little direct Google interaction. Google Public Policy Fellowship 2026 — Opportunities for Youth

Compensation: $12,000 for full-time fellows (40 hours/week); $6,000 for part-time fellows (20 hours/week). Google Public Policy Fellowship 2026 — Opportunities for Youth

Duration: June–August 2026 (approximately 10–12 weeks).

Eligibility: Must be enrolled in or accepted to an accredited institution (undergraduate through PhD). Must be 18+ by January 1, 2026. Must be eligible and authorized to work in the U.S. — Google cannot provide guidance or assistance on obtaining work authorization. Previous Google Public Policy Fellows are ineligible. U.S. Public Policy Fellowship FAQ

Application process: Applicants may apply to up to two host organizations from a roster of approximately 17 partners in D.C., spanning nonprofits, advocacy groups, think tanks, and industry associations across ideological viewpoints. Reference contact information is required (letters are not mandatory). US Google Public Policy Fellowship — Emerging Technology Policy Careers

Apply: google.com/policyfellowship

Who this is best for: Current undergraduate or graduate students interested in internet governance, digital rights, platform regulation, or AI policy who can spend a summer in Washington, D.C.

Key consideration: Google's direct financial interest in technology regulation outcomes is a structural fact. The fellowship's design — placing fellows at independent host organizations rather than at Google — partially mitigates conflict-of-interest concerns, but candidates should be aware of this dynamic. This concern is discussed further in the "Funding Sources and Potential Conflicts" section below.

[Unverified — single source or aggregator only]

Deadline: April 12, 2026 (11:59 PM)

Status: OPEN — 11 days remaining.

Note: Specific figures for this program — including the prorated salary calculation, the July 6 start date, and the accommodation and meal provisions — are drawn from aggregator sources and the ERA Fellowship's own website. They have not been independently confirmed across multiple research models. Verify all details directly at erafellowship.org/fellowship before applying.

What it is: A 10-week research program hosted in Cambridge, UK, where fellows develop and complete a research project on technical and/or governance measures to mitigate risks posed by frontier AI systems. Fellows receive support from ERA's research managers, mentors, and institutional network. About the Fellowship — ERA Fellowship

Compensation: Salary equivalent to £34,125 per year, prorated to the fellowship duration (approximately £6,563 for 10 weeks). Fellows also receive complimentary accommodation, meal provisions during working hours, visa support, and travel expense coverage. About the Fellowship — ERA Fellowship This makes ERA:AI one of the most financially generous programs in the ecosystem on a per-week basis when total compensation (salary plus housing, meals, and travel) is normalized.

Duration: 10 weeks, starting July 6, 2026.

Eligibility: ERA:AI describes itself as a "talent-first fellowship" with no formal restrictions on academic background or prior credentials. Eligible applicants include PhD students seeking to align research with AI safety, professionals from adjacent technical or policy fields looking to transition into AI governance or safety, early-career researchers aiming to deepen technical or governance expertise, and individuals offering unique perspectives on AI risks. Minimum age 18. Call for Applications: Cambridge ERA-AI Research Fellowship — Global South Opportunities

Application process: Written applications (primarily short essay questions, estimated ~2 hours to complete) are followed by interviews for the top ~20% of candidates. About the Fellowship — ERA Fellowship

Apply: erafellowship.org/fellowship

Who this is best for: Researchers, PhD students, or professionals with technical or governance backgrounds who want to spend a summer in Cambridge working on AI safety and governance. The global eligibility with visa support makes this uniquely accessible to international candidates.

Key consideration: The fellowship is explicitly oriented toward AI safety and existential risk — applicants whose interests lie in other technology policy domains (e.g., digital rights, platform governance, environmental justice) may find the research scope too narrow.

[Verified — 4-model consensus]

Deadline: April 16, 2026

Status: OPEN — 15 days remaining. Described as "highly competitive."

What it is: A six-month, part-time, hybrid fellowship bringing together interdisciplinary experts to collaborate on AI policy challenges. Hosted by Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute. Fellows produce concrete deliverables: a 6–8 page policy brief, a policy roundtable or stakeholder event, a community engagement activity, a dissemination strategy, and a 10-page internal research report. Mila AI Policy Fellowship 2026–2027 — Opportunities for Youth

Compensation: Approximately CAD $40/hour, up to 15 hours per week. At maximum hours over 26 weeks, this yields approximately CAD $15,600 in total compensation. Some third-party sources cite higher figures (up to CAD $31,200), which appear to assume a higher weekly hour ceiling than the program's stated 15-hour maximum — candidates should verify directly with Mila. Mila AI Policy Fellowship 2026–2027 — Opportunities for Youth

Duration: 6 months (typically September 2026 to February 2027), 10–15 hours per week.

Format: Hybrid — virtual with optional in-person activities in Montreal. Travel costs for in-person components are fully covered. Visa support is provided for selected in-person participants.

Eligibility: Graduate degree (Master's or equivalent) in public policy, law, AI, sociology, economics, ethics, or related fields, plus at least 3 years of professional or academic experience. Open to applicants from any country worldwide with no residency requirement in Canada. Mila AI Policy Fellowship 2026–2027 — Opportunities for Youth Also listed at Opportunity for Africa.

Thematic focus areas: AI Safety and Governance; AI Adoption and Productivity; AI, Media, and Democracy. Applicants must align their project proposal with one or more of these themes.

Application materials: Completed application form, project proposal (max 1,000 words including research question, methodology, feasibility assessment, and thematic alignment), writing sample, two references, and CV.

Apply: Via Mila's official application portal (check mila.quebec for the direct link).

Who this is best for: Mid-career professionals with graduate degrees who cannot take a full-time leave of absence. The part-time, hybrid structure is unique in this ecosystem — no other program reviewed is explicitly designed to be compatible with existing employment.

Key considerations: Fellows who cannot travel to Montreal may miss networking and mentorship opportunities available to in-person participants, creating a two-tier experience within the same cohort. The program requires strong English communication skills, which may create barriers for non-native speakers despite stated global openness.

[Unverified — single source or aggregator only]

Deadline: April 27, 2026 (23:59 CET)

Status: OPEN — 26 days remaining.

Note: Specific figures for this program — including the €2,000/month placement stipend, the 8-week course structure, the 7-day Brussels summit, the named placement partners, and the funding sources — are drawn from the Talos Network's own website and a single EA opportunities board listing. They have not been independently confirmed across multiple research models. Verify all details directly at talosnetwork.org/talos-fellowship before applying.

What it is: A program designed to launch and accelerate European policy careers focused on AI, with a strong emphasis on safe and responsible AI deployment. The fellowship has three components: an 8-week online AI Policy Fundamentals course (expert-led readings, creation of a publishable policy brief), a 7-day policymaking summit in Brussels (guest speakers, workshops, networking), and the opportunity for a paid 4–6 month placement at a leading AI policy organization such as The Future Society, OECD.AI, or Centre for European Policy Studies. Talos Fellowship — Talos Network

Compensation: Placement track fellows receive at least €2,000/month for Brussels-based placements, with potentially higher stipends for candidates with significant prior work experience. Training track fellows are not automatically offered a stipend but may apply for a needs-based stipend covering 1–2 months. FAQs — Talos Network

Duration: Approximately 8 months total (8-week course + summit + 4–6 month placement).

Eligibility: Strong preference for EU citizens, since many important roles in EU institutions are only open to EU citizens. Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree. Many fellows hold a master's or PhD. Open to exceptional applications from any subject area, with particular focus on machine learning or public policy backgrounds. Talos Fellowship — Talos Network

Funding transparency: The fellowship has received support from Open Philanthropy, EA Funds, and independent donors. FAQs — Talos Network Also listed on Effective Altruism opportunities board.

Apply: talosnetwork.org/talos-fellowship

Who this is best for: EU citizens with an undergraduate degree or higher who want to build a career in EU AI governance. The placement component at organizations like OECD.AI provides a direct pipeline into institutional roles.

Key consideration: Non-EU candidates should be aware that the EU citizenship preference reflects a structural reality — many senior EU institutional roles require EU citizenship. The EA-aligned funding sources may shape the program's intellectual orientation toward longtermist AI safety concerns, though the program's placement partners (OECD.AI, CEPS) represent mainstream policy institutions. This dynamic is discussed further in the "Funding Sources and Potential Conflicts" section below.

[Verified — 2–3 model consensus]

Deadline: April 30, 2026 (rolling review — earlier submission recommended)

Status: OPEN — 29 days remaining.

What it is: A project-based summer program for emerging leaders working at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and environmental justice. The 2026 cohort offers four specialized fellowship tracks addressing distinct dimensions of environmental justice in technology. The specific track names are not confirmed in available sources at time of publication — candidates should visit the Rooted Futures Lab website directly for current track descriptions, as track-specific eligibility and focus areas may affect which application is most appropriate for your background. Rooted Futures Lab EJIT Fellowship 2026 — Opportunities for Youth

Compensation: $3,000 stipend with flexible payment structure.

Duration: June 15 – September 4, 2026 (~12 weeks), approximately 20 hours per week.

Format: Fully remote. Fellows work independently with weekly check-ins, mentorship, and peer collaboration.

Eligibility: Strong English communication skills, ability to work independently and manage projects, interest in environmental justice, technology, or related fields. Technical roles may require experience in machine learning, GIS, data science, journalism, storytelling, media production, community organizing, governance systems, editorial work, or publishing. No explicit citizenship or residency restrictions. Rooted Futures Lab EJIT Fellowship 2026 — Opportunities for Youth

Apply: Via Rooted Futures Lab's application portal (check their website for the direct link, and review current track descriptions before applying).

Who this is best for: Emerging leaders interested in the environmental dimensions of technology policy — energy and climate infrastructure impacts of digital technologies, environmental justice in data centers, surveillance, extractive supply chains, and community-led technology governance.

Key consideration: The $3,000 total stipend is the lowest of any compensated program in this directory. For candidates in high cost-of-living areas, this may be insufficient; the fully remote format partially mitigates this by eliminating relocation costs. The rolling review process means later applicants may face reduced availability.

White House OSTP Internship — Fall 2026

[Verified — 4-model consensus]

Deadline: June 14, 2026 | Status: OPEN

Interns work closely with senior White House officials and science and technology staff in OSTP's policy divisions. Internships – OSTP – The White House

• Compensation: Unpaid. Students may receive academic credit and may be eligible for a public transit subsidy. OSTP Internship FAQ — The White House
• Eligibility: U.S. citizens only. Must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited institution. Permanent residents and non-citizens are ineligible. OSTP Intern Guidance PDF
• Format: On-site in the White House Complex, Washington, D.C. Fall/Spring: minimum 16 hours/week (preference for 30+). Summer: full-time, minimum 10 weeks.
• Application materials: Cover letter, one-page resume, writing sample (4–7 pages), transcripts, minimum three references.
• Apply: whitehouse.gov/ostp/internships
• Additional cycles: Spring 2027 deadline is September 20, 2026.

Who this is best for: U.S. citizen students who can afford an unpaid internship in D.C. and want the most prestigious student-level government technology policy credential available. The unpaid structure creates a significant equity barrier — a point discussed further in the "Compensation Reality Check" section below.

Key consideration on government-adjacent programs: The OSTP internship, like the AAAS STPF and IDA STPI fellowship, places participants inside or in close proximity to federal agencies. This creates a form of institutional constraint that is analytically distinct from corporate or philanthropic funding pressures but no less real. Fellows and interns in government-adjacent programs operate within the priorities and political constraints of the current administration. In the current U.S. political environment, this means research independence may be limited in ways that are not always disclosed in program materials. Candidates should factor this into their assessment of the credential's long-term value and the intellectual environment they will encounter.

White House OSTP Internship — Spring 2027

[Verified — 4-model consensus]

Deadline: September 20, 2026 | Same eligibility and structure as above.

AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship (STPF) — 2027–2028 Class

[Verified — 4-model consensus]

Deadline: November 1, 2026 | Applications open: September 1, 2026

The gold standard of U.S. science and technology policy fellowships. One- to two-year placements in U.S. Congress, executive-branch agencies (State, DOE, EPA, NIH, and others), and judicial branches. AAAS STPF

• Compensation: $75,000–$100,000 annual stipend plus health insurance, professional development, travel, and training. Third-party salary aggregators suggest average total compensation exceeding $110,000. Comparably salary data
• Eligibility: U.S. citizens only. PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or master's in engineering with at least 3 years of post-degree experience. No visa sponsorship. AAAS STPF at State Department
• Selection process: Multi-stage — essay, CV, references scored on scientific background (40 pts), leadership/analytical/communication/commitment (15 pts each); policy memo and interviews for finalists. AAAS STPF Process & Timeline
• Apply: fellowshipapp.aaas.org

Who this is best for: U.S. citizens with doctoral degrees who want the highest-compensated, most prestigious, and most policy-impactful fellowship in the ecosystem. Start preparing your application materials now for the September 1 opening.

Key consideration on institutional constraints: The AAAS STPF's deep integration with federal agencies — and the political constraints this creates on fellows' research independence and placement options — deserves more attention than most program directories provide. Fellows are placed within agencies whose priorities are set by the current administration. The fellowship's prestige and compensation are genuine, but candidates should enter with clear-eyed expectations about the degree of intellectual autonomy available within a government placement, particularly in politically sensitive technology policy domains such as AI regulation, climate technology, and surveillance. This is a structural feature of all government-adjacent fellowships, not a criticism specific to AAAS STPF.

Meta PhD Fellowship (Technology Policy Research Track)

[Unverified — single source or aggregator only]

Deadline: September 20, 2026 (letters of recommendation due October 6) | Applications open: August 3, 2026

Note: The specific figures for this program — including the $42,000 annual stipend, the August 3 opening date, the October 6 recommendation deadline, and the technology policy track designation — are drawn from a single aggregator source and have not been independently confirmed for the 2026 cycle. Verify all details directly at research.facebook.com/fellowship before acting on this information.

A two-year, fully funded PhD research fellowship with a technology policy track. Meta PhD Fellowship

• Compensation: $42,000 annual stipend, full tuition, and research support.
• Eligibility: Full-time PhD students enrolled at an accredited university in any country. Strong publication record and advisor recommendation required.
• Application materials: CV, 1–2 page research summary, 2 letters of recommendation (one from advisor). Apply via Facebook account.

Who this is best for: Current PhD students conducting research on technology policy, AI governance, or related topics who want multi-year funding and the Meta institutional affiliation.

IAPS AI Policy Fellowship — Fall 2026 Cohort

[Unverified — single source or aggregator only]

Deadline: Expected to open in April 2026; specific deadline TBD. Sign up for notifications at iaps.ai/fellowship.

Note: The Fall 2026 cohort has not yet been formally announced. The structure, stipend figures ($15,000 for Fellows, $22,000 for Senior Fellows), and eligibility details below are inferred from the Summer 2026 cohort, which is now closed. Treat these as indicative rather than confirmed for the Fall cycle.

The Summer 2026 cohort (deadline February 2, 2026) is closed. The Fall 2026 cohort is expected to follow a similar structure: a fully funded, three-month program with $15,000 stipend for Fellows and $22,000 for Senior Fellows, with a required in-person residency in Washington, D.C. and remote participation options. Fellowship — IAPS

• Eligibility: Professionals from varied backgrounds. D.C.-based fellows must have U.S. work authorization (no visa sponsorship). Remote participation supported in many countries.
• Alumni placements include: RAND, Institute for Progress, Center for Health Security, government, industry, and leading think tanks. AI Policy Fellowship 2026 — Opportunities for Youth

Action required: Sign up for the IAPS newsletter immediately to receive the Fall 2026 application announcement.

Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative (ELBI) Fellowship

[Unverified — single source or aggregator only]

Deadline: Applications open by August 15, 2026. Past cycle closed December 21.

Note: The 2026 cycle details for ELBI have not been independently confirmed. The August 15 opening date and program structure below are based on prior cycle patterns. Verify directly with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security before acting on this information.

Hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Builds a multi-disciplinary network of biosecurity professionals through workshops, expert-led webinars, and networking. Part-time, compatible with continued work or studies. Up to 28 selected per class. Backed by Open Philanthropy Project.

• Eligibility: Early-career professionals (U.S., UK, Canadian) in academia, government, defense, industry, science, law, public health, medicine, global health, journalism, or social sciences.

Conservative AI Policy Fellowship (CAPF)

[Unverified — single source or aggregator only]

The Summer 2026 deadline of April 6, 2026 has likely passed. No verified stipend figure is available — the program lists compensation as unpublished. No confirmed details about the Winter 2026 cohort are available at time of publication. Monitor the Foundation for American Innovation for future cohort announcements. Conservative AI Policy Fellowship — FAI

• Eligibility (prior cycle): U.S. citizens, D.C.-based policy professionals.
• Action: Check thefai.org/fellowships for Winter 2026 cohort announcement.

Who this is best for: Conservative policy professionals in Washington, D.C. interested in AI governance from a right-of-center perspective.

TechCongress Congressional Innovation Fellowship

[Verified — 2–3 model consensus]

The January 2026 cohort application deadline was early July 2025 and is now closed. TechCongress places technology policy fellows directly in congressional offices, providing one of the most direct pipelines into legislative technology policy work available to early-career professionals.

• Program structure: Fellows are embedded in congressional offices for approximately one year, working as technology advisors to members of Congress and their staff.
• Eligibility: Open to technologists, researchers, and professionals with technical backgrounds. U.S. citizenship or permanent residency typically required for congressional placement.
• Next cycle: The 2027 cohort application is expected to open in mid-2026, consistent with prior cycle patterns. Monitor techcongress.us for the announcement.
• Action required: Sign up for TechCongress notifications now to avoid missing the 2027 cohort opening.

Who this is best for: Technologists and researchers who want direct legislative experience and the opportunity to shape technology policy at the congressional level. The TechCongress fellowship is particularly valuable for candidates who want to work on AI, cybersecurity, or platform regulation from within the legislative branch rather than the executive branch or think tank ecosystem.

AAAS STPF 2026–2027 Class — Closed November 1, 2025. Fellowship starts September 1, 2026. Finalist interviews April 20–24, 2026; placement offers May–June 2026. AAAS STPF Process & Timeline

IAPS AI Policy Fellowship — Summer 2026 — Closed February 2, 2026. Program runs June 1 – August 21, 2026. Fellowship — IAPS

GovAI Summer Fellowship 2026 (London, Research & Applied Tracks) — Closed January 4, 2026. £12,000 stipend, 3 months (June 8 – August 28, 2026), visa sponsorship for London. Summer Fellowship 2026, Research Track — GovAI

GovAI DC Summer Fellowship 2026 — Closed March 1, 2026. $21,000 stipend (inferred), U.S. work authorization required. GovAI Open Positions

Aspen Policy Academy Science and Technology Policy Fellowship — Summer 2026 — Closed February 5, 2026. $5,000 base stipend + $2,500 for optional project phase. U.S.-based, age 21+. Aspen Policy Academy

IDA Science and Technology Policy Institute (STPI) Fellowship 2026 — Closed. Two-year fellowship for recent bachelor's/master's recipients working on science and technology policy for OSTP and federal agencies. Applications for the 2027 cohort will open in fall 2026. STPI Fellowship — IDA

Presidential Innovation Fellows (PIF) — 2026 Cohort — Closed. Targeted start date late spring/early summer 2026. U.S. citizens/nationals only. Sign up for updates at presidentialinnovationfellows.gov/apply. PIF FAQ

Digital Policy Hub Fellowship 2026–2027 (CIGI) — Closed March 2, 2026. Academic-year fellowship focused on digital governance (cybersecurity, data governance, AI regulation, internet governance). CIGI Digital Policy Hub FAQ PDF

CRA Trustworthy AI Research Fellowship 2026–2027 — Closed March 31, 2026. $17,000 stipend. Requires tenure-track faculty or visiting researcher position at a U.S. institution. Includes in-person Trustworthy AI Field School July 26–31, 2026, Cambridge, MA. CRA Trustworthy AI Research Fellowship

Cooperative AI Research Fellowship — Cape Town — Closed October 1, 2025. Three-month research program in Cape Town, South Africa, focused on cooperation problems in multi-agent AI systems. Cooperative AI Research Fellowship

Berkman Klein Center Fellowships (Harvard) — Closed December 5, 2025. Fellowships for January–August 2026 or September 2026–August 2027. In-residence preferred (Cambridge, MA). Berkman Klein Center Open Call

Tech Policy Press Fellowship 2026 — Closed October 15, 2025. Year-long remote fellowship, $10,000 stipend. Open to journalists, researchers, lawyers, and policy professionals globally. Since 2023, has supported 15 fellows from seven countries. 2026 Tech Policy Press Fellowship

DARPA Innovation Fellowship — July 2026 Cohort — Deadline April 1, 2026 (today). Active-duty U.S. military with STEM degree only. DARPA Innovation Fellowship [⚠️ URL confirmed broken - 404]

Georgetown Tech & Policy Visiting Fellows — Fall 2026 — Expected to open May 2026. Spring 2026 deadline was November 3, 2025. (source not independently confirmed for Fall 2026 specifics)

Apply now:

• Google Public Policy Fellowship (deadline April 9) — your most accessible option. No citizenship requirement beyond work authorization. $12,000 stipend for full-time. Apply to two host organizations.
• Cambridge ERA:AI (deadline April 12) — if you have a research orientation toward AI safety/governance. Global eligibility with visa support. Generous compensation plus housing. Note: verify current program details directly at erafellowship.org/fellowship as specific figures are drawn from aggregator sources.

Apply soon:

• OSTP Fall 2026 Internship (deadline June 14) — if you are a U.S. citizen and can afford an unpaid summer in D.C. Strongest signaling value for future government tech policy careers. Be aware of the institutional constraints discussed in the OSTP profile above.

Plan for fall:

• Meta PhD Fellowship (opens August 3, deadline September 20) — if you are a PhD student with a technology policy research agenda. Note: verify 2026 cycle details directly at research.facebook.com/fellowship as specific figures are unconfirmed.
• TechCongress Congressional Innovation Fellowship — monitor techcongress.us for the 2027 cohort opening, expected mid-2026.

Apply now:

• Mila AI Policy Fellowship (deadline April 16) — the only program explicitly designed for part-time participation alongside existing employment. Global eligibility. CAD $40/hour. Requires graduate degree + 3 years experience.
• Cambridge ERA:AI (deadline April 12) — if you can take 10 weeks away from your current role. No formal credential requirements. Verify current details directly with ERA before applying.

Apply soon:

• IAPS Fall 2026 cohort — sign up for the newsletter at iaps.ai/fellowship immediately. Expected to open in April 2026. $15,000–$22,000 stipend for 3 months full-time. Note: Fall 2026 cohort details are inferred from prior cycles and not yet confirmed.

Plan for fall:

• AAAS STPF 2027–2028 (opens September 1, deadline November 1) — if you are a U.S. citizen with a doctoral degree. The highest-compensated program in the ecosystem ($75K–$100K/year). Begin preparing application materials now. Review the institutional constraints discussion in the AAAS STPF profile before committing.

Apply now:

• Talos Network Autumn 2026 (deadline April 27) — the primary pipeline into EU AI governance institutions. Includes placements at OECD.AI, Centre for European Policy Studies, The Future Society. €2,000+/month during placement. Note: verify current details directly at talosnetwork.org as specific figures are drawn from aggregator sources.

Plan for later:

• Monitor the GovAI London fellowship for the next seasonal cohort (likely opens late 2026 for early 2027).

Immediate priority: Begin preparing for the AAAS STPF 2027–2028 application cycle (opens September 1, 2026). This requires:

• A polished policy memo demonstrating ability to translate technical expertise into policy-relevant analysis
• Three strong references who can speak to your scientific background, leadership, analytical skills, communication, and commitment to public service
• A clear narrative about why you want to move from research/industry into government policy

Sequencing strategy: OSTP internship (student years) → IAPS or Mila fellowship (early career) → AAAS STPF (senior level). Each builds credentials and networks for the next.

Apply now:

• Rooted Futures Lab EJIT Fellowship (deadline April 30, rolling review) — the only program in this directory explicitly focused on environmental justice dimensions of technology policy. Fully remote, $3,000 stipend. Submit by mid-April if possible to maximize chances under rolling review. Visit the Rooted Futures Lab website to review the four current fellowship tracks before applying, as track-specific eligibility may affect your application strategy.

Monitor:

• Conservative AI Policy Fellowship (CAPF) — the Summer 2026 deadline (April 6) has likely passed. Watch for the Winter 2026 cohort announcement from the Foundation for American Innovation. Conservative AI Policy Fellowship — FAI Note that no verified stipend figure is publicly available for this program.

Plan for fall:

• ELBI Fellowship (Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security) — applications open by August 15, 2026, based on prior cycle patterns. The most prominent biosecurity-specific fellowship for early-career professionals in the U.S., UK, and Canada. Verify 2026 cycle details directly with Johns Hopkins before acting.

Monitor now:

• TechCongress Congressional Innovation Fellowship — the 2027 cohort application is expected to open mid-2026. Sign up for notifications at techcongress.us immediately. This is the primary fellowship pipeline for technologists who want to work directly within the legislative branch on technology policy.

The fellowship ecosystem remains heavily concentrated in North America and Europe. Programs with confirmed global eligibility and meaningful support for international participation include:

• Cambridge ERA:AI (visa support, housing, travel covered) — deadline April 12. Verify current details directly with ERA.
• Mila AI Policy Fellowship (visa support for in-person components, travel covered) — deadline April 16.
• Tech Policy Press Fellowship (remote, global) — next cycle likely opens ~October 2026.

The IAPS AI Policy Fellowship accepts international applicants for remote participation but does not provide visa sponsorship for the D.C. residency component. The Talos Network is open to non-EU applicants but has a strong preference for EU citizens.

No substantive technology policy fellowship programs were identified with a specific focus on Asia, Africa, or Latin America in this research cycle. India's IndiaAI Mission supported AI projects for engineering students in 2024, but no 2026 policy fellowship details have been confirmed. (source not independently confirmed)

• April 9: Google Public Policy Fellowship deadline
• April 12: Cambridge ERA:AI Summer Fellowship deadline
• April 16: Mila AI Policy Fellowship deadline
• April 27: Talos Network Autumn 2026 cohort deadline
• April 30: Rooted Futures Lab EJIT Fellowship deadline
• Mid-April (expected): IAPS Fall 2026 cohort application opens — sign up at iaps.ai/fellowship

• May 1: The Presidency Innovation Fellowship 2026–2027 cohort application opens (note: this is a student policy program distinct from the Presidential Innovation Fellows federal program) The Presidency Innovation Fellowship
• May 2026 (expected): Georgetown Tech & Policy Visiting Fellows Fall 2026 application opens

• June 14: White House OSTP Fall 2026 Internship deadline

• TechCongress Congressional Innovation Fellowship 2027 cohort application expected to open — monitor techcongress.us

• August 3: Meta PhD Fellowship application opens (unconfirmed for 2026 cycle)
• August 15: ELBI Fellowship (Johns Hopkins) application opens (based on prior cycle patterns; unconfirmed for 2026)

• September 1: AAAS STPF 2027–2028 application opens
• September 20: White House OSTP Spring 2027 Internship deadline
• September 20: Meta PhD Fellowship deadline (unconfirmed for 2026 cycle)
• ~October 2026 (estimated): Tech Policy Press 2027 Fellowship application opens
• ~Fall 2026 (estimated): IDA STPI 2027 Fellowship application opens
• ~Fall 2026 (estimated): GovAI seasonal fellowship applications open for early 2027

• November 1: AAAS STPF 2027–2028 application deadline

The range across programs is vast. At the top, AAAS STPF pays $75,000–$100,000/year. At the bottom, the OSTP internship is unpaid. For context, the following figures normalize compensation to allow meaningful comparison — note that figures marked with an asterisk (*) are drawn from unverified or single-source entries and should be confirmed before use in financial planning:

• Cambridge ERA:AI: ~£6,563 for 10 weeks + housing + meals + travel = effectively the highest per-week compensation when total value is counted* (unverified)
• AAAS STPF: $75K–$100K/year = highest annual compensation, but U.S. citizens with doctorates only
• IAPS: $15K–$22K for 3 months full-time = competitive for a short-term program* (unverified for Fall 2026 cycle)
• Mila: Up to ~CAD $15,600 over 6 months part-time = solid for a part-time commitment
• Google: $12K for ~12 weeks = reasonable for a student summer
• Rooted Futures Lab: $3,000 for 12 weeks = below minimum wage equivalent in most U.S. jurisdictions
• OSTP: $0 = significant equity barrier

The unpaid structure of OSTP is worth dwelling on. An unpaid internship in Washington, D.C. — one of the most expensive cities in the United States — is accessible primarily to candidates with family financial support, institutional funding, or significant personal savings. This structural feature systematically advantages candidates from higher socioeconomic backgrounds and disadvantages first-generation professionals, candidates from lower-income families, and international candidates who cannot rely on home-country support networks. The prestige of the OSTP credential does not resolve this equity problem; it amplifies it, because the most prestigious entry point into government technology policy is the least financially accessible.

U.S. government programs (OSTP, AAAS STPF, PIF) uniformly require U.S. citizenship. Google requires work authorization but not citizenship. European programs (Talos, ERA:AI) are more open but have their own preferences (EU citizenship for Talos). Mila is the most globally accessible program with meaningful compensation. TechCongress typically requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency for congressional placements.

This is an area where programs provide inadequate guidance. Key facts:

• U.S. stipends for nonresident aliens: Generally subject to 30% federal withholding on taxable portions (room, board, travel), reduced to 14% for F/J/M/Q visa holders. Tax treaties may further reduce or eliminate withholding. Reported on Form 1042-S. (source not independently confirmed for specific URL)
• Canadian stipends: Scholarships and fellowships reported on T4A slip box 105 are taxable after the scholarship exemption, which fully exempts amounts for full-time post-secondary enrollment in degree programs. Post-doctoral fellowships do not qualify for exemption. (source not independently confirmed for specific URL)
• UK stipends: ERA:AI pays a prorated salary (not a stipend), which is likely treated as employment income under UK tax law. Visa holders should consult ERA directly.

All international fellows should consult a tax professional familiar with cross-border fellowship taxation before accepting an offer.

Programs are funded by entities with varying interests. This analysis is applied consistently across all funding types — corporate, philanthropic, and government-adjacent — because each carries its own form of potential influence on program priorities and intellectual orientation.

• Corporate funders (Google, Meta): Direct financial interest in technology regulation outcomes. Google's fellowship design — placing fellows at independent host organizations rather than at Google — provides structural separation but does not eliminate the dynamic. Meta's PhD fellowship creates an institutional affiliation with a company that is simultaneously a major subject of technology policy research. Candidates should consider how this affiliation may be perceived by future employers in government or civil society.
• EA-aligned funders (Open Philanthropy, EA Funds): Fund Talos, GovAI, and several other AI governance programs. This concentration may shape the intellectual orientation of the talent pipeline toward longtermist AI safety concerns. Critics argue this constitutes a form of ideological capture — see, e.g., analysis in Effective Altruism forum discussions and critical commentary from AI ethics researchers. Proponents argue EA-funded programs fill a genuine gap in AI governance capacity. Candidates should be aware that the intellectual community they enter through EA-funded programs will have a particular orientation toward AI risk that is not universally shared in the broader technology policy field.
• Government-adjacent institutions (AAAS, IDA, OSTP): Closely integrated with federal agencies. Subject to political and budgetary constraints that are not always visible from the outside. The current U.S. political environment creates specific constraints on research independence and placement options for fellows in executive-branch programs. Fellows in these programs operate within the priorities of the current administration, which may or may not align with their own research interests or values. This is a structural feature of government-adjacent fellowships that deserves the same analytical attention as corporate or philanthropic funding dynamics.
• Academic institutions (Berkman Klein, Cambridge): Generally the most intellectually independent, but also the most resource-constrained. Academic fellowships typically offer lower compensation and less direct policy impact than government or think tank placements, but greater freedom to pursue heterodox research questions.

No program in this directory provides comprehensive public disclosure of all funding sources and their potential influence on program priorities or selection criteria. Candidates are encouraged to research funding sources independently before applying.

Despite the expansion of technology policy fellowships, no identified programs focus specifically on:

• Biotechnology and synthetic biology governance
• Cybersecurity and critical infrastructure policy
• Space technology and satellite regulation
• Quantum computing policy
• Autonomous systems and robotics governance

These are all areas of significant and growing policy importance. The ELBI Fellowship (biosecurity) is the closest match for the first category, but it is not a technology policy fellowship per se. The TechCongress Congressional Innovation Fellowship is the closest match for cybersecurity and critical infrastructure, as congressional offices work across all technology domains, but it is not a domain-specific program. The absence of dedicated fellowship pipelines in these domains represents a structural gap in the field's capacity-building infrastructure — one that is likely to become more consequential as policy debates in these areas intensify.

No program in this directory publicly discloses acceptance rates or the number of applications received. The AAAS STPF describes itself as "highly competitive" and places approximately 170 fellows annually across direct AAAS (~130), partner societies (~40), and AI Rapid Response (~6) tracks. AAAS STPF The GovAI fellowship invites the top ~20% of written applicants to interview. About the Fellowship — ERA Fellowship Beyond these data points, candidates must rely on inference: programs with higher compensation, greater prestige, and broader eligibility are likely more competitive.

If you are reading this on April 1, 2026:

1. Today: Finalize and submit your Google Public Policy Fellowship application if eligible (deadline April 9). Begin your Cambridge ERA:AI application (deadline April 12) — verify current program details at erafellowship.org/fellowship before submitting.
2. This week: Draft your Mila project proposal (max 1,000 words) and line up two references. Deadline April 16.
3. Next two weeks: Complete your Talos Network application (deadline April 27) — verify current details at talosnetwork.org — and your Rooted Futures Lab EJIT application (deadline April 30). Review current EJIT track descriptions at the Rooted Futures Lab website before applying.
4. This month: Sign up for the IAPS newsletter at iaps.ai/fellowship to receive the Fall 2026 cohort announcement. Sign up for TechCongress notifications at techcongress.us for the 2027 cohort opening.
5. By June 14: Submit your OSTP Fall 2026 Internship application if you are a U.S. citizen student. Review the institutional constraints discussion in the OSTP profile before committing.
6. By September 1: Have your AAAS STPF application materials ready for the 2027–2028 cycle opening.

Every program reviewed rewards early submission. Do not wait until the deadline.

This directory is based on open-source research conducted as of April 1, 2026. All deadlines and program details should be verified directly with host organizations before application submission. Program parameters, compensation, and eligibility criteria are subject to change. Epistemic classifications reflect the evidentiary basis available at time of publication and do not constitute a guarantee of accuracy for any specific claim. Tax and legal implications of fellowship participation vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstances — consult a qualified professional.

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Disclaimer: This report was generated by an autonomous AI system. While rigorous cross-validation protocols are in place, users should verify critical data points, especially regarding safety-critical industrial processes or financial decisions.