Who can apply?The program is open to researchers from Master’s level onward, including Master’s students or graduates, PhD candidates, and early-career postdoctoral researchers. Applicants from academia, industry, or interdisciplinary backgrounds are welcome.
What do you mean by early-career researcher?“Early career” refers primarily to research stage, not age or years in the workforce.
I only have a Bachelor's degree — can I still apply?Yes, in some cases. While the program is designed for researchers at the Master's to early postdoc stage, applicants holding a Bachelor's degree are welcome to apply if they can demonstrate meaningful research experience. Current undergraduate students are not eligible.
Is there a limit on years since PhD completion?For applicants who have completed a PhD, eligibility is typically limited to within 7 years of PhD award. Career breaks (e.g. parental leave, medical leave, caregiving) are taken into account and may extend this window.
Do I need to have completed a Neuromatch Academy course to apply?No. Completion of a Neuromatch Academy course is not required to apply to the AI Sentience Scholars Program. Applicants from diverse training backgrounds are welcome, provided their skills align with the requirements of the selected curated project.
Does being a Neuromatch Academy TA make me ineligible?No. Serving as a TA for the 2026 Neuromatch Academy does not affect your eligibility to apply for the AI Sentience Scholars Program.
Do I need extensive AI or LLM experience?No. Different projects require different skill profiles. Many scholars will learn new methods during the program. Strong curiosity, conceptual thinking, and willingness to learn are valued alongside technical skills.
Is programming mandatory?Many projects involve computational work, but required programming proficiency varies by project. Applicants should carefully review project descriptions.
Location & Language
Where do I need to be located?The program is virtual and fully remote besides the in-person convening event. It is open to everyone globally. Neuromatch is a US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is therefore required to comply with US sanctions regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). As a result, we are currently unable to accept applications from individuals based in the following locations: Cuba, Syria, and Crimea. We are currently pending renewal of our OFAC sanctions exemption that would allow us to enroll scholars based in Iran. We strongly encourage Iranian applicants to apply. We will provide timely updates on whether we are able to deliver programming to participants based in Iran for this year’s program.
What language is the program conducted in?The program is conducted entirely in English. Applicants should be comfortable working and communicating in English.
Will mentors and scholars share a common time zone?No single time zone is imposed. Mentors and scholars coordinate meeting times collaboratively across global time zones.
Program Structure & Expectations
What is the expected time commitment?Participants are expected to commit approximately 8 hours per week for the duration of the program.
Can I participate while doing a Master’s or PhD?Yes. Scholars can participate alongside ongoing studies or employment. However, applicants should ensure they have sufficient availability to meet the program’s time commitment (~8 hours per week), and we recommend informing and obtaining agreement from academic supervisors when relevant.
Can effort vary across months?Yes. Some periods may be more intensive than others depending on the project specifics and on the project phase. Scholars may sometimes work more hours (e.g., summer) and adjust later, in agreement with mentors.
Are holidays or short absences allowed?Yes. The program recognizes that participants have other commitments. Temporary scheduling adjustments can be coordinated with mentors.
What are the expected outputs of the program?Participants are expected to contribute to a research project, a written output, and a final presentation.
What if I am unsure I can complete all components?Applicants are asked to self-assess their confidence in completing the program. This information is used to support appropriate selection and mentoring, not to penalize honest responses.
Is there an extension phase after six months?The formal program duration is six months. Any continuation beyond this period would be informal and depend on collaboration with your mentor; there is no official program extension.
Research Projects & Mentorship
Will there be only one scholar per project?Yes. Each curated project is designed for one primary scholar working closely with the mentor(s).
Should I contact the project mentor before applying to discuss the project?We kindly ask candidates not to contact project leaders directly before submitting an application. Given the high number of applicants, direct outreach could become overwhelming for mentors. All essential information needed to apply is provided in the project descriptions. If you have an important question that is not addressed there, please contact the AISS email address, and the program team will review your query. If necessary, we will follow up with the project mentor.
How flexible are the proposed research projects?The level of flexibility varies depending on the project and mentor. Some projects are more structured due to specific scientific objectives and methodologies, while others may allow greater adaptation to the scholar’s background and interests. In all cases, projects are expected to be further refined collaboratively between the mentor and the selected scholar at the beginning of the program.
Who benefits from the research and who owns the outputs?Scholars, mentors, and the broader community benefit from the research. Scholars retain credit for their work; mentors are acknowledged according to contribution. Outputs should follow open science principles. Scholars and mentors collaborate, and Neuromatch encourages open sharing. Publications should recognize program support and follow fair authorship and responsible research practices. Please check our Publication and Presentation Policy.
In-Person Convening
What is the in-person convening?The program includes an in-person convening at the CIFAR Neuroscience of Consciousness Winter School 2026 (2–5 December 2026, Nairobi, Kenya). Scholars will present their work, attend lectures from leading scientists, and participate in workshops and networking activities. More details are here: 👥In-Person Convening
Are travel and accommodation costs covered?Yes, the in-person convening is fully funded for the selected AI Sentience Scholars.
Is attendance mandatory?Attendance is strongly encouraged as a core part of the program experience. Exceptional circumstances will be considered individually.
Application Process
How many projects can I apply to?You may apply to up to three projects. However, we encourage thoughtful selection rather than applying broadly. Strong fit is more important than quantity.
How are applicants evaluated?Selection takes place in three stages, please see 🔎Review Process. Decisions are made after the application deadline (not rolling).
What is the letter of support?The letter of support is an optional document written by a supervisor, mentor, manager, or collaborator who can comment on your background, skills, and readiness to participate in the program. The letter may be project-specific or more general. If you wish, you may compile multiple letters of support into a single uploaded document.
Funding & Resources
Is there any cost to participate? No. Participation is free.
What does the “up to $8,000 USD research support” mean?Each scholar–mentor pair is eligible to receive up to $8,000 USD in research support to help carry out the project. This includes up to $5,000 USD for scholar stipends, and up to $3,000 USD for project costs (e.g., compute resources, software, travel, model development). The budget is flexible and defined jointly by the scholar–mentor pair, then approved by Neuromatch. Full details are here: 💰Research Support Funds
Is accepting the stipend mandatory?No. Scholars may choose not to receive the stipend if institutional or personal circumstances require it.
Participation Beyond Selection
Can people who are not selected still participate? Yes. Many program activities — including seminars and selected workshops — will be open to the broader community. These opportunities will be advertised through Neuromatch communication channels and social networks, and anyone interested will be welcome to join.
Future Cohorts
Will the program run every year?Future cohorts are planned but subject to funding and program development.