Winter Research Fellowship (EU Law)

Applications close on 12 October, 2026.

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About LawAI About the Winter Research Fellowship (EU Law) Benefits Eligibility Application process

Overview

The Institute for Law & AI’s Winter Research Fellowship (EU Law) offers law students, professionals, and academics the opportunity to work at the leading edge of artificial intelligence (AI), law, and policy, with a particular focus on EU Law and the EU AI Act. The programme is designed to support intellectual and professional development, combining tailored mentorship with career planning and opportunities to engage with policymakers, researchers, and other leaders in the field. Previous Seasonal Research Fellows have gone on to pursue legal and policy roles in the EU AI Office, leading AI companies, academia, and think tanks, including the Institute for Law & AI (LawAI) itself. 

Our goal is to empower the experts of today and tomorrow, ensuring that advances in frontier AI are beneficial and safe for society. We welcome applicants with various skill sets, experience levels, and degrees of knowledge in AI, law, and policy. Prior AI-specific experience is desirable, but not required. If you’re unsure whether you fit, we encourage you to review our EU Law workstreams in detail; we would rather you apply than rule yourself out. 

Winter Research Fellows receive a weekly stipend of £1,000, plus a £7,000 relocation payment if moving to Cambridge (UK). The fellowship runs from 1 February to 9 April 2027. 

Applications close on 12 October 2026. We will be considering applications on a rolling basis as they are received, and we encourage early applications in advance of the 12 October deadline. 

We look forward to reviewing your application!

About LawAI

The Institute for Law & AI (LawAI) is an independent think tank that researches and advises on the legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence. We believe that sound legal analysis will promote security, welfare, and the rule of law. We conduct research at the intersection of artificial intelligence, law, and policy and advise governments, international organizations, public institutions, and private actors. You can learn more about LawAI on our website, alongside our recent publications and an overview of our workstreams and research directions.

About the Winter Research Fellowship (EU Law)

We are looking for Winter Research Fellows to focus on EU law and the EU AI Act. 


What the fellowship offers

  • Mentorship from our research staff and affiliates.
  • Q&A sessions with leading experts in the field.
  • EU AI law and policy networking opportunities and career planning resources.
  • Opportunities to explore future collaborations, such as follow-on funding through grants, invitations to upcoming events, and potential projects or job openings with LawAI.
  • Technical workshops, collaboration opportunities, and networking events during the Convening Week.

Location

We strongly encourage in-person participation in Cambridge (UK) because much of the value of this fellowship comes from building connections with other fellows and interactions with various LawAI staff members and others working on frontier AI policy who often visit the Cambridge office. That said, we recognise that circumstances vary, and we will consider remote arrangements on a case-by-case basis for candidates with compelling reasons (e.g., family commitments). In addition, Winter Research Fellows may elect to end their fellowship early, provided they can commit to at least eight consecutive weeks.


What you’ll work on

As a Winter Research Fellow, you will work with your mentor to select an existing project and/or develop and execute a research project tailored to your experience, skills, and interests. You might focus on a single extended project, such as drafting a report or authoring a law review article, and/or contribute to a range of initiatives, including legal research that supports various research and advisory projects led by LawAI staff. Winter Research Fellows may also have opportunities to help advise policymakers, government, and private sector organisations.

Topics and/or project selection (including the type of relevant output) will be shaped by the EU team’s priorities and your existing expertise. Projects should generally align with LawAI’s mission to ensure that major advances in AI promote safety, security, and the rule of law. Our current EU Law workstreams and research directions indicate suitable topics, though priorities may shift in response to events. 

We welcome suggestions for other topics with a clear connection to our research priorities.


Dates and full-time commitment

  • The Winter Research Fellowship will run from 1 February 2027 to 9 April 2027, with an option to apply for an extension of up to 5 weeks (without mentorship) to 14 May 2027.
  • The fellowship includes a Convening Week in Cambridge (UK) from 8 to 12 February 2027.

Winter Research Fellows are expected to work full-time, participate in regular meetings, give occasional presentations on their research, and provide feedback on other research work within their cohort and the broader LawAI team. 

We are happy to accommodate academic or professional commitments during the fellowship period on a case-by-case basis. Please let us know if you have questions during the application process.

Benefits

  • Weekly payment: £1,000. Candidates with exceptional experience or qualifications may be eligible for a higher amount.
    • Relocation and housing: We generally expect fellows to be based in Cambridge (UK) for the fellowship. Fellows who relocate to Cambridge will receive a one-off £7,000 relocation and housing payment.
    • Commuting from London/elsewhere in the UK: If relocation to Cambridge is not possible, we can reimburse reasonable costs of commuting from London (or somewhere else in the UK).
    • Convening Week Travel: For fellows not based in Cambridge (UK), we will reimburse reasonable travel, accommodation, and meal costs for the Convening Week (8 to 12 February 2027), on provision of receipts.

    Eligibility

    • We welcome applicants from all countries and with various skill sets, experience levels, and degrees of knowledge in AI, law, and policy to apply, including those who have studied in non-EU countries or who are not qualified to practice law in the EU.
    • While candidates should have an interest in AI law and policy and be prepared to apply their research abilities and legal knowledge to questions in our field, prior experience or expertise in AI-specific research is not required. As guidance, past Seasonal Research Fellows have included:
      • Graduate law students (e.g., LLM or JD), PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers
      • Undergraduate law students in their final year of studies (e.g., LLB, First State Examination, and similar degrees)
      • Professionals transitioning into research at various career stages
      • Legal academics
    • Fellows need to be able to commit to full-time work for at least eight weeks within the dates above. We ask that applicants communicate proactively about any scheduling conflicts.
    • Fellows need to be able to attend the Convening Week in Cambridge (UK) from 8 to 12 February 2027.
    • Fellows who need permission to work in the UK will be sponsored on the Temporary Work (Government Authorised Exchange) visa through our sponsorship partner.
      • If you receive an offer and need a visa, we will seek sponsorship on your behalf, subject to your meeting the route’s eligibility requirements.
      • Sponsorship is assessed case-by-case by our partner, and the visa decision rests with the UK Home Office, so in-person participation is conditional on the visa being granted.
      • LawAI covers the visa application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
      • If a visa cannot be granted, we will try to arrange a remote engagement for affected candidates.

    If you’re not sure about applying because you don’t know if you’re qualified or the right fit, we encourage you to apply anyway. We often find that some of the most promising candidates underrate their fit for programs like this.

    Application process

    Step 1: Submit your application form by 11:59 pm UK time on 12 October 2026 (we expect this to take 20-30 minutes to complete). We cannot assess late applications.

    Step 2: Asynchronous exploratory interview (~20 minutes). This interview aims to help us gain a deeper understanding of your motivation, your past research, and your perspective on AI development and its implications for society, law, and policy.

    Step 3: Research interview (40-50 minutes). You will speak with a member of our research staff to discuss your fit for our programme and your research interests and goals. You’ll also have an opportunity to ask us questions.

    Step 4: Decision. We aim to provide all applicants with a final decision by mid-December. If you need a decision by a particular date, please note this on your application form.

    We may use AI to assist in the initial screening of applications. Decisions are always made by a human on our team. If you have any questions about our use of AI tools, you can email hiring@law-ai.org. 

    This position is eligible for LawAI’s Seasonal Fellowship referral program. The referral program offers $1,000 to eligible individuals who refer a candidate who is ultimately hired for one of our open positions. Full terms can be found here.

    Diversity and equal opportunity: We aim to employ people with many experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who share our mission. We are committed to creating an environment where all employees have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their race, religion, disability, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation.

    If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, or if you have any questions about the application process, please contact programs@law-ai.org.