Summer Research Fellowship (US)

As a Summer Research Fellow, you will work with your mentor to develop and execute a research project tailored to your experience, skills, and interests. Some Summer Research Fellows may focus on a more extended, singular project, such as drafting a report or authoring a law review article, while others might contribute to a range of initiatives, such as conducting legal research that supports various research and advisory projects led by LawAI staff. Summer Research Fellows may also have opportunities to help advise policymakers, government, and private sector organizations.

As a general matter, Summer Research Fellows will have considerable discretion over the form of outputs they pursue (e.g., choosing between publishing a law review article vs a policy brief). Topic selection will be determined in conjunction with your mentor. Projects should generally align with LawAI’s mission of ensuring that major advances in AI are beneficial and safe for the public. It may also help to review LawAI’s current United States Law and Policy Workstream and Research Direction, which will give you a sense of the subject matter appropriate for Summer Research Fellows.

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

Summer Research Fellowship (US) start and end dates:

• The fellowship is remote-first, lasting 10-weeks from June 15 to August 21, and includes an in-person week in Washington, D.C. or Berkeley, CA, June 22 to 26.

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

In exceptional circumstances, we may consider adjustments to the fellowship start or end dates; however, our strong preference is for full participation. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To be considered, please note this on your application.

• Applicants should have a strong understanding of the legal principles applicable to AI regulation in US Law and Policy.
• 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.
• Past Summer Research Fellows have included:
  • Graduate law students (e.g., LLM or JD), PhD candidates, and postdoctoral researchers
  • Professionals at various career stages looking to transition into AI-focused roles in research, academia, government, or industry
  • Legal academics
  • See our Summer Research Fellows for more examples.
• Ability to commit to full-time, remote-based work from June 15 to August 21. In exceptional circumstances, we may consider adjustments to the fellowship start or end dates; however, our strong preference is for full participation. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To be considered, please note this on your application.
• Ability to attend the in-person week in Washington, D.C. or Berkeley, CA, from June 22 to 26, with eligible travel expenses covered, including flights, accommodation, and meals.
• If you receive an offer, we will make every reasonable effort to support visa sponsorship. However, our ability to do so depends on the candidate and their location, and the relevant authorities ultimately determine eligibility. Participation is contingent on holding valid work authorization for the location in which you will be based.