Black in AI Safety and Ethics (BASE) has announced the opening of applications for its inaugural BASE Fellowship, a twelve-week, part-time, fully remote program aimed at supporting Black researchers, professionals, and emerging talent in the fields of AI safety, AI security, and AI governance. The fellowship is set to run from April to July 2026, amidst increasing scrutiny over the governance and accountability of artificial intelligence systems.
As demand for expertise in AI oversight intensifies across educational, industrial, and governmental sectors, BASE emphasizes the fellowship as a vital pathway into research and policy-oriented roles. The program seeks to address significant gaps in representation within these crucial areas of technology and governance.
The BASE Fellowship is organized around three distinct tracks: AI alignment, AI security, and AI governance. Participants will first engage in a foundational curriculum that covers core principles of AI safety and ethics before moving into guided mentorship and culminating in a capstone research project tailored to their selected track. The technical tracks delve into critical subjects such as interpretability, oversight, adversarial robustness, and risk management. Conversely, the non-technical tracks focus on policy analysis, standards development, and systemic risk evaluation, with fellows expected to produce a research deliverable by the program’s conclusion.
In a LinkedIn post marking the fellowship’s launch, Lawrence Wagner emphasized the program’s commitment to helping Black scholars and professionals contribute substantively to the domains of AI safety, security, and governance. Wagner noted that the fellowship combines foundational training with structured mentorship and applicable research outcomes, aiming to foster a new generation of experts in these vital fields.
The application process is set to close on January 9, 2026, and will follow a multi-stage selection procedure. Initially, applicants will undergo a review process, with successful candidates invited to complete either a coding assessment or a work-based task, depending on their chosen track. Those advancing through these stages will then apply to specific mentor-led projects, culminating in final decisions set to be announced in early March.
BASE is positioning the fellowship as part of a broader initiative to cultivate a global community of Black practitioners and researchers committed to responsible AI deployment. The organization underscores the ongoing underrepresentation in AI governance and safety roles as a potential risk to developing equitable and accountable technologies.
As concerns about the ethical implications of AI systems continue to grow, the BASE Fellowship represents a proactive step towards diversifying the talent pool in this critical area. By investing in Black scholars and professionals, the program not only addresses issues of representation but also aims to enhance the overall integrity and fairness of AI research and application.
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