Apply for the UC Berkeley CHAI Research Fellowship 2026: Fully Funded AI Research Opportunity with Visa Sponsorship in the United States @Unknown

The Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence (CHAI) at the University of California, Berkeley is inviting applications for its prestigious CHAI Research Fellowship, a fully funded postdoctoral research opportunity designed to support groundbreaking work in AI alignment, machine learning, decision-making systems, robotics, and human-compatible artificial intelligence.

Researchers interested in advancing the future of safe and beneficial artificial intelligence now have an exceptional opportunity to join one of the world’s leading AI research centers.

Hosted at UC Berkeley, one of the world’s top-ranked universities for artificial intelligence research, the fellowship provides researchers with the opportunity to collaborate with internationally renowned AI experts while contributing to research that aims to ensure advanced AI systems remain beneficial to humanity.

About the CHAI Research Fellowship

The CHAI Research Fellowship is designed to train outstanding postdoctoral researchers who are committed to developing safe, reliable, and human-compatible artificial intelligence systems.

The fellowship offers successful candidates the opportunity to work closely with leading AI researchers, including:

• Stuart Russell
• Pieter Abbeel
• Anca Dragan

Fellows will also have opportunities to collaborate with researchers from Berkeley AI Research (BAIR), UC Berkeley faculty members, and partner institutions worldwide.

The program supports innovative research addressing some of the most important challenges in artificial intelligence and machine learning today.

Research Areas

Given CHAI’s broad mission to advance beneficial AI, fellows are encouraged to pursue independent and interdisciplinary research projects.

Current priority research areas include:

• Theoretical foundations of intelligent agent architecture
• Human-compatible AI systems
• Decision-making over long time horizons
• Cumulative lifelong learning
• Human-in-the-loop planning
• Reinforcement learning
• Human-robot interaction
• Probabilistic programming
• Formal reasoning systems
• Human preference learning
• Multi-agent cooperation
• Mechanism design for human-machine systems
• AI alignment and control
• Game theory applications in AI
• Control theory and intelligent systems

Researchers may also contribute to collaborations across mathematics, economics, computer science, robotics, statistics, and cognitive science.

Fellowship Responsibilities

Selected fellows will have considerable freedom to design and lead their own research agenda while contributing to CHAI’s broader mission.

Responsibilities may include:

• Conducting original AI research.
• Publishing findings in leading journals and conferences.
• Collaborating with faculty and student researchers.
• Leading interdisciplinary research projects.
• Mentoring junior researchers and graduate students.
• Contributing to AI safety and alignment initiatives.
• Participating in seminars, workshops, and research events.
• Supporting educational activities related to AI research.

The fellowship emphasizes both academic excellence and leadership within the growing field of human-compatible AI.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must possess:

• A PhD (completed or near completion) in a relevant technical discipline.
• Strong research achievements demonstrated through publications.
• Expertise in fields such as:
  • Computer Science
  • Statistics
  • Mathematics
  • Theoretical Economics
  • Machine Learning
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Robotics
  • Data Science

While prior work specifically focused on AI safety or AI alignment is not required, applicants should demonstrate strong technical foundations and research potential.

Knowledge of modern AI and statistical learning methods is considered an advantage.

Fellowship Benefits

The CHAI Research Fellowship offers generous support to enable fellows to focus on high-impact research.

Benefits include:

• Fully funded fellowship support.
• Funding for an initial two-year appointment.
• Possibility of renewal for up to three years based on performance.
• Competitive salary based on UC Berkeley salary scales.
• Collaboration with world-leading AI researchers.
• Access to Berkeley’s cutting-edge AI research ecosystem.
• Opportunities to publish in top-tier AI conferences and journals.
• Participation in an internationally recognized research community.

Visa Sponsorship Available

One of the most attractive features of the fellowship is its support for international researchers.

CHAI provides:

• Visa sponsorship for successful fellows.
• Support for visa-related expenses.
• Contributions toward visa costs for dependents, including partners and children.

This makes the fellowship accessible to talented researchers from around the world seeking to conduct advanced AI research in the United States.

Why Human-Compatible AI Matters

As artificial intelligence systems become increasingly powerful and integrated into society, ensuring that these technologies align with human values has become one of the most important scientific and societal challenges of the 21st century.

CHAI’s mission focuses on developing AI systems that are provably beneficial, safe, and capable of acting in accordance with human preferences and societal goals.

Research conducted through the fellowship contributes directly to addressing issues such as:

• AI safety
• AI alignment
• Responsible AI governance
• Human-centered machine learning
• Ethical autonomous systems
• Cooperative AI

Application Process

Applicants are required to submit:

• A current résumé or curriculum vitae.
• A one-page statement of interest outlining proposed research interests.
• Names and email addresses of two academic referees.

Applications are reviewed based on:

• Academic achievements.
• Research excellence.
• Leadership potential.
• Technical expertise.
• Alignment with CHAI’s research mission.

Fellowship Details

Program: CHAI Research Fellowship

Host Institution: Center for Human-Compatible Artificial Intelligence (CHAI), University of California, Berkeley

Location: Berkeley, California, United States

Start Date: Flexible

Duration: Two years (renewable up to three years)

Funding: Fully Funded

Visa Sponsorship: Available

Eligible Applicants: International Researchers

Final Thoughts

The CHAI Research Fellowship offers an outstanding opportunity for emerging AI researchers to contribute to some of the most important scientific questions facing society today. With access to world-class mentorship, generous funding, visa sponsorship, and a collaborative research environment at UC Berkeley, the fellowship provides an ideal platform for researchers seeking to shape the future of safe and beneficial artificial intelligence.

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding

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