Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships @Longview Philanthropy

Applications are now open for the 2026 Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships, a unique funding initiative designed to support individuals interested in exploring careers focused on the consciousness, sentience, moral status, welfare, and ethics of artificial intelligence systems.

The fellowship is offered by Longview Philanthropy in collaboration with Future Impact Group and seeks to develop a new generation of researchers, policymakers, communicators, entrepreneurs, and practitioners working on digital minds and AI sentience-related issues.

The application deadline is 10 July 2026.

About the Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships

As advances in artificial intelligence continue to raise important questions about machine consciousness and digital welfare, the Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships aim to help talented individuals explore impactful career pathways within this emerging field.

The programme provides financial support and professional development opportunities for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of AI sentience and contribute to research, policy development, advocacy, or practical interventions.

Selected fellows will receive:

• A stipend tailored to the duration of the fellowship, cost of living, and prior experience
• Additional funding for research activities and logistical expenses on a case-by-case basis
• Access to networking opportunities with experts in the field
• Computational resources where applicable
• An invitation to attend the annual Mind, Ethics, and Policy Summit at New York University (NYU)

The fellowship is primarily remote, subject to eligibility requirements and approved countries listed in the application form.

Who Should Apply?

The fellowship welcomes applications from a wide range of backgrounds and career stages. While the programme highlights several ideal candidate profiles, applicants with alternative experiences who demonstrate strong potential are also encouraged to apply.

Potential applicants include:

• Graduate students seeking funding for studies related to digital minds and AI sentience
• Technical AI researchers exploring high-impact opportunities within the field
• Communications professionals transitioning into digital minds advocacy and public engagement
• Non-profit entrepreneurs investigating opportunities to establish impactful organizations
• Diplomats, civil servants, and legal researchers examining governance and policy solutions
• Participants in AI safety programmes seeking to continue work with mentors on digital minds topics

The programme aims to foster interdisciplinary engagement and welcomes candidates from academic, policy, nonprofit, and technical sectors.

Fellowship Requirements and Selection Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated using three primary criteria that are considered collectively during the review process.

Demonstrated Interest in Digital Sentience

Strong candidates should demonstrate:

• Serious engagement with digital sentience and AI consciousness questions
• Understanding of how digital minds research intersects with broader AI risk discussions
• Thoughtful perspectives on where meaningful contributions can be made

Evidence of Impact Potential

Selection committees will assess:

• Professional achievements
• Academic accomplishments
• Employment history
• References and recommendations
• Demonstrated leadership and initiative

Quality of Fellowship Plans

Applicants should present clear and realistic plans for how they will use the fellowship period.

Competitive applications often include:

• Defined research or career development objectives
• Strong mentorship or advisory arrangements
• Clear pathways toward future impact

Priority may be given to applicants who would face significant barriers pursuing this work without fellowship funding.

Eligible Fellowship Activities

The Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships support a broad range of career-building and research-focused activities.

Eligible activities include:

• Graduate study related to digital minds
• Postdoctoral research projects
• Academic course buy-outs
• Unpaid or low-paid internships
• Independent study programmes
• Technical and policy skill development
• Career exploration and transition periods
• Transition stipends between professional roles
• Other activities that build career capital in digital minds research and practice

The flexibility of the programme allows fellows to tailor activities to their individual career goals and development needs.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit detailed information outlining their background, motivations, and proposed fellowship activities.

Required application materials include:

• Biographical and logistical information
• Resume, curriculum vitae (CV), or LinkedIn profile
• A 300-word statement explaining motivation and interest in digital minds issues
• A 200–1,000-word description of planned fellowship activities
• A 300-word discussion of potential post-fellowship plans
• An explanation of alternative funding options and work plans
• Funding request details and proposed timeline
• A 150-word statement describing plans if fellowship funding is not received

Applicants are encouraged to provide thoughtful and well-structured responses that demonstrate both commitment and strategic thinking.

Professional Development and Networking Benefits

In addition to financial support, the fellowship provides valuable opportunities for career growth.

Benefits include:

• Connections with leading researchers and practitioners
• Exposure to emerging debates on AI ethics and digital welfare
• Opportunities to engage with influential organizations in the field
• Participation in specialized events and professional networks
• Access to resources that support long-term career development

These opportunities are intended to help fellows identify impactful career pathways and contribute meaningfully to the future of AI governance and digital welfare.

Why This Fellowship Matters

As discussions surrounding artificial intelligence increasingly expand beyond safety and governance into questions of consciousness, moral status, and welfare, the need for skilled professionals in this space continues to grow.

The Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships represent a significant investment in the next generation of thinkers and practitioners working to address these emerging challenges. By supporting individuals during key career transition periods, the programme aims to strengthen the global ecosystem of expertise focused on the ethical implications of increasingly advanced AI systems.

Interested applicants are encouraged to review the programme requirements carefully and submit their applications before the 10 July 2026 deadline.

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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.