The Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships 2026 are now open for applications, offering a unique opportunity for individuals interested in exploring some of the most important and emerging questions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), consciousness, sentience, moral status, and digital welfare.

Offered by Longview Philanthropy in collaboration with Future Impact Group, this fellowship is designed to support talented individuals who want to transition into, deepen, or expand their work in research, policy, advocacy, communications, entrepreneurship, academia, and other fields related to digital minds and AI sentience.

As AI systems continue to advance rapidly, questions about whether future AI systems could possess forms of consciousness, sentience, or morally relevant experiences are becoming increasingly important. The Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships seek to cultivate a new generation of researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and innovators who can contribute meaningfully to these discussions and help shape responsible approaches to the future of AI.

The fellowship provides financial support, networking opportunities, mentorship-related benefits, access to resources, and participation in leading discussions on digital minds and AI ethics.

About the Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships

The Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships are intended to help promising individuals dedicate significant time to exploring, developing, and advancing careers focused on digital minds issues.

The program recognizes that many talented individuals may have the skills and motivation to contribute to this growing field but lack the financial support necessary to pursue career transitions, advanced studies, independent research, internships, policy work, or entrepreneurial exploration.

Through this fellowship, recipients receive funding and professional support that enables them to build expertise, gain practical experience, and identify impactful long-term career pathways.

The initiative is funded by Longview Philanthropy, while Future Impact Group assists with networking opportunities and application review processes.

Fellowship Benefits

Successful fellows will receive a range of benefits designed to support their professional growth and career exploration.

Financial Support

Recipients will receive:

A stipend calibrated according to:
- Duration of the fellowship
- Cost of living considerations
- Previous professional experience
Additional funding for:
- Research activities
- Travel and logistics
- Project-related expenses
- Other approved needs on a case-by-case basis

Professional Development Opportunities

Selected fellows will gain access to:

Valuable networking opportunities with experts and organizations working in the digital minds field
Connections with researchers, policymakers, academics, and practitioners
Career development support
Exposure to leading discussions on AI sentience and ethics

Access to Resources

Where applicable, fellows may receive:

Access to computational resources
Research support opportunities
Connections to advisors and mentors

Mind, Ethics, and Policy Summit Invitation

A particularly valuable benefit of the fellowship is an invitation to attend the annual Mind, Ethics, and Policy Summit at New York University (NYU), where participants can engage with leading thinkers working on AI ethics, consciousness research, and governance challenges.

Who the Fellowship Is Looking For

The Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships welcome applicants from a wide variety of academic and professional backgrounds.

Examples of individuals who may be strong candidates include:

Graduate Students

Individuals currently pursuing or planning to pursue graduate-level studies related to digital minds, AI ethics, consciousness studies, philosophy of mind, AI governance, or related disciplines.

Technical Artificial Intelligence Researchers

Researchers who wish to:

Explore digital minds research topics
Attend conferences and events
Connect with organizations in the field
Identify high-impact career opportunities

Communications Professionals

Professionals interested in transitioning into digital minds work through activities such as:

Conducting surveys
Building expert platforms
Public engagement
Strategic communications

Non-Profit Entrepreneurs

Aspiring founders who wish to spend dedicated time:

Exploring opportunities in the digital minds ecosystem
Identifying gaps in the field
Designing impactful organizations
Preparing future non-profit initiatives

Government and Policy Professionals

Including:

Civil servants
Diplomats
Legal researchers
Policy analysts

These professionals may use the fellowship to investigate governance approaches and policy solutions related to digital minds and AI welfare.

Participants of Artificial Intelligence Safety Fellowship Programs

Individuals involved in AI safety initiatives such as:

Machine Learning Alignment and Theory Scholars (MATS)
Future Impact Group programs
Similar mentorship-based fellowships

These applicants may continue working with mentors while developing expertise in digital minds issues.

Importantly, applicants do not need to fit neatly into any of the above categories. Individuals with strong potential and compelling plans are encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on three major factors.

1. Demonstrated Interest in Digital Sentience

Applicants should show evidence that they have seriously engaged with questions related to:

AI consciousness
Digital sentience
Moral status of AI systems
AI welfare
AI governance
Related ethical and policy challenges

Strong applicants will demonstrate an understanding of how these topics connect to broader AI risk discussions.

2. Potential for High-Impact Contributions

Evaluators will consider evidence such as:

Academic achievements
Employment history
Research accomplishments
Leadership experience
Professional achievements
References and recommendations

3. Quality of Fellowship Plans

Applicants should present thoughtful plans outlining:

Proposed fellowship activities
Learning objectives
Research goals
Career development pathways
Future impact potential

Applications that include mentorship arrangements or advisory support may be particularly competitive.

Funding Priority Considerations

Longview Philanthropy places special emphasis on supporting applicants who:

Would struggle to pursue this work without fellowship funding
Have limited access to alternative funding sources
Face restrictions under existing funding arrangements

Eligible Fellowship Activities

The fellowship supports a broad range of activities aimed at building career capital and expertise.

Examples include:

Academic and Research Activities

Graduate study
Postdoctoral research
Independent research projects
Academic course buy-outs

Professional Experience Opportunities

Unpaid internships
Low-paid internships
Research assistantships
Policy placements

Career Development Activities

Independent study
Technical skill development
Policy training
Career exploration periods
Career transition support

Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Exploring new organizational ideas
Non-profit incubation activities
Organizational design research

Transition Support

Bridging stipends between positions
Transitional funding during career shifts
Support for moving into digital minds-focused work

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit several components as part of their application package.

These include:

Biographical and logistical information
A resume, curriculum vitae (CV), or LinkedIn profile covering:
- Employment history
- Educational background
- Major achievements
A statement discussing motivation and interest in digital minds topics (approximately 300 words)
A detailed description of planned fellowship activities (approximately 200–1000 words)
A discussion of potential post-fellowship plans (approximately 300 words)
Information about alternative funding options or plans if fellowship funding is unavailable
Funding request details and proposed timeline
A short explanation of what the applicant would do if they do not receive fellowship funding (approximately 150 words)

How to Apply

Interested candidates should complete the official application form and submit all required materials before the deadline.

Applicants are encouraged to prepare thoughtful responses that clearly demonstrate:

Genuine engagement with digital minds issues
Strong potential for impactful work
Realistic and ambitious fellowship plans
Long-term commitment to contributing to the field

Early preparation is recommended to ensure sufficient time for gathering supporting materials and refining application essays.

Application Deadline

Deadline: July 10, 2026

Candidates should submit their applications before the deadline to be considered for this fellowship cycle.

Contact Information

For questions regarding the application process, applicants may contact:

Email: digitalminds-rfp@longview.org

APPLY HERE

Final Thoughts

The Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships represent an exceptional opportunity for individuals who want to contribute to one of the most intellectually challenging and socially significant areas emerging from advances in artificial intelligence.

Whether you are a researcher, student, policy professional, entrepreneur, communicator, or AI practitioner, this fellowship provides the funding, resources, community, and flexibility needed to explore impactful work at the intersection of AI, consciousness, ethics, governance, and digital welfare.

For individuals seeking to build a meaningful career addressing the future implications of digital minds, this fellowship could serve as an important stepping stone toward long-term impact and leadership in the field.

For more information about this opportunity, visit here.

Discover more Global Fellowship Opportunities on OFY here.

Digital Minds Career Development Fellowships @Longview Philanthropy