MARS 4.0
MARS (Mentorship for Alignment Research Students) connects aspiring researchers - from students to professionals - with experienced mentors to conduct AI safety research. Over 2-3 months, participants work on focused projects in technical or governance/policy domains, part-time, on a volunteer basis.
MARS 4.0 features an expanded governance and journalism track, with participants in previous iterations going on to publish their work at venues such as NeurIPS, ICML, EMNLP & ControlConf, as well as policy outlets and think tanks. Past mentors include researchers from Redwood Research, Apollo Research, Google DeepMind, University of Cambridge, Centre for AI Safety, UK AI Safety Institute, and other leading institutions.
MARS 4.0 will run from December 1st to early-mid February 2026, with two separate batches of in-person weeks in Cambridge, UK (December 1st-6th and December 8th-14th), followed by a remote mentorship phase.
Program Details
MARS (Mentorship for Alignment Research Students) connects participants with experienced mentors to conduct AI safety research. Over this period, participants work on focused projects in either technical or policy domains.
Why apply?
Work directly with experienced AI safety researchers on research projects
Join an intensive week in Cambridge (UK) with workshops, speakers, and accommodation provided
Receive regular mentorship and project support throughout the program
Opportunity to publish your work (previous participants have published at EMNLP, NeurIPS, ICLR, and on arXiv)
Connect with a community of researchers interested in AI safety
Format & Time Commitment
MARS begins in Cambridge, UK, where participants come together to kick off their projects. We provide accommodation, meals, and travel support (~$200 for participants & mentors traveling from the UK/EU, ~$650 for longer flights) during this period.
Following the in-person week, research continues remotely for 2-3 months. Teams meet weekly with their mentors and research managers, devoting approximately 8 hours per week to their projects. For teams based in Cambridge, Oxford, or London, we also organise optional in-person co-working sessions.
Throughout the program, CAISH provides hands-on support to help teams develop their research, culminating in final project presentations.
Participation in the program is not paid, and is understood to be undertaken on a volunteer basis as a learning opportunity.
Application Process
Applications for MARS 4.0 are now closed. Please sign up here to learn more about when applications open next.
Applications for MARS 4.0 are now closed. Please sign up here to learn more about when applications open next.
FAQ
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Time Commitment
Participants should expect to each spend 8-15+ hours/week on their project, depending on the project chosen.
Weekly Check-Ins
Throughout the duration of the program, you are expected to check-in:
With your teammates once a week. It'll be up to your team to coordinate meeting times or create co-working systems.
With your supervisor once a week.
The format of check-ins with your supervisor will be at their discretion.
We will also have program-wide events and check-ins, including socials, co-working sessions, and guest speakers. More details on these events will be announced to accepted participants.
MARS Research Symposium
This event will take place at the end of the program, where each research group presents their research.
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We welcome applications from students and professionals, particularly those with backgrounds in:
Computer Science, Mathematics, or related technical fields
Cybersecurity or Hardware Engineering
Economics, Political Science, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Journalism, or Law (for our Governance track)
Other relevant fields with strong analytical skills
Other skills that are good to have:
Strong foundation in programming
Background in machine learning
Strong analytical and writing skills
Interest in AI policy and law
Note: We encourage applications even if you don't meet all prerequisites. The general application will be followed by project-specific evaluations. We value potential and motivation over previous research experience. Both recent graduates and promising undergraduates are welcome to apply.
While the program is primarily designed for UK-based participants (especially around Cambridge, Oxford, and London), we welcome international applicants who can:
Attend the in-person week in Cambridge
Commit to regular meetings in UK/European time zones
Dedicate ~8 hours per week to the project
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Who should apply to mentor?
We're looking for mentors with:
Research experience in AI safety (technical) or AI policy/governance
Well-scoped project proposals achievable in 2-3 months part-time
Research management skills for weekly team guidance
Time commitment
Mentors are free to choose when and how they meet with mentees. We expect mentors to commit a minimum of ~8 hours in total to the project in the kick-off week, and weekly or biweekly check-ins with teams during the remote phase
Virtual mentorship is possible, but we may give preference to those who can come to the in-person kick-off week in Cambridge
Compensation & benefits
~$30/hour for mentorship time (we will compensate mentors up to 20 hours in total during the kickoff week and 8 hours/week during the remote phase)
Accommodation during Cambridge week
Travel support: ~$200 (UK/EU), ~$650 (international)
Office access and research assistance from participants
Co-authorship opportunities and networking
Who will I mentor?
PhD researchers from highly technical fields transitioning into AI safety
High-performing Master's students with strong AI safety context and understanding
Technical professionals pivoting to safety work, bringing robust software development and research experience
Nearly all candidates have excellent technical skills, and most bring existing AI safety and governance knowledge to the role.
Questions?
Email us at mars@cambridgeaisafety.org or use this form to recommend someone.
For any additional questions, email mars@cambridgeaisafety.org.
