Paid GovAI DC Winter Fellowship 2027 (AI Governance & Policy) in Washington DC

The Centre for the Governance of AI (GovAI) is inviting applications for its DC Winter Fellowship 2027, a three-month, full-time, in-person opportunity based in Washington, DC. The fellowship is designed to accelerate or launch impactful careers in American AI governance and policy, and runs from January 18th to April 9th, 2027.

Fellows conduct independent research on a topic of their own choosing, supported by mentorship from leading experts in the field of AI policy. GovAI describes the fellowship as a bipartisan programme welcoming a wide range of applicants.

• Conduct independent, self-directed research on an AI governance or policy topic of the fellow's choice.
• Work with a dedicated GovAI supervisor through weekly meetings, plus additional support from the wider team.
• Participate in Q&A sessions with policy experts, workshops, seminars, and peer feedback meetings.
• Build a professional network within the AI policy and governance community in Washington, DC.

GovAI welcomes a wide range of applicants, from early-career individuals onwards, drawn from government, academia, industry, or civil society. Relevant fields listed by GovAI include public policy, political science, engineering, computer science, economics, biosecurity, cybersecurity, China studies, and risk management. Given the regulatory and policy nature of AI governance, applicants with a legal or law background interested in AI governance and policy are well suited to the programme.

• Only candidates who have the right to work in the US are eligible to apply.
• GovAI does not sponsor visas for this fellowship.

• Fellows receive a stipend of $21,000 for the three-month term.
• GovAI additionally provides support for travelling to Washington, DC.

• Round 1: Written application plus a reasoning assessment.
• Round 2 (August): A paid, remote work test.
• Round 3 (September): A remote interview and reference checks.
• Final decisions are expected in October.

Applications are submitted through the official GovAI application form. The application deadline is Sunday, July 12th, 2026 at 11:59PM ET. Review the full details on the GovAI fellowship page and complete the application form before the deadline.