Frequently asked questions

Are the key dates flexible?

We want to be flexible for applicants who have summer exams or start school earlier. Based on individual circumstances, we may be willing to alter the time commitment of the scholars program and allow scholars to leave early. Please inform us of your availability in the application process.

Is this program a full-time commitment?

Yes. The 12-week program requires scholars to commit 40 hours per week to their MATS research. For exceptionally strong candidates with significant concurrent responsibilities, the time commitment can be reduced to 20 hours per week on a case-by-case review. However, the program maintains an expectation of sustained, high-level engagement, including regular participation in core activities and most organized events.

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Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants who will be 18 years or older before the program start date are eligible to apply. Both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. All backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome.

How many streams can I apply to work with?

You can apply to as many mentors as you would be interested in working with; there is no cap. The process is comparable to applying to PhD supervisors.

What is a stream?

Streams in MATS are collections of one or more mentors working on a research agenda who mentor fellows on projects. Fellows apply to streams with research that interests them that they think they may be a fit for.

What if I am accepted by multiple streams?

In the past, we have offered applicants who were successful under multiple streams the choice of who to work with. In the case that an applicant is borderline accepted with one mentor and much more preferred by another, we will take this into account when considering the applicant's preferences.

What does “financial support” concretely entail?

MATS itself cannot provide any funding; however, AI Safety Support has offered to provide a stipend totaling USD 15k for completing the program. Scholars who additionally complete Neel Nanda’s 5-week exploration phase are expected to receive the prorated amount of USD 4.2k for time spent. Scholars who are participating and performing research <40 hr/wk and/or <12 weeks will receive stipends proportional to their level of participation.

Separately from this stipend, MATS will provide scholars with travel to and from Berkeley, housing, office space, and lunch and dinner on weekdays.

Do I have to pay taxes on the grant I received for the MATS Program?

MATS participants may have to pay taxes on their grants based on the rules of the countries in which they are a resident for tax purposes. The grants should be regarded as private grants from a non-profit entity (AI Safety Support, not MATS) provided to individuals for the purpose of independent research and participation in a US-based educational seminar program.

Is MATS officially affiliated with UC Berkeley? Will I get a student card?

Although MATS sometimes supports UC Berkeley-based mentors, MATS is an independent program and is not formally part of UC Berkeley. As such, MATS will not be providing student cards to our scholars.

Will this program be remote or in-person?

The main program, or the Research Phase, will be in-person in Berkeley, CA, from the start of June to late August. Applicants should be prepared to attend in-person in Berkeley by default.

A small number of mentors are based in the UK and may prefer their scholars to work out of our London office. We are also able to support scholars from our London office in the case that they are unable to secure a visa to the US before the program starts.

Can I participate remotely?

We strongly encourage in-person participation when possible, as a core part of the program experience comes from day-to-day interactions with your cohort and others in the broader AI safety ecosystem. Decisions about remote participation are made on a case-by-case basis and depend primarily on mentor preferences, many of whom are open to the possibility.

Can I join the program from outside the US?

MATS is a scientific and educational seminar and independent research program, and there are visa options that MATS encourages for non-American participants.

What should I expect from my mentor?

During the main program, fellows should expect to meet with their mentor for at least one hour per week, with more frequent communication via Slack. The extent of mentor support will vary depending on the project and the mentor.

Scholars will also receive support from MATS’ Research Management team, who work with mentors by tracking scholar research progress, unblocking scholar research, and assisting with grant applications and deadlines.

What training will the program offer?

Scholars develop as researchers by working with an experienced research mentor, interacting with fellow scholars, and receiving support from our Research Management team. Research managers meet weekly with most scholars and mentors and help with research strategy, research unblocking, and project coordination.

Other forms of training include workshops on different parts of the research process and seminars on a variety of AI technical safety and governance research.

What are the main deliverables of the research program?

Throughout the program, each fellow will work on an independent research project with input and guidance from your mentor(s). Depending on which stream you participate in, you may collaborate with other fellows in your stream. You are additionally required to submit a Research Plan midway through the program and present your research at the Scholar Symposium at the end of the program.

How can I share feedback with the MATS team?

We welcome feedback. For feedback for the whole team (visible by all MATS staff), please use this form. For feedback that will only be visible to the Executive Directors, Ryan and Christian, please submit here.

You can contact the MATS Board of Directors using this linked form (responses are only viewable by the Board). Please only use this if you feel your question or concern requires board-level attention.

How do I get into the extension program?

To get into the 6-12 month extension program, MATS scholars need a strong research project and an endorsement from their mentors. Based on these and other supplementary information available, scholars are selected by an extension selection committee for the first six months.

Do I need funding for the extension program?

No, MATS will arrange funding for scholars for the extension program covering a monthly stipend and compute. For participation from an AI safety hub, funding also covers housing and office rent. While MATS will coordinate office space and support staff for scholars, scholars will be accountable for their research progress.

Can I participate in the extension program remotely?

London is the main hub for the MATS Extension, but scholars can also participate from one of our other AI alignment hubs: Berkeley, Boston, or Washington D.C.

Scholars can participate in the extension outside of these areas, but you won't receive funding for housing and food unless otherwise determined by the MATS executive.