FAQ
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How to get into MATS

Interested in applying to MATS or want to know more about the expectations? Want to learn ways of improving your odds of being selected? Below, we've compiled some advice to help you put your best application forward.

Who are we looking for?

The MATS program seeks individuals who are deeply motivated by AI security, alignment, and governance and are equipped with the skills and mindset to contribute to cutting-edge research.

With only about 4–7% of applicants ultimately selected, the program is highly competitive. Successful applicants come from diverse backgrounds—ranging from undergraduates to industry professionals—but the strongest candidates demonstrate clear mission alignment, a track record of research or competency relevant to their chosen stream, and credible references. The application process involves both general and stream-specific components, often including assessments like coding tests or research work samples. If you’re aiming to apply, focus on building visible evidence of your skills, pursuing relevant research experiences, and connecting with the AI alignment community. With proactive preparation, you can significantly boost your chances of joining MATS and contributing meaningfully to the field.

Tips for Prospective Applicants

1. Understand the Mission & What MATS Mentors Look For

Because MATS is non-profit and philanthropically funded, we have no financial stake in the AI industry. Our only goal is reducing catastrophic AI risks. That's why we're looking for people who are genuinely committed to alignment, security, and responsible governance, not just a general career in AI. You should already be familiar with AI risk models and the broader goals of the field.
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MATS scholars come from a variety of different backgrounds, including:

  • Industry professionals—from early-career engineers to senior researchers and technical leads—transitioning into AI alignment/security/governance
  • Undergraduates with strong research potential
  • PhD students or recent PhD graduates in relevant fields
  • Governance or policy professionals, including senior policymakers, pivoting into technical AI security work

Across these backgrounds, mentors look for evidence that you can learn quickly, conduct strong research, and produce meaningful results. Publications, blog posts, open-source projects, and other substantial research contributions can all help demonstrate this.

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2. How to Strengthen Your Profile

Gain Research Experience:

  • Join research programs like SPAR, PIBBSS, or other AI alignment resources (see resources below).
  • Complete a Masters or PhD in AI safety with a strong supervisor.
  • Work on self-directed research projects in areas of research that interest you.

Develop Technical Skills:

  • Improve your ML engineering and software engineering abilities.
  • Join technical boot-camps like ARENA or ML4Good.
  • Practice coding challenges if applying to technical streams that will require a code screening.

Make Your Skills Visible:

  • Publish blog posts and share your research findings publicly to build a track record and cultivate strong references.

Explore Educational Resources:

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Other AI Alignment, Security and Governance Resources

Programs:

Careers:

We recommend 80,000 Hours’ career guide and podcast series. The 80,000 Hours Job Board, the EA Opportunities Board, and AISafety.com’s Job Board list jobs relevant to AI risk mitigation. Emerging Tech Policy Careers offers expert career advice and resources for those looking to work in US AI policy. Also, we recommend this post on building aptitudes.

Several organizations offer free 1-1 career advising calls: 80,000 Hours, Successif (for professionals transitioning into AI risk-reduction roles), Probably Good, SteadFast (career-change coaching for experienced professionals), Impact First (for students), and Magnify Mentoring (for people from underrepresented backgrounds).

Funding:

The Transformative AI Fund (TAIF), Coefficient Giving, Manifund, Founders Pledge, Cooperative AI Foundation, and Foresight Institute can fund you to pursue independent research projects or develop your skills. Y Combinator has a request for startups in explainable AI, and Entrepreneur First has a def/acc startup accelerator program.

A few more funders worth knowing about:

Academia:

If you plan to write a thesis, or are doing other independent research, Effective Thesis can help you find a high-impact topic and provide mentorship. We recommend reaching out to them for research projects in AI alignment.

Community:

  • LessWrong and the AI Alignment Forum are great platforms for sharing ideas and getting feedback from the community and the AI Alignment Slack is good for finding collaborators.
  • For office space, you can apply to FAR Labs in Berkeley and LISA in London.

Resources:

See Arkose’s, BlueDot Impact’s, and AISafety.com’s lists. For staying informed about the latest developments in AI alignment, we recommend the Don’t Worry About the Vase, Transformer, ACX, and Import AI blogs as well as the Dwarkesh, AXRP, and The Inside View podcasts.