2025 年夏季班的研究阶段从 6 月持续到 8 月,共 10 周,有 57 位导师支持 98 位学员。项目收到 115 位意向导师的申请,显示 AI 安全研究社区持续积极投入,也愿意指导新一代研究者。学员的研究涵盖 AI 对齐、透明度和安全,并围绕既有五个研究方向展开。项目于 8 月 22 日举办结业研讨会,包括 10 场专题演讲和展示所有学员项目的海报环节。
目前已截止申请。

申请与招生流程中的关键阶段
申请通常会在项目开始前几个月开放。申请者需完成多阶段招生流程,首先提交通用申请。根据所选研究方向、研究小组和导师,申请者可能还需参加面试、工作测试、编程评估或提交写作样本,之后才会作出最终录取决定。
主项目为期 10 至 12 周,是全职研究项目。学员与一位或多位导师密切合作,独立开展研究,同时参加工作坊、讲座、导师答疑时段,并融入更广泛的 MATS 社群。学员与导师共同确定研究方向,并在项目期间逐步提升独立开展研究的能力。
延伸阶段通常在主项目结束约两周后开始。主项目中展现出较强研究潜力的学员可申请为期 6 至 12 个月的资助延伸项目。延伸阶段的学员在持续获得导师指导和支持的同时,继续推进独立研究,通常在 MATS 办公室或其他获准的研究地点工作。最近几期中,约 80% 申请延伸阶段的学员获得录取。
MATS 致力于帮助研究人员加速发展,走向以下方向:
MATS 校友后来发表了安全研究成果、加入了 Anthropic 和 MIRI 等对齐研究组织,也创办了对齐研究实验室。更多校友信息请点击这里。
A track is a broad research area within MATS. Empirical, Theory, Strategy & Forecasting, Policy & Governance, Systems Security, Founder & Field-Building, and Biosecurity are our current tracks. Each track contains multiple streams. In Stage 1, you apply to tracks.
Streams are organized around a research agenda, led by one or more mentors who guide fellows through related projects. In Stage 2, applicants apply to streams within tracks based on research that interests them.
You may apply to as many tracks as you wish at Stage 1. At Stage 2, depending on which tracks you progress in, you may then apply to as many streams as you wish within those tracks; there is no cap. The process is comparable to applying to PhD supervisors.
We want to be flexible for applicants who have urgent prior commitments. Based on individual circumstances, we may be willing to alter the time commitment of the program and allow fellows to leave early or arrive late. Please inform us of your availability in the application process.
Applicants who will be 18 years or older before the program start date are eligible to apply. Both US and non-US citizens are eligible to apply. All backgrounds and levels of experience are welcome and prior AI safety experience is not required.
Yes. The 12-week program requires fellows 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. Candidates that require a J1 visa to come to the US are unable to participate part time; they can only work part time if they participate remotely or from the UK.
Yes, upon submitting you will receive a link that lets you edit your response. Please note that you will not be able to edit your response once the application period ends.
LLMs may not be used to write any part of your application unless specific work tests or forms explicitly permit it. MATS monitors for LLM use, and applicants found to have used LLMs may be disqualified.
Depending on the evaluations of the tracks and streams you apply to in Stages 1 and 2, we will contact your references. We will send them a form with our own set of questions, so they will not have to prepare a reference letter.
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.
The main program, or Research Phase, takes place in person in Berkeley, CA and London, UK. Historically, most fellows participate from Berkeley. London is typically chosen by fellows who want to co-locate with their mentor or who have a preference to work from the UK instead of US.Will this program be remote or in-person?
The main program, or the Research Phase takes place in Berkeley, CA and London, UK, with the majority of fellows participating from Berkeley. 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, especially if you have family or other obligations that make in-person participation difficult. 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.
If you have difficulties in securing a visa to participate from Berkeley, we are likely to be able to support participation from our London office.The 6–12 month extension gives fellows the option to participate from Berkeley, London, or remotely.
MATS is a scientific and educational seminar and independent research program, and provides J1 visas for non-American participants. Participants can also opt to participate from our London office; however, please note that visa support is not available for that option.
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.
Fellows 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.
Fellows develop as researchers by working with an experienced research mentor, interacting with other fellows, and receiving support from our Research Management team. Research managers meet weekly with most fellows 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.
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.
Traditionally, fellows submit a Research Plan midway through the program and present their research at the Fellow Symposium at the end of the program.
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 Co-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.