2026 年夏季项目将于 6 月至 8 月举行,这将是 MATS 迄今规模最大的一届,共有 120 位学员和 100 位导师。学员将与导师或机构研究团队合作,围绕研究项目开展整个夏季的工作,合作方包括 Anthropic 对齐科学团队、UK AISI、Redwood Research、ARC 和 LawZero。部分学员将获邀参加为期 6 个月以上的延长期,继续这项合作。
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。
每个 MATS 研究小组都由学员和导师组成,围绕共同的研究议程开展工作。各小组的方法和重点各不相同,涵盖可解释性、控制、评估、治理、网络安全和智能体基础等主题。
Neel 以务实的方式开展可解释性研究:先找出当前状态与 AGI 到来前希望达到的目标之间的差距,再聚焦于其中能够用当今模型切实研究的问题。研究可以深入分析模型内部机制,也可以采用更简单的黑盒方法,例如阅读并谨慎干预思维链,具体取决于问题本身。项目可能包括检测欺骗、理解模型为何采取看似令人担忧的行动,或利用可解释性解决其他安全领域的薄弱环节,例如防止模型意识到自己正在接受测试。你可以在这期播客中进一步了解 Neel 的研究思路。
他已经指导了大约 60 位 MATS 学员,投入了不少时间,也很期待继续指导更多学员!
Agent Foundations 方向的研究旨在厘清:在什么条件下,人们有充分理由信任 AI 系统。
具体安排可以再讨论调整;默认情况下,每位学员每周与导师进行一次一小时的一对一交流,另有一次两小时的团队会议,外部合作者也可能参加。
必备条件:
优先考虑:
整体匹配度大致取决于哲学思辨能力与数学能力的结合。哲学功底很强但数学基础薄弱的人也可能适合,不过可能难以提出或评估证明;数学功底很强但缺少哲学训练的人同样可能适合,但可能不容易判断哪些假设和定理真正有用或值得研究。
学员可在具体项目方向上有一定选择空间。Abram 会与学员介绍当前研究进展,了解大家感兴趣的主题,并争取在第二周或之前确定研究方向。
本研究方向聚焦 AI 控制的实证研究,包括防范 AI 驱动的数据投毒、评估和攻击思维链的可监测性,以及其他监测和红队测试项目。适合已经关注 AI 安全、熟练使用 Python 的申请者;如果还有研究经验,或熟悉控制领域的文献与工具(如 Inspect/ControlArena),则更理想。
每周安排一小时会议,查看研究记录并提供高层次指导。每天在 Slack 上汇报进展也很有帮助;对于问题,我通常会在两天内回复。
必备条件:
如果还具备以下一些条件,会很适合:
不太适合的情况:
通常我会提出几个项目供学员选择;学员也可以提出自己感兴趣的研究想法。
构建贴近现实的防御性网络安全基准。Asymmetric Security 会应对真实网络事件,因此掌握着公开领域中无法获取的数据。我们希望与 MATS 学员合作,利用这些真实事件构建实用基准。
通常每周会面一小时,提供高层次指导。对于异步消息,我们会在一天内回复。
必备条件:
优先考虑:
我们会确定项目方向,学员在具体执行策略上有很大自主空间。
Alignment Research Center(ARC)是一家位于加州伯克利的小型非营利研究机构,致力于系统性地从理论出发解释神经网络的行为。我们希望招募数学基础扎实、具备较强数学思维能力的学员。如果你对这篇博客 介绍的研究方向感兴趣,欢迎申请!
学员将在 ARC 位于伯克利的办公室工作(我们也可能招收一位常驻伦敦的学员)。每位学员每周至少与导师见面一次,每次一小时;每周交流两到三小时也很常见。除正式导师外,学员通常还会与其他研究人员合作;一般而言,学员约有四分之一的时间会用于直接合作或了解他人的研究。
必备条件:
优先考虑:
我们会根据每位学员的技能和兴趣,为其匹配最合适的导师。导师将与学员讨论可能的项目,并结合 ARC 的研究目标和学员的偏好,共同确定最合适的方向。
大多数学员会在 ARC 期间参与多个项目,有些学员也会与多位导师合作。
多位导师共同组成这个“联合研究方向”。研究涵盖 LLM AI 安全的多个实证领域,包括 AI 控制、可扩展监督、模型生物、模型内部机制、模型福利与安全等。导师会介绍各自希望开展的安全研究项目,学员也可以提出自己的想法;随后,MATS 会根据你的研究兴趣、偏好以及参与项目的目标,为你匹配项目和导师。该方向的学员经常在 MATS 结束后获得经费和持续指导,以完成研究项目,通常会产出一篇共同第一作者或第一作者论文。项目结束后,许多人会继续在 Anthropic、Redwood Research、OpenAI 等机构从事安全研究。
联合研究方向的导师共同使用一套申请流程,通常会合作并共同指导项目,也会共享基础设施,让学员的参与过程更加顺畅。申请这个方向,即会进入所有联合导师的考虑范围;申请时还可以注明希望合作的具体导师。
项目期间,学员每周会与项目导师和合作者开会。有些项目还会在导师不参加时更频繁地碰面,例如项目成员每天进行简短站会。每个项目都会指定一位主要导师,负责关键里程碑的决策,也是学员寻求反馈和建议的主要联系人。共同导师会根据需要参加项目会议,并在整个项目期间提供反馈;有些共同导师的参与程度也会接近主要导师。
项目指导从 Anthropic 在项目开始时举办的“项目提案会”开始。届时,Anthropic、Redwood、OpenAI 和其他 AI 安全机构的数十位研究人员会介绍自己希望开展的项目。学员有大约一周时间评估项目风险并试做项目,之后提交自己的偏好。从第二周起,学员会被分配到具体项目,主要导师通常就是该项目的提案人(例如 Ethan、Buck S、Evan 等)。部分项目还会配备共同导师,即希望参与该项目的其他主管。
Arthur Conmy 的 MATS 研究方向将评估可解释性方法能否解决当前及未来的 AI 安全问题。
研究可能包括开发新的安全方法、构建基准,以及将其效果与基线方法进行比较。
我每周会安排一小时的定期小组会议。
我也会比较频繁地临时约学员交流,了解进展并处理与项目本身没有直接关系的问题或机会。
即使在会议之外,我也会帮助解决研究中遇到的障碍。
项目推进速度非常重要,同时也需要判断下一步该做什么。我喜欢深入参与项目,因此引导项目方向相对容易;相比之下,从零开始教会学员如何快速执行会更难。对可解释性及其在 AI 安全中的实际应用有热情,也会很有帮助。
我也会面试参加 Neel Nanda 的 MATS 研究冲刺、但 Neel 无法指导的申请者。
导师会与学员一起讨论研究想法。
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.