Full Program Details
AI models are getting better at biology every month. They can read papers, plan experiments and reason about proteins. That is good news for medicine, but it also raises a hard question that very few people are paid to work on: how do we stop these tools from helping someone cause a pandemic? The AIxBio Research Fellowship exists to put more smart people on that problem, and it pays them to do it in Cambridge.
The fellowship is run by ERA, in partnership with the Cambridge Biosecurity Hub. For Winter 2027 it will bring about 15 fellows to Cambridge for ten weeks of full-time, in-person work on a concrete biosecurity problem, with an expert mentor and a dedicated research manager behind each person.
Fellows receive a £10,000 stipend for the ten weeks, and ERA also covers travel to and from Cambridge, visa costs and meals during working hours.
Details at a glance:
- Host: ERA, in partnership with the Cambridge Biosecurity Hub
- Dates: 18 January to 26 March 2027
- Format: 10 weeks, full-time, in person
- Location: Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cohort: about 10 to 15 fellows
- Funding: £10,000 stipend, plus travel and visa costs
- Eligibility: anyone aged 18 or older by 18 January 2027, from any country
- Deadline: 19 October 2026
What the Fellowship Covers
- A £10,000 stipend for the programme, which ERA says includes a portion meant for housing
- Travel to and from Cambridge
- Visa sponsorship and visa costs for international fellows from most countries
- Meals during working hours
- A research expense allowance, a project funding pot and compute where your work needs it
- A desk in ERA's co-working space in central Cambridge
- Weekly one-hour calls with an expert mentor matched to your project, plus a dedicated ERA research manager
ERA does not book or guarantee accommodation, but its team helps fellows find housing, often together. Strong fellows may also be offered a route into ERA's Research Scholar positions, which provide funding and support for up to six months after the programme.
Three Tracks to Choose From
- Research: turn an open biosecurity question into a project, such as an evaluation method, a safeguard study or a policy analysis.
- Placement: embed with a biosecurity team and own a real workstream in research, engineering, policy or implementation.
- Founding: test whether a neglected biosecurity gap needs a new organisation, and build an early tool or pilot to find out.
Every fellow presents at the AIxBio Research Symposium at the end and submits a written output, such as a policy brief, a working paper or a technical report.
Who Can Apply
- Anyone aged 18 or older by the first day of the programme, 18 January 2027
- Applicants from any country. ERA says there are no other formal eligibility rules.
- People at any career stage: undergraduates with strong project work, graduate students, researchers, engineers, policy people and founders
- Prior formal research experience helps but is not required
ERA lists four backgrounds it is especially keen on: AI, machine learning and software; virology, molecular biology and biophysics; policy, governance and security; and founders who want to build in this space. If you are employed or studying, you can still apply. ERA can write a support letter to your employer or university if you need time off.
Your passport must be valid until at least March 2027 and have at least one blank visa page.
How to Apply
- Read the fellowship and FAQ pages on the official AIxBio website so you understand the three tracks.
- Complete the written application. It asks about your background, the problems you care about and how you think about questions where AI and biosecurity meet.
- Submit before the deadline on 19 October 2026. ERA reviews applications on a rolling basis, so earlier is better.
- If shortlisted, attend an interview with the ERA team. ERA also contacts your references at this stage.
- Depending on your track, complete up to three short work tests set by mentors or placement organisations.
Programme Timeline
- Applications close: 19 October 2026
- Interviews and work tests: after shortlisting
- Fellowship starts in Cambridge: 18 January 2027
- Fellowship ends: 26 March 2027
GizPulse Verdict
Who this is for: Curious people from anywhere, including Africa, who can think carefully about AI and biology and want a paid, mentored way into one of the most important research areas of the decade. A PhD is not required.
Who should pause: If you cannot spend ten weeks in Cambridge between January and March 2027, this is not the right year. Remote participation is only discussed case by case after an offer.
One tip to stand out: ERA says it cares more about the quality of your reasoning than polished writing. Pick one specific problem, explain what you do not know about it, and show how you would test your idea. Honest uncertainty beats confident buzzwords here.
Read the full details and apply on the official AIxBio Research Fellowship website.
