AI & National Security Convergence Fellowship
Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities are rapidly advancing, potentially outpacing the speed at which policymakers and the national security community can prepare, adapt, and respond to the opportunities and risks posed by these systems. In order to maintain oversight and control—ensuring the human stays in the loop—decisionmakers must keep pace with the rate of technological development.
In this context, the Converging Risks Lab (CRL), an institute of the Council on Strategic Risks, is partnering with the Future of Life Institute (FLI) on the “AGI and National Security Convergence Project,” a new initiative endeavoring to arm decision-makers with the understanding and capabilities required to future-proof national security against the potential perils of AGI while maximizing its promise. This partnership combines CRL’s experience in training and engaging national security leaders on convergence topics through experiential learning methods with FLI’s commitment to educating policymakers on the national security implications of developing AGI.
Applications are now open for the project’s AI and National Security Convergence Fellowship, which is aimed at mid-career professionals with experience in the national security and emerging technology/AI fields. Applications are due by 12 pm Eastern Daylight Savings Time on Monday, October 13, 2025. Applicants will be notified by mid-October.
Fellowship and Application Details:
In this “bootcamp”-style Fellowship, successful applicants will spend approximately seven months grounding themselves in critical elements of AI’s evolution and apply that knowledge to a series of scenario exercises that will explore different – yet plausible – futures for AI and AGI use and military integration. Activities will include:
A bootcamp course consisting of six meetings–half virtual, half in-person. Each module will be 90 minutes and includes required foundational readings, additional readings, guest expert speakers and presentations, and open debates.
Two in-person scenario exercises to bookend the bootcamp. The first will be held on November 13, and the second will be held sometime in early May 2026. Each exercise will include a dinner either before or after.
An in-person, day-long workshop in which Fellows will tackle two different matrix games exploring future escalation scenarios involving superintelligence and military integration. The game day will take place sometime in mid-July 2026, following the end of the bootcamp programming. The game day will be followed by an evening reception and dinner.
Opportunities to network and connect with peers, senior officials, and other professionals in the AI and national security spaces.
All in-person engagements will be hosted either at CSR’s offices in downtown DC, or other venues in the Washington, DC area. Fellows can be based anywhere for their virtual bootcamp modules, but are expected to attend three in-person modules, two scenario exercises and dinners following, and the final matrix game and dinner to close out the program.
Eligibility: This Fellowship is geared towards individuals at the mid-career stage, loosely defined as those with 10+ years of professional and/or advanced academic experience, though this is not an absolute rule. This Fellowship is open to a broad range of applicant backgrounds relevant to AI and national security issues, including individuals with experience working in diplomacy, defense, or international relations; those with legal, scientific, technical, or other professional backgrounds related to AI security; those with experience working in or with the US Congress; and those in local, state, or US federal government. Knowledge of AI and its facets is useful but not a prerequisite. Indeed, this Fellowship is an opportunity for individuals who may have worked in a field touched by AI and who find themselves in need of more targeted knowledge. At this time, this Fellowship is limited to US citizens. Potential future iterations of this Fellowship will broaden the applicant pool to include international participation.
Our ideal candidate has considerable work experience, having been out of school for ten to fifteen years, and holds a higher education degree, most likely a Master’s. They have engaged with issues directly connected to or highly relevant for the future of AI and national security, such as arms control, verification, diplomacy/foreign policy, counterterrorism, or homeland security. Either from first-hand experience or their research, they have a good grasp of the major industry players and have a sense of technology’s state of play. While they may not yet be an AI specialist, they understand the transformative potential of advanced AI and AGI and seek to deepen their expertise to help shape responsible approaches to integrating these technologies into US and global security.
Location & Travel: All in-person activities–including dinners, scenario exercises, and three boot camp meetings—will take place in Washington, DC. Therefore, Fellows must be able to easily attend these in-person events. Priority will be given to applicants who live in the DC area.
Duration: Seven months, from November 2025 to July 2026.
In addition to this Fellowship serving the purpose of mentoring and preparing emerging and future leaders in the field, CSR also hopes that participants will form a community of practice. Fellowship alumni will have the opportunity, as future events allow, to be invited to follow-on CSR events.
Requirements: Applicants must affirm that they can attend all bootcamp meetings. Bootcamp sessions will accommodate work schedules as much as possible. Tentative dates are as follows:
November 12: Kick-off dinner
November 13: Inaugural scenario exercise
November 17: First bootcamp meeting (virtual)
December 15: Second bootcamp meeting (virtual)
January 12: Third bootcamp meeting (in-person)
February 9: Fourth bootcamp meeting (virtual)
March 9th: Fifth bootcamp meeting (in-person)
April 13: Final bootcamp meeting (in-person)
May 7: Closing scenario exercise
July 16: Closing event
Application Instructions: All applicants should complete a CSR application form (link below) and upload a resume or CV. Cover letters are not required. Note that we ask for two references in the application form.
Applications are due by 12:00 pm EDT on October 13, 2025.
APPLY HERE
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfkxt2wgked8OsUQ3SJCOtstquMhigeDzf4gTd8offqYxFcPg/viewform
About the Council on Strategic Risks
The Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) is a nonprofit, non-partisan security policy institute devoted to anticipating, analyzing, and addressing core systemic risks to security in the 21st Century, with special examination of the ways in which these risks intersect and exacerbate one another.
About the Converging Risks Lab
The Converging Risks Lab is a future-focused, multi-modal research, analysis, and foresight unit within the Council on Strategic Risks. Its mission is to catalyze a more synthesized approach to policymaking and risk management that generates solutions spanning the complexities we face in the 21st century. CRL works in collaboration with a global community of experts who multiply our reach and infuse our research and analysis with critical and timely context.
