Looking for a clear, practical overview of the Frontier AI Security Residency 2026 in Cambridge? This Opportunity Station guide summarises the official 8-week, fully funded programme run by ERA with Heron and the Oxford Hardware AI Governance Lab — and how to prepare for future cycles.
Residency dates are 12 October – 4 December 2026. Residents work full-time on AI security and verification projects, with a stipend equivalent of £34,125, Cambridge housing, meals, travel, visa support, and compute. Written applications for Autumn 2026 closed on 2 August 2026.
Why Cambridge Matters for AI Security
Cambridge sits close to London and Oxford, with a dense mix of research labs, hardware talent, and governance conversations. The residency places you in a shared living–learning setup with a dedicated office workspace (~50 minutes from King’s Cross), so collaboration is built into the calendar — not left to chance.
Research Track vs Applied Track
Research track: investigate an open security question and finish with a technical report, policy analysis, or paper draft.
Applied track: embed with a partner organisation and ship engineering work into a live roadmap. Many applied applicants bring mid-career security or hardware experience.
Who Fits Best
- Security professionals (red-teaming, infrastructure, cryptography, incident response)
- Hardware and embedded specialists
- Cryptography and formal-methods researchers
- Technical people pivoting into frontier AI verification
- AI safety engineers ready to specialise in defences
Minimum formal rule: age 18+. Ability beats credentials. International applicants get visa support.
Funding Package Snapshot
- £34,125 stipend equivalent
- Cambridge housing and work-hour meals
- Travel and visa coverage
- Mentor + ERA Research Manager
- Workshops, networking, and cohort community
How to Prepare for the Next Cycle
- Write down one sharp threat model you can attack in eight weeks.
- Collect proof of shipped systems, papers, or evaluations.
- Decide Research vs Applied based on how you work day-to-day.
- Join updates on the official site so you do not miss the next window.
Official Source
Always verify dates and terms on the host page:
Opportunity listing: Frontier AI Security Residency 2026 (Fully Funded)