Apply for the Machine Alignment, Transparency & Security (MATS) Residency Program 2027 - a long-horizon, fully funded research residency for ambitious AI safety work. MATS gives you 6 to 24 months to pursue your own research agenda with high independence, a stipend of $155,000 - $285,000 per year, uncapped compute, and offices in Berkeley, London, or Washington, D.C. The Winter 2027 intake closes 31 October 2026 (Anywhere on Earth).
Unlike MATS's 12-week Winter Fellowship (separate deadline in September), the Residency is built for foundational AI safety research that takes years - checkable AI-assisted research, oversight of superhuman systems, evaluations and safety cases, and agentic AI safety from first principles. MATS assesses the quality of your work, not the titles on your CV.
This Opportunity Station guide is original copy based on the official MATS Residency page. It is not a reprint of any third-party blog.
Quick Facts - MATS Residency Program 2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | MATS Residency - long-horizon AI safety research |
| Organisation | Machine Alignment, Transparency & Security (MATS) |
| Duration | 6 to 24 months (track-dependent) |
| Stipend | $155,000 - $285,000/year (USD, gross) plus benefits |
| Compute | No preset cap - provisioned against research need |
| Places | Up to 30 Residents per year |
| Locations | MATS offices in Berkeley (CA), London (UK), or Washington, D.C. (USA) |
| Format | Full-time, hybrid - at least one-third in person at a MATS office |
| Opens | 25 August 2026 |
| Deadline | 31 October 2026, Anywhere on Earth (AoE) |
| Start | Early 2027 (rolling start dates within intake windows) |
| Official page | matsprogram.org/residency |
| Apply | matsprogram.org/residency/apply |
What Makes the MATS Residency Different
MATS has supported 630+ alumni who have co-authored 220+ papers with 19,000+ citations. Alumni have co-founded organisations such as Apollo Research, Resolution, and Theorem Labs. The Residency is for researchers who need sustained time, operational support, and advisor input - not a 12-week sprint.
Residents work with milestone progress reviews (typically every 12 weeks), access advisors from UK AISI, US CAISI, OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and the wider AI safety community, and join a cohort alongside MATS Fellows and staff.
Note: MATS also runs a separate 12-week Winter 2027 Fellowship (Jan 19 - Apr 10, 2027) with a 6 September 2026 deadline. That is a different programme - apply to the Residency only if you want 6 - 24 months of independent research.
Residency Benefits
- Annual stipend of $155,000 - $285,000 (reflects location, seniority, and experience)
- Research compute with no preset cap
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance; retirement benefits (401(k) US / pension London)
- Paid time off (17 days US / 20 days + bank holidays London)
- Catered lunches and dinners on in-office workdays
- Conference and workshop travel budget
- Visa support and up to $25,000 relocation support (including eligible partner/dependent costs)
- 4 - 8 weeks post-Residency support and continued MATS community access
Research Priority Areas
MATS Residency focuses on work that reduces catastrophic risk from advanced AI, including:
- Keeping AI-assisted alignment research checkable and auditable
- Maintaining oversight of systems that outstrip human review capacity
- Building evaluations and safety cases that make safety decidable
- Making agentic and multi-agent systems safe from first principles
You may propose other ambitious directions if you clearly explain why the work matters for catastrophic-risk reduction.
Who Should Apply
The Residency is open internationally. You do not need a PhD, a "researcher" job title, a long publication list, or prior AI safety experience. MATS evaluates:
- Quality and seriousness of your past work (published, confidential, or industry-based)
- Potential to produce outstanding AI safety or safety-relevant research
- Strong reasoning and independent judgment
- Commitment to reducing catastrophic AI risk
Relevant profiles include academics, ML engineers, policy analysts, governance specialists, independent researchers, career switchers, and founders exploring new AI safety organisations (Incubation track).
Residency Tracks
- Bridge - career development and placement support toward AI safety roles
- Anchor - substantive feedback at 12 months guiding the next year of research
- Incubation - ideation and potential fundraising/launch for new research organisations
How to Apply
- Read the full MATS Residency overview and priority areas on the Apply page.
- Prepare a focused research or project plan, a representative work sample, written responses, and referee contacts.
- Indicate your preferred office: Berkeley, London, or Washington, D.C.
- Submit via matsprogram.org/residency/apply before 31 October 2026 AoE.
Timeline: Outcomes expected by end of November 2026; interviews or paid work tests in early December 2026; selected Residents informed by end of 2026; start early 2027. Next intake window opens March 2027.
Official Links
Apply - MATS Residency Winter 2027 intake
MATS Residency programme overview
MATS 12-week Winter Fellowship (separate programme)
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FAQs - MATS Residency Program 2027
Is this the same as the MATS Winter Fellowship?
No. The Residency runs 6 - 24 months with a higher stipend and closes 31 October 2026. The 12-week Fellowship runs Jan - Apr 2027 and closes 6 September 2026.
Do I need a PhD?
No. MATS assesses work quality and research potential, not conventional credentials.
Can I apply from Africa or anywhere else?
Yes. The Residency is open internationally, with visa and relocation support where needed.
Where will I be based?
Berkeley, London, or Washington, D.C. - you indicate a preference when applying. At least one-third of the Residency should be in person at a MATS office.
When is the deadline?
31 October 2026, Anywhere on Earth (AoE). Do not wait until the last day - the application includes a work sample, references, and written responses.
