2026 Horizon Fellowship
Opportunity type
Fellowship
Cause areas
AI safety & policy
Information security
Biosecurity & pandemic preparedness
Routes to impact
Skill-building & building career capital
Testing your fit for a certain career path
Deadline
2025-08-28
Location
DC
Description
Program Overview The Horizon Fellowship places experts in AI, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies in federal agencies, congressional offices and committees, and leading think tanks in Washington, DC for up to two years. Fellows receive comprehensive training, networking opportunities, and access to a supportive community of 85+ other fellows and alumni to launch their careers in public service. Emerging technologies like AI and biotechnology are rapidly reshaping many domains, from healthcare and science to national security and the economy. The US government plays a critical role in developing and governing these technologies, but it often struggles to find and retain the requisite technical expertise. Horizon fellows help bridge this gap, bringing subject-matter knowledge and experience to these pressing issues. As a fellow, you’ll join a community of dedicated professionals working on these challenges, allowing you to apply your expertise to real-world policy issues and launch a career in public service.
Eligibility and qualifications We are looking for individuals who are passionate about making a difference and want to contribute their expertise to solving challenging problems related to emerging technology. We value attitude, abilities, and knowledge more than formal credentials, and we welcome applicants from diverse and interdisciplinary professional backgrounds. The Horizon Fellowship has helped engineers, data scientists, historians, lawyers, doctors, and many other professionals transition into public service. Competitive candidates generally have demonstrated subject-matter expertise in their technology area of interest — this could include relevant coursework, work experience, research projects, policy writing, or deep self-study. Prior policy experience is not required. We support fellows at a range of career stages through three tracks:
  • Executive branch track
  • Congress track
  • **Think tank track **(includes a junior track for recent graduates) Fellows in all tracks participate in the same training and placement process, but junior think tanks fellows are only eligible for think tank placements and receive a different compensation package. Learn more about qualifications for each track here. Research shows that great candidates often disqualify themselves too quickly, especially those from underrepresented groups. If you are excited about the program but uncertain about your qualifications, we strongly encourage you to apply.
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