Application Guide
How to Apply for Facilitator, AI×Animals Fellowship
at Sentient Futures
🏢 About Sentient Futures
Sentient Futures is unique as a field-building organization specifically focused on steering technological futures toward the welfare of all sentient beings, not just humans. They combine practical programs like fellowships and conferences with community-building, offering a chance to shape emerging fields at the intersection of AI and animal ethics. Working here means contributing directly to their mission of building a community of practitioners and thinkers who can influence how powerful technologies affect animals.
About This Role
This role involves facilitating an intensive 8-week online fellowship, requiring you to lead weekly 1.75-hour structured discussions on complex topics like precision livestock farming and AI ethics. You'll be responsible for preparing participants with 2-3 hours of curated readings and exercises weekly, making you the central guide exploring how AI technologies impact animal welfare. Your work directly shapes the learning and perspectives of fellows who may go on to influence policy, research, or industry practices in this niche field.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might involve reviewing participant submissions from pre-session exercises on a topic like AI in wildlife conservation, then refining your discussion guide to highlight key ethical dilemmas. You could spend time curating additional readings or multimedia resources for the upcoming weekly session, followed by facilitating the live 1.75-hour online discussion, where you balance expert input, participant sharing, and guided debate. Post-session, you might synthesize insights for a fellowship update or prepare prompts to keep the conversation going in the online community platform.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Sentient Futures Is Looking For
- Has demonstrable experience facilitating online group discussions or educational programs, ideally with adults or professionals on complex topics.
- Possesses working knowledge of specific AI applications relevant to animals (e.g., computer vision for behavior monitoring, AI in supply chain tracking, large language models) and can discuss their ethical implications.
- Understands contemporary animal welfare issues beyond basic compassion, such as intensive farming practices, wild animal welfare, or the ethics of animal sentience and personhood.
- Can skillfully guide conversations that bridge technical AI concepts with moral philosophy and practical welfare outcomes, managing diverse viewpoints.
📝 Tips for Applying to Sentient Futures
Explicitly link any past facilitation experience to managing discussions on ethically charged or technically complex topics, not just general group leadership.
In your resume or materials, mention specific AI technologies (e.g., 'precision livestock farming tools,' 'AI-driven animal communication research') and animal welfare areas you're familiar with to demonstrate the required intersectional knowledge.
Research and reference Sentient Futures' past fellowship topics, conferences, or community content to show you understand their specific approach to the AI×Animals space.
Highlight any experience with remote learning platforms or tools for creating engaging online discussions, as this is a fully remote, contract-based facilitation role.
Prepare a brief sample discussion plan or thought on how you would approach one weekly topic (e.g., 'AI ethics in animal research') to include in your application, demonstrating your preparatory and guiding mindset.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your philosophy on facilitating learning at the intersection of technology and ethics, and how you create an inclusive space for challenging conversations.', "Specific examples where you've successfully guided groups through discussions on AI, animal welfare, or related ethical dilemmas, highlighting outcomes or insights generated.", "Why Sentient Futures' field-building mission resonates with you, and how you see this fellowship contributing to the broader goal of steering futures for sentient beings.", 'Your ability to curate and synthesize preparatory materials (readings, exercises) that make complex topics accessible and engaging for diverse participants.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore Sentient Futures' website, focusing on their past fellowship descriptions, conference themes (e.g., any AI×Animals events), and blog/content to grasp their tone, focus areas, and community.
- → Look into the key researchers, organizations, or projects they mention or partner with to understand the ecosystem they operate in (e.g., effective altruism communities, animal advocacy tech groups).
- → Review any public materials from their online community or past participants to get a sense of the discussion styles and topics that resonate.
- → Investigate the broader landscape of AI applications in animal welfare (e.g., projects by Wild Me, AI for livestock monitoring companies) to speak knowledgeably about current trends.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application that doesn't address the unique intersection of AI and animal welfare, treating it as a general facilitation or animal advocacy role.
- Failing to demonstrate concrete facilitation experience or examples, especially in online settings with structured educational outcomes.
- Overemphasizing passion for animals or AI in isolation without showing how you connect the two or navigate the ethical complexities between them.
📅 Application Timeline
⏰ Deadline: March 5, 2026
We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Sentient Futures!