Application Guide

How to Apply for Funding, Scaling AI Safety for a Multi-Agent World

at Schmidt Sciences

🏢 About Schmidt Sciences

Schmidt Sciences is a philanthropic organization that funds high-risk, high-reward research to advance science and technology. Unlike typical grantmakers, they focus on AI safety and multi-agent systems, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of AI governance. Working here means contributing to a mission-driven team that prioritizes long-term societal impact over profit.

About This Role

This role involves designing and executing a funding call to support research on safety in multi-agent AI systems. You will identify and fund projects that create sandboxes for testing frontier-model agents, analyze emergent vulnerabilities, and develop infrastructure for agent identity and authentication. The work is critical as AI agents become more autonomous and interconnected.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing incoming research proposals, meeting with potential grantees to discuss their ideas, and collaborating with the Schmidt Sciences team to refine the funding call's scope. You may also attend workshops or conferences to identify emerging trends in multi-agent AI safety and write reports on the program's impact.

🚀 Application Tools

Generate Cover Letter

AI-powered, tailored for Schmidt Sciences

Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who Schmidt Sciences Is Looking For

  • Has a PhD or equivalent research experience in AI safety, multi-agent systems, or a closely related field.
  • Demonstrated track record of building or managing testbeds/simulation environments for AI agents (e.g., MuJoCo, PettingZoo, or custom sandboxes).
  • Experience in infrastructure development for identity, authentication, or reputation systems (e.g., blockchain, PKI, or decentralized identity).
  • Strong ability to evaluate research proposals and identify high-impact projects with clear safety implications.

📝 Tips for Applying to Schmidt Sciences

1

Highlight specific experience with multi-agent systems and AI safety in your cover letter, referencing relevant papers or projects.

2

Tailor your CV to emphasize testbed development, simulation environments, and infrastructure work—avoid generic AI research descriptions.

3

In your application, propose a concrete vision for what a successful funding call could look like, including potential research areas you would prioritize.

4

Show familiarity with Schmidt Sciences' other programs and how this funding call fits into their broader AI and Advanced Computing portfolio.

5

If you have grant-making or program management experience, emphasize it—this is not a pure research role but a funding and strategy position.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for AI safety and understanding of the unique risks posed by multi-agent systems.', 'Specific examples of how you have contributed to testbeds, sandboxes, or infrastructure for agent identity/authentication.', 'Your ability to identify and evaluate high-impact research projects, with examples of past funding decisions or research prioritization.', "Alignment with Schmidt Sciences' philanthropic mission and their focus on long-term, foundational science."]

Generate Cover Letter →

🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Schmidt Sciences' current AI and Advanced Computing programs and recent funded projects to understand their priorities.
  • → Read the company's published reports or blog posts on AI safety to grasp their perspective and language.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the broader AI safety landscape, especially organizations like MIRI, OpenAI, and Anthropic, and how Schmidt Sciences positions itself.
  • → Study multi-agent safety papers from top conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML) to identify leading researchers and open problems.
Visit Schmidt Sciences's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a sandbox to test frontier-model agents with realistic tools and communication?
2 What are the key emergent vulnerabilities in multi-agent systems, and how would you prioritize funding for them?
3 Describe a time you had to evaluate a research proposal with limited information. How did you make a decision?
4 What metrics would you use to measure the success of a funded project in this area?
5 How do you stay current with AI safety research, and how would you identify promising new directions?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic AI research CV without emphasizing multi-agent systems or infrastructure work.
  • Focusing solely on technical research without showing an understanding of the funding and strategic aspects of the role.
  • Ignoring the philanthropic mission—avoid framing your interest solely in terms of career advancement or technical challenge.

📅 Application Timeline

⏰ Deadline: August 9, 2026

We recommend applying at least a few days early to avoid last-minute technical issues.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Schmidt Sciences!

← Back to Job Listing Apply Now →