How to apply for Project Incubator

About Sentient Futures

Sentient Futures is a field-building organization that runs conferences, fellowships, and an online community focused on the welfare of all sentient beings. It works across animal welfare, artificial minds, and AI governance. This role is a chance to build a concrete project in one of those areas with mentor support and introductions to relevant organizations and funders.

About the role

The Project Incubator is a 10-week remote fellowship from August 31 to November 9, 2026. You work 5–10 hours per week on a project you propose or select from a mentor's pre-defined options, with weekly check-ins. The output is a finished standalone project or a strong intermediate output with a completion plan, plus introductions to collaborators, organizations, and funding or employment opportunities.

A typical day

You spend 5–10 hours per week on your project, working independently on research, writing, coding, or advocacy tasks. Once a week you meet your mentor to review progress, solve problems, and plan next steps. You may also connect with other fellows or mentors in the Sentient Futures community. The exact daily routine depends on your project and mentor, so ask about typical check-in formats and expectations during the interview.

Who Sentient Futures is looking for

• Committed to improving welfare for sentient beings, with a clear interest in animal welfare, artificial minds, or AI governance.
• Able to work independently 5–10 hours per week and manage a project from proposal to finished output within 10 weeks.
• Comfortable with weekly mentor check-ins and open to feedback on project direction and execution.
• A researcher, advocate, field-builder, or engineer who can define a concrete project and deliver it by November 9, 2026.

Tips for this application

• Propose a specific project idea that fits one of the three focus areas: animal welfare, artificial minds, or AI governance. A vague topic will not pass.
• Explain how your project can be finished, or reach a strong intermediate stage with a completion plan, in 10 weeks at 5–10 hours per week.
• Show that you can work independently. Mention past projects you completed without close supervision.
• If you want to join a mentor's pre-defined option instead of proposing your own, say which type of project you want and why your skills fit it.
• Connect your project to concrete outputs: a paper, a tool, a dataset, a policy brief, a campaign, or a prototype. State what you will deliver by November 9, 2026.

What to cover in your cover letter

State the specific project you want to build and which focus area it addresses. Explain why you can complete it in 10 weeks at 5–10 hours per week. Describe your relevant skills or experience in animal welfare, artificial minds, or AI governance. Mention what you want from the fellowship: mentor feedback, introductions to collaborators, or funding or employment opportunities aligned with your work.

Research before applying

• Review Sentient Futures' website, especially their conferences, fellowships, and online community, to understand their focus and past projects.
• Read about their work on animal welfare, artificial minds, and AI governance to see which area fits your project best.
• Look up past mentors or fellows if available, to understand the type of projects they support.
• Check the program timeline and output requirements: August 31 to November 9, 2026, 5–10 hours per week, finished project or strong intermediate output with a completion plan.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• What project do you want to work on, and how does it address animal welfare, artificial minds, or AI governance?
• How will you finish the project, or reach a strong intermediate output with a completion plan, by November 9, 2026?
• How do you manage independent work with only weekly mentor check-ins?
• What skills or experience do you bring that make this project feasible for you?
• What kind of introductions or next steps do you want after the fellowship, and how does your project lead to them?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Proposing a vague or broad project that cannot be finished or advanced in 10 weeks at 5–10 hours per week.
• Ignoring the three focus areas: animal welfare, artificial minds, and AI governance. Your project must fit one of them.
• Applying without a clear plan for independent work. The fellowship requires weekly check-ins, not daily supervision.
• Forgetting to state what you will deliver by November 9, 2026, or how the fellowship's introductions will help you continue the work.