Applications are now open for the 2026 Ethics and Technology Practitioner Fellowship, a non-residential, year-long program hosted by Stanford University that supports mid-career professionals addressing ethical challenges in technology.

The fellowship, which builds on its inaugural 2024–2025 pilot, will select 12 to 15 fellows for its upcoming cohort. It is designed for practitioners working in tech companies, government, nonprofits, think tanks, or research institutions who have a hands-on understanding of how technology is built, implemented, and governed. The program runs from January to December 2026.

Each fellow will receive a $15,000 stipend, distributed in three phases over the course of the year, along with fully funded travel to Stanford for both the kickoff “Fellows Week” and the closing “Work Showcase.”

Image source: Envato

Project Focus and Themes

Fellows are expected to carry out an independent project that challenges existing norms and surfaces new questions in tech ethics. Acceptable deliverables include:

  • Written outputs (e.g. policy papers, blog posts, open letters)
  • Media resources (e.g. websites, apps, online tools)
  • Stakeholder engagement (e.g. community-building, convenings, policy advocacy)

Projects must be practice-based rather than academic research, and should align with one of three levels of impact: organizational, field-level, or public policy.

The 2026 fellowship themes are:

  • Meritocracy in the Age of Automation
  • Bridge Frameworks Amidst Polarization
  • Efficient Gratification, Health, and Wellbeing
  • Overlooked Populations in Emerging Technologies
AI Usage Notice: In preparing this article, AI tools were used with careful human oversight and editing. We believe in transparency regarding the use of AI in our work.
AI Usage Notice: In preparing this article, AI tools were used with careful human oversight and editing. We believe in transparency regarding the use of AI in our work.

Mentorship and Engagement

Participants will receive mentorship from Stanford faculty and visiting experts, and have opportunities to collaborate with scholars, researchers, and ethics centers on campus — including the Center for Biomedical Ethics, Stanford HAI, and the McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society.

The program is made possible through support from Frank McCourt in partnership with the Project Liberty Institute.

Application Details

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