Project Summary

I am seeking funding to complete an MSc in AI Ethics & Society at the University of Leeds as a career-capital-building step toward work in AI governance and policy. My long-term goal is to contribute to institutional and civil-society efforts that reduce risks from advanced AI systems, including governance failures, misuse, and weak accountability.

I am already engaged in governance-adjacent work through the AI Ethics and Integrity International Association (AIEI), including contributions to an AI governance starter kit. This project would strengthen my ability to translate AI risk into practical policy and governance frameworks.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

Goals

• Build strong career capital in AI governance and policy

• Improve my ability to contribute to AI risk mitigation work

• Strengthen governance-focused initiatives I am already involved in

Path to Impact

• Complete MSc training with a focus on governance and policy

• Apply learning directly to ongoing governance work (e.g. AIEI initiatives)

• Transition into policy, civil-society, or institutional roles addressing AI risk
  

How will this funding be used?

Total requested: USD $50,000

• Tuition: $35,000

• Living expenses (12 months): $15,000

This funding enables full-time study and focused capacity building.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

This is a solo project.

Relevant background:

• Professional experience in programme coordination and governance-adjacent work

• Associated Participant, AIEI Legal Committee

• Ongoing contributions to a practical AI governance starter kit

• Formal training in AI ethics (Coursera)

• Acceptance into AI Safety Collab (ENAIS)

Staffing: 1 FTE
Total expenditure: $50,000

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

Risks

• Governance capacity lag: AI capabilities may continue to advance faster than policy and governance responses, which can limit the immediate impact of individual training efforts.

• Fragmented governance pathways: Without strong links to institutions and networks, governance training may not translate into real decision-making influence.
  Mitigation

  • I am already engaged with governance-focused work through AIEI, which helps ensure that my training remains connected to ongoing institutional efforts.

  • The MSc program combines ethics, law, and policy analysis, preparing me for practical roles rather than purely academic work.

  • I plan to stay actively involved in governance networks during and after the program to ensure that the skills gained translate into real-world contribution.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

I have explored several aligned career development funding opportunities over the past year, including applications to Open Philanthropy and EA-affiliated funds. While these applications were not funded, they helped refine the focus and clarity of this proposal. To date, no external funding has been secured for this project.