UChicago Existential Risk Laboratory (XLab) Fellowship

The Existential Risk Laboratory (XLab) was founded in 2022 at the University of Chicago, originally under the name Chicago School of Existential Risk (CSXR). It traces its intellectual legacy to Enrico Fermi and the first nuclear chain reaction at the university, and was established in the same spirit of concern as the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, founded in 1945 by Manhattan Project scientists. XLab operates as a coordinating hub for existential and global catastrophic risk research across the university, bringing together faculty, students, and external collaborators from more than a dozen disciplines. XLab's primary focus areas are artificial intelligence safety and security, nuclear weapons security, biosecurity and engineered pandemic risk, and catastrophic climate change. The lab recognizes these as critically under-resourced domains that require more expertise, interdisciplinary collaboration, and innovative research approaches. The flagship program is the Summer Research Fellowship (SRF), a 10-week in-person program held annually on the University of Chicago campus. Each cohort of 15-20 fellows undertakes independent or team research projects with support from research managers and domain expert advisors. Fellows receive a $10,000 stipend, university dorm housing, a full dining hall meal plan, and weekday lunch funds. Technical AI safety fellows receive an additional $4,000 in compute and API credits. The program emphasizes research methods such as open-source intelligence, forecasting, strategic net assessment, and scenario analysis. The 2026 cohort runs from June 15 to August 22, 2026. Beyond the fellowship, XLab runs an AI Safety Fundamentals reading group for students each quarter, offers an undergraduate course called 'Are We Doomed?' that surveys existential and global catastrophic risks, and supports year-long student-led research projects mentored by domain experts. XLab is led by Director Daniel Holz, a Professor of Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics who also chairs the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, and Deputy Director Zachary Rudolph. The lab's faculty advisory committee comprises 17 members spanning ecology, political science, history, geophysical sciences, anthropology, sociology, economics, law, and other disciplines. XLab has received grants from Open Philanthropy (including $207,000 in 2022 and $301,800 in 2024) and from the Future of Life Institute ($380,000 in 2023). It operates within the University of Chicago as a university lab rather than an independent nonprofit.

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