Through the MATS program, we (Alex Turner and Alex Cloud[1]) help alignment researchers grow from seeds into majestic trees. We have fun, consistently make real alignment progress, and help scholars tap into their latent abilities.
MATS summer '26 applications are open until January 18th!
I really appreciate the calmness Alex [Turner] brings. He creates a stress-free environment where it feels easy and low-risk to have lots of ideas, pivot frequently, and generally be mentally nimble.
Compared to other MATS streams, Team Shard has some of the best team culture and the highest mentor investment. With us, you aren't looking at a half-hour call with a remote mentor once a week. TurnTrout and Cloud each hold a ~45 minute weekly meeting with each scholar, in addition to a weekly in-person team lunch.
Our team culture is tight-knit and fun, extending beyond the research itself. For example, in the summer of 2025, MATS 8.0 lifted together every Wednesday and Thursday.
Team Shard helped me break into the AI safety world, building my connections but also my understanding of the research process and valuable areas to focus on. Alex [Turner] encouraged me to take my ideas seriously and to develop them further. I quite enjoyed working with him! [Working with Team Shard] has made a life-changing difference.
Being a member of Team Shard helped me grow tremendously as a researcher. It gave me the necessary skills and confidence to work in AI Safety full-time.
I learned how to make progress when everyone in the room is uncertain. If you're interested in learning what making progress on a hard problem actually feels like, Team Shard is where you want to be.
On Team Shard, I learned how to form my own opinions about alignment, develop concrete hypotheses based on these, and address my hypotheses empirically. Alex Turner and Alex Cloud provided consistently thoughtful guidance and inspiration that enabled my progress. I also had a ton of fun with the team. :)
P.S. Team Shard made me realize potential I did not know I had as a weightlifter.
MATS only runs a few times per year. First, check when applications next open. Then apply and indicate you want to work with Team Shard. MATS summer '26 applications are open until January 18th!
Through the MATS program, we (Alex Turner and Alex Cloud[1]) help alignment researchers grow from seeds into majestic trees. We have fun, consistently make real alignment progress, and help scholars tap into their latent abilities.
MATS summer '26 applications are open until January 18th!
Many mentees now fill impactful roles.
We likewise have a strong track record in research outputs, including
Compared to other MATS streams, Team Shard has some of the best team culture and the highest mentor investment. With us, you aren't looking at a half-hour call with a remote mentor once a week. TurnTrout and Cloud each hold a ~45 minute weekly meeting with each scholar, in addition to a weekly in-person team lunch.
Our team culture is tight-knit and fun, extending beyond the research itself. For example, in the summer of 2025, MATS 8.0 lifted together every Wednesday and Thursday.
Testimonials
Lisa Thiergart
MATS 3.0, Steering GPT-2-XL by Adding an Activation Vector
Jacob Goldman-Wetzler
MATS 6.0, Gradient Routing
Bruce Lee
MATS 7.0, Distillation Robustifies Unlearning
Ariana Azarbal
MATS 8.0, Recontextualization Mitigates Specification Gaming without Modifying the Specification
Apply today
MATS only runs a few times per year. First, check when applications next open. Then apply and indicate you want to work with Team Shard. MATS summer '26 applications are open until January 18th!
Alex Cloud became a co-mentor at the start of MATS 7.0.