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PhD Fellowship Program

The Ethereum Foundation is launching a fellowship-style grant program to support Ethereum-related academic work led by current PhD students. Selected Fellows will receive $24,000 USD over one year, intended as a supplement to their existing stipend, with 7-8 Fellowships awarded in total. Proposals are due 23:59 AoE April 1st, 2026.

PhD Fellowship Program hero image

PhD Fellowship Program

The Ethereum Foundation is launching a fellowship-style grant program to support Ethereum-related academic work led by current PhD students. Selected Fellows will receive $24,000 USD over one year, intended as a supplement to their existing stipend, with 7-8 Fellowships awarded in total. Proposals are due 23:59 AoE April 1st, 2026.

Apply for AI-Powered Protocol Security: Research, Auditing, and Vulnerability Detection

Please review the RFP requirements carefully and submit a comprehensive proposal that demonstrates your expertise and approach. Include detailed methodology, timeline, and expected deliverables in your PDF proposal.

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Selected RFP:

AI-Powered Protocol Security: Research, Auditing, and Vulnerability Detection

This RFP covers two distinct research directions: (1) Protocol Specification Research (2) Smart Contract Security Auditing Applicants are encouraged to propose refinements, alternative approaches, or detailed technical plans. Submissions may focus on either one or both of these directions, and will be evaluated based on the depth and technical rigor of the proposed scope. This RFP seeks the R&D of AI-powered tools and agent systems that automate and assist both smart contract security auditing and cryptographic protocol security research. The work should combine AI/ML techniques to detect vulnerabilities, gas inefficiencies, and protocol-level flaws. Proposals should deliver agents capable of moving beyond code analysis into the realm of protocol synthesis, specification auditing, and research optimization, providing frameworks for the architectural design and continuous monitoring of Ethereum-based systems.

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People gathered around the Ethereum tree
People gathered around the Ethereum tree