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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 9-10 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 9-10 Fellowships awarded in total. Proposals are due 23:59 AoE April 1st, 2026.

Apply for Agent Negotiation and Automated Mechanism Design Or Smart Contract Generation

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:

Agent Negotiation and Automated Mechanism Design Or Smart Contract Generation

Note: This RFP is meant as a high-level research direction. Applicants are encouraged to propose refinements, alternative approaches, or more detailed technical plans, which will be evaluated as part of the submission. This project focuses on the protocols and generative logic required for AI agents to independently negotiate terms and instantiate them as executable smart contracts. The goal is to move beyond simple "buy/sell" transactions toward complex, multi-party handshakes. This involves Automated Mechanism Design (AMD), where agents design custom incentive structures, auctions, or escrow conditions, and the seamless translation of these negotiated agreements into on-chain deployments that govern the deal without human intervention.

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