We'll be looking for both math aptitude and math knowledge, but there are no formal prereqs. The program will be structured to enable folks with very different initial levels of background skill, CFAR experience, Sequences experience, etc. to teach each other, to separate into different sections when appropriate, and to all be part of a single effort while also all having each of their skill-levels pushed. We expect a diverse group, with different folks initially skilled / new to different components of the work. It should be a lot of fun.
CFAR will be running a three week summer program this July for MIRI, designed to increase participants' ability to do technical research into the superintelligence alignment problem.
The intent of the program is to boost participants as far as possible in four skills:
The program will be offered free to invited participants, and partial or full scholarships for travel expenses will be offered to those with exceptional financial need.
If you're interested (or possibly-interested), sign up for an admissions interview ASAP at this link (takes 2 minutes): http://rationality.org/miri-summer-fellows-2015/
Also, please forward this post, or the page itself, to anyone you think should come; the skills and talent that humanity brings to bear on the superintelligence alignment problem may determine our skill at navigating it, and sharing this opportunity with good potential contributors may be a high-leverage way to increase that talent.