MATS Winter 2023-24 Retrospective

# MATS Winter 2023-24 Retrospective
By utilistrutil
Published: 2024-05-11
Co-Authors: [@Rocket](https://www.lesswrong.com/users/rocket?mention=user), [@LauraVaughan](https://www.lesswrong.com/users/lauravaughan?mention=user), [@McKennaFitzgerald](https://www.lesswrong.com/users/mckennafitzgerald?mention=user), [@Christian Smith](https://www.lesswrong.com/users/christian-smith?mention=user), [@Juan Gil](https://www.lesswrong.com/users/juan-gil?mention=user), [@Henry Sleight](https://www.lesswrong.com/users/henry-sleight?mention=user), [@Matthew Wearden](https://www.lesswrong.com/users/matthew-wearden?mention=user), [@Ryan Kidd](https://www.lesswrong.com/users/ryankidd44?mention=user)

The [ML Alignment & Theory Scholars](https://www.matsprogram.org) program (MATS) is an education and research mentorship program for researchers entering the field of AI safety. This winter, we held the fifth iteration of the MATS program, in which 63 scholars received mentorship from 20 research mentors. In this post, we motivate and explain the elements of the program, evaluate our impact, and identify areas for improving future programs.

Summary
=======

Key details about the Winter Program:

*   The four main changes we made after our Summer program were:
    *   Reducing our scholar stipend from $40/h to $30/h based on alumni feedback;
    *   Transitioning [Scholar Support](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/zwf68YaySvXhWYCdh/mats-summer-2023-retrospective#Scholar_Support) to [Research Management](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Z87fSrxQb4yLXKcTk/mats-winter-2023-24-retrospective#Research_Management);
    *   Using the full Lighthaven campus for office space as well as housing;
    *   Replacing [Alignment 201](https://course.aisafetyfundamentals.com/alignment-201) with [AI Strategy Discussions](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/JsjJuikJsidkyfhyr/mats-ai-safety-strategy-curriculum).
*   Educational attainment of MATS scholars:
    *   48% of scholars were pursuing a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD;
    *   17% of scholars had a master’s degree as their highest level of education;
    *   10% of scholars had a PhD.
*   If not for MATS, scholars might have spent their counterfactual winters on the following pursuits (multiple responses allowed):
    *   Conducting independent alignment research without mentor (24%);
    *   Working at a non-alignment tech company (21%);
    *   Conducting independent alignment research with a mentor (13%);
    *   Taking classes (13%).

Key takeaways from scholar impact evaluation:

*   Scholars are highly likely to recommend MATS to a friend or colleague (average likelihood is 9.2/10 and [NPS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_promoter_score) is +74).
*   Scholars rated the mentorship they received highly (average rating is 8.1/10).
    *   For 38% of scholars, mentorship was the most valuable element of MATS.
*   Scholars are likely to recommend Research Management to future scholars (average likelihood is 7.9/10 and [NP

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