Xplore Program 2026: A Remote Summer Fellowship in Longevity

For the third summer in a row, Longevity Xplorer (LongX) is opening applications for the Xplore Program, a fully remote summer fellowship designed to help students and early-career professionals translate interest in longevity into practical experience. The program is structured to do two things well: (1) build a shared foundation in aging biology and the longevity industry, and (2) move fellows into defined project work with partner organizations so they leave with concrete outputs, not just reading lists.

Why this matters

A common problem in longevity is that the field looks accessible from the outside, papers, podcasts, conferences, company launches, yet the first meaningful step can be hard to locate. Many people are not located in major biotech ecosystems, don’t have access to the “usual” networks, or are unsure what an entry-level contribution in longevity biotech actually looks like. Xplore was built as an on-ramp: a time-boxed program that makes the pathway explicit, sets expectations early, and lets fellows test-drive real work with real teams.

At a glance

• Format: Fully remote
• Program flow: ~1 month learning + 2-3 months project placement
• Time commitment: 8-10 hours/week during Month 1; typically more during placement depending on the project scope
• Selection: Two-part application + interviews
• Deadline (Part 1): March 13
• Deadline (Part 2): One week after Part 1
• Apply: https://airtable.com/appZoqFkezq9OjMV0/paggwAfu6a0mUgIbP/form
• Contact: team@longx.bio

What you’ll do

1) Education (1 Month)

Fellows complete two short courses led by LongX, covering core topics in aging biology and the longevity landscape. The goal is not to “turn everyone into a geroscientist” in four weeks, but to establish shared language, mechanisms, common intervention strategies, major bottlenecks, and a realistic view of how the industry is organized.

2) Incubator (runs alongside the education phase)

In parallel, fellows participate in workshops and hands-on exercises, plus fireside chats with professionals. This component focuses on what often gets missed in self-study: how to operate day to day in a biotech environment, how projects are scoped, how evidence is evaluated, how work is communicated, and what consistent execution looks like.

3) Career Development Experience (CDE) (2-3 months)

Fellows are matched with a longevity biotech company or organization and work on a defined project over 2-3 months, with the potential for extension depending on partner needs and performance. The emphasis here is applied contribution: fellows are expected to deliver outputs that are useful to the partner team, rather than treating the placement as a casual internship.

Who it’s best suited for

Xplore is best suited for applicants with a scientific or quantitative foundation who want a practical entry point into longevity biotech. Many of the strongest fellows have traditionally come with scientific training, but applicants do not need to be specialized in aging biology to be a good fit. LongX looks for people who can learn quickly, communicate clearly, and follow through consistently over the full program.

LongX is also especially interested in supporting applicants outside major longevity biotech hubs, since longevity is a global challenge and talent is widely distributed even when opportunities are not.

What’s new for 2026

For 2026, LongX has made the process and expectations clearer: applicants complete a two-part application followed by interviews, designed to improve fit for both fellows and partner organizations.

• Part 1 is a written application due March 13.
• Part 2 is a career-specific practical assignment due one week later.

This structure helps reduce mismatches that can happen in early-career programs, where enthusiasm is high, but day-to-day expectations can be unclear until the placement begins.

How to decide quickly if you should apply

Xplore may be a good fit if you:

• want a structured way to move from “reading about longevity” to contributing to real work;
• can commit steady hours for several months;
• are comfortable with technical learning, analysis, or evidence-based reasoning;
• value feedback, iteration, and delivering concrete outputs.

It may be a poor fit if you’re looking for a light-touch community program with minimal time commitment, or if you’re not ready to engage with technical material and project execution.

About LongX

Longevity Xplorer (LongX) was formed in 2023 to lower the barrier of entry for emerging early career professionals in longevity. Our goal is to drastically increase the number and capacity of people who meaningfully contribute to the longevity industry on a global scale. We encourage exploration beyond traditional roles and aim to equip future experts with the skills to drive progress in the field. The LongX Substack is home to various articles and interviews showcasing developments within the longevity space, resources, opportunities, experiences, and advice.

Apply: https://airtable.com/appZoqFkezq9OjMV0/paggwAfu6a0mUgIbP/form

Contact: team@longx.bio