A project is a body of work provided by one of our partner AI labs. Each project has a defined start and end date and includes details such as:
- The type of tasks you’ll complete
- The pay structure (hourly or per task)
- Any required qualifications or experience
Projects are not self-serve and are not available immediately after applying. Handshake AI matches fellows to projects based on their qualifications, experience, and profile.
To learn more about onboarding a project, check out Getting started on a project.
To learn more about the work you'll complete within a project, refer to Understanding tasks on Handshake AI.
How to get matched to a project
Project matching is handled by the Handshake AI team. To maximize your chances of being matched to new opportunities, make sure your profile is fully completed and that you’ve finished any required assessments. This is the most important step you can take to become eligible for project invitations.
Can I work on more than one project at a time?
In some cases, yes — it depends on the specific projects involved. Some projects allow fellows to work on multiple projects concurrently, while others require exclusive focus. Any exclusivity requirements will be clearly communicated in the project details and onboarding materials. If you’re unsure, check with your project lead before accepting additional work.
If you’re balancing multiple projects, be mindful of your capacity. Each project has its own quality standards, and spreading yourself too thin can impact your performance across all projects. Consistently delivering excellent work on one project is better than delivering average work on several.
Accessing your projects
After onboarding, your active projects will appear in your Handshake AI dashboard under Your Projects. Task access is granted once all required onboarding steps have been completed, including assessments, training, and platform setup.
If a project you were expecting to show isn't in your Handshake AI dashboard, there are a few possible explanations for this:
- The project may have been paused or closed. If a project has disappeared from your dashboard, select Past under Your Projects to confirm whether it has been temporarily paused or completed. Projects may be paused or closed with little notice based on the needs of our partner labs. Be sure to check your email as well, as the Handshake AI team will communicate any project status updates there.
- There may be a technical issue. Occasionally, dashboard display issues can be caused by a browser or account problem. Try refreshing the page, clearing your browser cache, or logging out and back in.