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 outlined in your project details or 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 you've been onboarded to a project, you can view your active projects in your Handshake AI dashboard. Task access is typically granted only after you've completed all required onboarding steps, including assessments, training, or 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. Projects can pause or close with little notice depending on the needs of our partner labs. If a project you were working on has disappeared from your dashboard, it's possible it has been temporarily paused or ended. Check your email for any communications you may have missed from the Handshake AI team about project status changes.
• 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.