TL;DR: The EPF has wrapped up its fourth cohort and is getting ready for the fifth. Applications will launch soon. In the meantime, feel free to explore the new EPF.wiki and sign up for notifications on when applications open.
The Ethereum Protocol Fellowship has successfully concluded its fourth cohort, culminating in EPF Day at Devconnect in Istanbul. This milestone signifies 4 months of in-depth learning, research, and contributions to the Ethereum core ecosystem by a dedicated group of fellows. For more insights about EPF, check out some of the past posts and repositories.
EPF4 Stats
Applications for the fourth cohort opened on June 2nd, 2023. Following the review of over 400 applications, 35 participants were granted stipends, along with 5 retroactive stipends awarded to permissionless participants. Over the 4-month span, fellows collaborated with 27 core developer mentors from various client and research teams within the ecosystem. Their efforts were documented in nearly 600 weekly updates.
EPF4 Projects
In total, fellows proposed and contributed to 35 projects, many of which remain active today. These projects not only embody valuable learning experiences but also significant contributions to the Ethereum ecosystem.
You can find all the program resources in the EPF4 repository. It includes all cohort activities, project resources, development updates, and fellows’ notes. The projects are not solely FOSS contributions; rather, every effort made in the cohort is entirely open, being an integral part of Ethereum’s open research and resources.
However, it’s not just about work and contributions. A vital aspect of the EPF is the chance to connect with many inspiring individuals involved in core development. At Devconnect in Istanbul, more than half of the cohort gathered to take part in EPF Day—a full day filled with project presentations, panel discussions, and social interactions.
Ethereum Protocol Fellowship Study Group
We received valuable feedback at the conclusion of cohort 4. Even though the EPF emphasizes protocol development education, the learning curve for aspiring core developers remains quite steep. Responding to this feedback, we initiated a precursor program to the EPF called the EPF study group, a 10-week intensive exploration into various aspects of the protocol, alongside a collaborative knowledge base for developers at epf.wiki. This platform has become a hub for aspiring core developers to gain knowledge about the technical facets of Ethereum and contribute to the wiki to solidify their understanding.
Next Cohort Soon™️
As the study group concludes, we are preparing for the fifth cohort of the Ethereum Protocol Fellowship. For those eager to dive into Ethereum core development, keep an eye out for the application announcement in early May. To receive updates, join the EPF mailing list.
In the meantime, you can get ready for your application by ensuring you have a solid understanding of the Ethereum protocol (the EPF study group is a great resource for this), contributing to open-source projects via your GitHub account—especially existing projects within the Ethereum ecosystem—and thoughtfully considering the type of project you might want to undertake.
