TL;DR: The EPF has wrapped up its third cohort and is in the process of launching the fourth cohort. Applications will be available shortly. Sign up here to receive updates on the application opening.
The Ethereum Protocol Fellowship successfully concluded its third cohort in February 2023, marking four months of immersive learning, research, and contributions to the Ethereum core ecosystem by a group of dedicated and talented fellows. Before delving into details about the third cohort, let’s take a moment to explore what Ethereum core development entails and how the EPF fits within this context.
Protocol Development
Core development sits at the center of the Ethereum ecosystem, encompassing the research and coding efforts that drive the Ethereum network, including client implementations, specifications, and other vital components.
Ensuring a steady influx of core developers is essential for Ethereum’s ongoing success. These contributors collaborate to define the trajectory of Ethereum’s innovative roadmap, address its myriad challenges, and execute solutions. Their collective efforts guarantee that the protocol remains current and is capable of meeting the growing demands of its expanding user base.
However, entering the field of core protocol development can be challenging. There is no centralized organization overseeing protocol development, and the rapid advancements in Ethereum protocol improvements, along with information fragmentation, can make it tough for newcomers to keep pace. Numerous areas and roadmap goals are under development, each presenting its own complexities.
The Ethereum Protocol Fellowship was established to simplify the process of making core contributions, aiming to assist developers in joining the diverse teams working on the protocol.
Protocol Fellowship
The Ethereum Protocol Fellowship (EPF) is a four-month, permissionless fellowship program designed to facilitate the transition to becoming a core developer.
The program allows fellows the freedom and independence needed to operate as core developers. Participants select their field of interest, propose a project, and then work on it throughout the program duration. They receive constructive feedback from established core developers and integrate into a community of like-minded individuals eager to learn through hands-on experience.
EPF projects are varied, covering multiple domains, including research, consensus and execution clients, testing, and protocol security. The EPF is entirely open and permissionless, allowing anyone to observe and engage with the program. A portion of the budget is allocated to reward exceptional contributions from participants who joined without prior permission. Numerous EPF fellows have greatly contributed to the Ethereum core ecosystem, with some acquiring long-term roles in core teams such as Lighthouse, Teku, Prysm, Ethereum Foundation Research, Flashbots, Optimism, and others.
Third Cohort
The application period for the third cohort opened on September 1st, 2022. After reviewing over 600 applications and conducting numerous interviews, 23 participants were chosen to be part of the official cohort. However, as a permissionless program, the cohort concluded with a total of 36 contributors.
Throughout the four-month duration, fellows collaborated with 27 core developer mentors from various client and research teams. Their progress was documented in over 300 weekly updates. Additionally, fellows engaged in weekly standup and office hours calls to share updates, discuss projects, and participate in AMA sessions with mentors and core developers.
In total, fellows proposed and contributed to 20 projects, some of which continue to receive contributions. These projects not only provided invaluable learning experiences but also resulted in significant contributions to the Ethereum ecosystem.
EPF Third Cohort Projects
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| 4337 Bundler in Rust | Develop a bundler for EIP-4337 AA as an independent entity that can operate alongside any execution client |
| 4337 Wallet | A modular 4337 browser extension wallet |
| 4844 CL Client | Assist in implementing EIP-4844 in Lighthouse |
| Portal Network Ultralight Client | Construct the subprotocols of the Ultralight client |
| Consensus Client Reward APIs | A collection of RESTful APIs to boost interoperability across beacon node implementations |
| ETH Monitor | System for monitoring network data and on-chain events |
| Helios CL P2P | Peer-to-peer networking service for Helios |
| Holon | Analytics software suite for rollups |
| CL Light Client | APIs for Teku light client |
| MEV in Open Games | Analyzing MEV strategies within the Open Game engine |
| Model DAS | Rust-based implementation of a Secure Kademlia DHT overlay on the discv5 protocol |
| Prysm Beacon API Compliant Validator | Modify the Prysm validator code to comply with the standard Beacon API |
| Reducing Trust in Relay | Mechanism aimed at decreasing trust in the PBS relay |
| Validator Signing Key Revocation | Mechanism for revoking keys to enhance validators’ operational security |
| Verkle Trie Migration Exploration | Research and Development on migrating from Merkle Patricia Tries to Verkle Tries |
| Staking Pool Attestation Analysis | Conduct attestation analysis of prominent staking pools |
| Improving Censorship Resistance | Dashboard to monitor network health and block usage |
| Hive P2P Tests | Expand the scope of eth, discv4, and discv5 tests and introduce new tests for Ethereum execution clients |
| Geth DoS Attack Mitigation | Implement the DoS defense strategy proposed in the DETER paper |
All resources associated with the program can be accessed in its repository. You can track all cohort activities there, explore project resources, development updates, and fellow notes. The projects are more than just FOSS contributions; all work generated within the cohort is fully open and integral to Ethereum’s ongoing research and resources.
However, the focus isn’t solely on work and contributions. A critical component of the EPF is the chance to connect with many inspiring individuals involved in core development. During EthDenver, more than half of the cohort came together for EPF Day, spending an entire day engaged in programming activities, including project presentations, panel discussions, and social interactions.
Next Cohort Soon™️
In light of the success of the third cohort, we are excitedly getting ready to launch the fourth cohort of the Ethereum Protocol Fellowship. For anyone eager to explore Ethereum core development, please stay tuned for the upcoming application announcement in the weeks ahead. To receive notifications, consider joining the EPF Google Group.
In the meantime, you can prepare your application by building a solid understanding of the Ethereum protocol, contributing to open-source projects via your GitHub account—especially those within the Ethereum ecosystem—and contemplating the type of project you would like to undertake.
Join us in shaping the future of Ethereum. Become part of the EPF.
