[Hiring] Research Resident, AI × Bio Threats and Mitigations @RAND

Role Description

The RAND Center on AI, Security, and Technology's mission is to understand and address emerging threats to global security, particularly biosecurity and AI security. We are looking for a Research Resident to help us understand and counter the ways frontier AI could lower barriers to harmful biological activity. You will:

• Assess where AI meaningfully increases misuse risk.
• Develop safeguards and detection approaches.
• Turn analysis into concrete recommendations for developers, policymakers, and government partners.

Your work could span areas such as:

• Assessing how AI accelerates scientific workflows in ways that could enable misuse, identifying concerning capabilities, and developing indicators for major capability shifts at the AI × Bio intersection.
• Contingency planning for the point at which a frontier model materially increases the likelihood of serious biological misuse, and building the infrastructure to recognize and coordinate a response in advance.
• Understanding how sophisticated and state-linked actors might pursue AI-enabled biological misuse, and developing frameworks to deter and disrupt them, including work on attribution and signaling.
• Building methods and architectures for advanced technology providers to detect misuse before harm occurs, including identifying the signals and patterns that would distinguish a serious threat from noise.

Qualifications

• Excellent analytic skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity.
• Comfortable owning problems end-to-end and working across ambiguity on novel questions.
• Motivated by mission-driven work.
• Track record of rigorous analysis in a fast-paced environment.
• Reasoning about how adversaries think, plan, and can be disrupted.
• Approximately 5 years of relevant experience (open to excellent candidates with less experience).
• Familiarity with frontier AI or the life sciences is a strong plus, though not required.

Requirements

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Relevant fields include: Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Biology, Biostatistics, Business, Chemistry, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy, Engineering Physics, Epidemiology, Geology, Health Services Management, Information Security, Information Technology, International Relations, Law, Machine Learning, Mathematics, National Security Policy, Natural and Physical Sciences, Philosophy, Physics, Policy Analysis, Political Science, Public Administration, Public Health, Public Policy, Security Studies, Statistics, Technology and Policy, Technical Discipline, or similar.
• Minimum experience requirements for an Associate Biosecurity Resident or Associate AI Policy Resident:
  • A PhD in a relevant field.
  • OR a Master’s degree in the fields listed above with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
  • OR a Bachelor’s degree in the fields listed above with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Minimum education and experience requirements for a Technical Resident, Associate I:
  • A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, Information Security, Information Technology, Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Engineering and Public Policy, Technology and Policy, National Security Policy, Policy Analysis, Political Science, International Relations, or similar AND 1 year AI-focused real-world experience.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance, which includes having U.S. citizenship, is preferred but not required.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Paid time-off.
• Additional sabbatic pay when vacation is taken.

Salary Range

$90,400 - $274,300. This range extends from our minimum at the Associate I level up to the top of our Expert level. RAND considers a variety of factors when formulating an offer, including but not limited to, the specific role and associated responsibilities; a candidate’s work experience, education/training, skills, expertise; and internal equity.

Location

This is a US-based remote role, but we may be open to other locations for excellent candidates. RAND has offices in Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA; Santa Monica, CA; and Pittsburgh, PA. We offer a hybrid work arrangement combining work from home and on-site options, and will also consider fully remote.

Term

This position is a 3-year term appointment with a possibility of renewal, alongside options for longer-term employment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

RAND is an equal opportunity employer.