Research Resident, AI Bio Threats and Mitigations

The Gist:

Help RAND’s Center on AI, Security, and Technology assess how frontier AI could enable biological misuse and develop safeguards and policy recommendations. This is for researchers who want to tackle emerging dual-use technology risks at the intersection of AI and biosecurity.

What You’d Be Doing:

• Assess how AI accelerates scientific workflows in ways that could enable misuse and identify concerning capabilities at the AI Bio intersection
• Develop methods for advanced technology providers to detect misuse before harm occurs, including identifying signals that distinguish serious threats from noise
• Build contingency plans and infrastructure to recognize and coordinate responses if frontier models materially increase biological misuse likelihood
• Create frameworks to deter and disrupt sophisticated and state-linked actors pursuing AI-enabled biological misuse, including work on attribution and signaling

What They’re Looking For:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree minimum in a relevant field (computer science, biology, mathematics, policy, etc.); Master’s or PhD preferred depending on experience level.
• Experience: Around 5 years of relevant professional experience expected; minimum 1 year of AI-focused real-world experience for technical residents, or 3 years professional experience with a Master’s degree.
• Standout Qualifications: Familiarity with frontier AI or life sciences is a strong plus; track record of rigorous analysis in fast-paced environments and reasoning about adversarial thinking highly valued.

Good Fit If:

You are mission-driven, comfortable owning complex problems end-to-end across ambiguity, and want to apply rigorous analysis to novel questions about how cutting-edge technologies could be misused and how to prevent it.