Research Scholar

About the Team GovAI was founded to help humanity navigate the transition to a world with advanced AI. Our researchers have provided knowledge and assistance to decision makers in government, industry, and civil society. Our alumni have gone on to influential roles in government (US, UK, EU); leading AI companies, including Google DeepMind, OpenAI, and Anthropic; think-tanks such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Center for a New American Security and the Tony Blair Institute; and to leadership roles on initiatives like the International AI Safety Report.

Our initial research agenda, published in 2018, helped define and shape the nascent field of AI governance. We made significant early contributions to the ongoing public discussions over the security implications of AI. More recently, we have made significant contributions to EU AI policy, with staff members vice-chairing the EU AI Act GPAI Code of Practice risk-management working group and sitting on the EU AI Office Scientific Panel & Advisory Forum.

Our researchers have published in leading journals and conferences, including Science, Nature, NeurIPS, FAccT and ICML. We have published commentary in venues such as TIME, Foreign Affairs, War on the Rocks, and Lawfare. Our work has also been covered by publications such as The New York Times, Vox, and the Financial Times.

Our staff are based across the United Kingdom, United States, and European Union.

About the Role The Research Scholar role is designed to support your career development in AI governance, with significant flexibility to pursue this goal as you see fit. You will be supervised by a member of the GovAI team or network (typically meeting weekly), be mentored by an external expert or another GovAI team member, receive guidance and support from one of our Research Managers, and get feedback from our team through regular work-in-progress sessions. Your Research Scholar year may involve: Informing policymakers and decision-makers on pressing governance issues Producing original research in the form of academic publications, policy memos, reports, or blog posts Convening key stakeholders around high-priority questions Launching a new initiative or organisation Helping assess prospective new hires for our seasonal fellowship and scholar/fellow roles Note: For researchers with significant experience in AI governance research, we are also hiring Research Fellows.

These are longer-term staff roles with two-year renewable contracts that focus on contributing to core research workstreams. There is a shared application for both Research Scholar and Research Fellow roles, so you need only submit one application. Areas of Interest Our researchers work on a broad range of topics related to AI governance.

While much of our work concerns general-purpose AI systems, we're also interested in research on narrower AI applications and their policy implications. Our research spans several areas, including: Risk Management: How can AI companies make responsible development and deployment decisions, successfully managing risks without hindering innovation and adoption? What is the role of third parties – evaluators and auditors – in informing such decisions?

Threat Modeling: What is the state of evidence regarding different hypothesized risks from AI and what further information would be most useful for reducing uncertainty? At the same time, what role can AI progress and adoption play in mitigating risks? Economics of AI: What will the economic implications of AI development and deployment be?

How might it affect labour markets, competition, and growth? Geopolitics of AI: What strategies are different states using to compete in AI and how effective will they be? How do geopolitical dynamics shape AI development and governance?

Frontier AI regulation: What effects will different regulatory proposals have on frontier AI? In what ways will existing regulation need to be amended or removed in light of AI developments? Technical Governance: What technical work could help address challenges in AI governance?

To what extent is compute an important tool? How can evaluations keep pace with AI progress? We are also interested in researchers pursuing other topics, including the implications of AI R&D automation, the use of AI by governments, increasing society's resilience in anticipation of advances in AI, and how society can capture AI benefits.

Some of our most impactful Research Scholars have dedicated the majority of their time to applied work, rather than traditional research. We also welcome applications from candidates who would primarily focus on launching new AI governance organizations, organizing high-impact events, educating policymakers on AI, or supporting other applied work.

Qualifications and Selection Criteria We are open to candidates with diverse academic and professional backgrounds. We have previously hired researchers with backgrounds in computer science, political science, public policy, economics, history, philosophy, and law, as well as professionals from government, industry, and civil society. There are no educational requirements for this role. *Essential Qualifications* Successful candidates will have: A strong interest in positively shaping the lasting impacts of AI, in line with our mission Demonstrated ability to produce excellent work or achieve impressive results Some familiarity with AI governance Some expertise in a domain that is relevant to AI governance A compelling explanation of how this position will help you have a large impact *What We Value* They will also likely demonstrate: Self-direction and the ability to evaluate projects based on impact Intellectual honesty and rigor Receptiveness to feedback and commitment to self-improvement Strong communication and collaboration skills Motivation to help others succeed