Research Fellow

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 policy roles in government; top AI labs, including Google DeepMind, OpenAI, and Anthropic; and think-tanks such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Center for Security and Emerging Technology, and the Tony Blair Institute. Our initial research agenda, published in 2018, helped define and shape the nascent field of AI governance. Our research developing the framework of “cooperative AI" led to the creation of a $15 million philanthropic foundation. We made significant early contributions to the ongoing public discussions over the security implications of AI.

Our researchers have published in leading journals and conferences, including Science and NeurIPS. We have published commentary in venues such as War on the Rocks, The Washington Post, and Lawfare. Our work has also been covered by publications such as The New York Times, MIT Technology Review, and the BBC.

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

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About the Role

The Research Fellow role is designed for researchers who want to shape the future of AI governance by conducting independent, impactful research. Fellows are expected to help drive forward GovAI’s core research priorities while supervising junior researchers.

Research Fellows work under the guidance of a Senior Research Fellow or member of our leadership team, but enjoy substantial autonomy in selecting projects, shaping research agendas, and deciding on publication formats. Collaboration – both within and outside of GovAI – is encouraged, and Fellows often work closely with researchers across our network. They are also expected to offer supervision and mentorship to junior researchers, such as our Summer and Winter Fellows.

Your work as a Research Fellow may involve:

• Defining and executing on a research agenda, including bringing new people onto the topic

• Informing policymakers and decision-makers on pressing governance issues

• Producing original research in the form of academic publications, policy memos, reports, or blog posts

• Organizing events that convene key stakeholders around high-priority questions

• Contributing to our research strategy and institutional priorities

We support Research Fellows by providing guidance, access to a broad network of collaborators and opportunities, and resources for research activities and dissemination.

Note: Successful applicants will have substantial research experience in a relevant area. For researchers with less experience, we offer one-year visiting Research Scholar positions designed to support professional development. There is a shared application for both roles, so you need only apply once.

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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: Exploring the economic implications of AI development and deployment, including questions around 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? 

• Public Policy: 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? This might involve studying the role of compute in the AI supply chain, as well as how to evaluate and govern the safety properties of AI systems.

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Qualifications and Selection Criteria

We are open to candidates with a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. Past Fellows have included researchers with experience in computer science, political science, public policy, economics, philosophy, and law, as well as professionals from government, industry, and civil society.

There are no strict educational requirements for this role. However, the most promising candidates will typically have multiple years of relevant research or policy experience and a track record of producing high-quality work.

Essential Qualifications

Successful candidates will have:

• A demonstrated ability to produce excellent research, ideally within or adjacent to the domain of AI governance

• A strong interest in positively shaping the lasting impacts of AI, in line with our mission

• Established expertise in a domain relevant to AI governance

• Broad familiarity with the field of AI governance

• A compelling explanation of how this role will help you have a large impact

What We Value

They will also likely demonstrate:

• Self-direction and a desire for impact

• Strong judgment about research prioritisation

• Intellectual honesty and rigor

• Clear communication and collaboration skills

• Motivation to mentor others and contribute to a strong research culture

Additional Considerations

We especially welcome candidates with deep expertise in a particular area of relevance, such as technical governance, frontier safety design, cybersecurity, or US policy. We also encourage applications from individuals with strong applied experience, including advising policymakers or leading strategic initiatives in industry or civil society.

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Duration, Location, and Salary

Duration

Contracts are full-time and last two years on a fixed-term basis, with the possibility of renewal.

Location

We typically prefer candidates to be based in London, UK or Washington, DC, but are open to candidates based elsewhere.

In some cases, we have stronger location preferences:

• Policy-focused work: If you plan to focus heavily on government policy, we prefer you to be based in or near the relevant city (e.g. Washington DC for US federal policy).

• Project management roles: If you’ll be managing projects or launching new initiatives, we will often prefer you work out of our London office.


• Supervisor preferences: Some supervisors strongly prefer their supervisees to be based in the same location.

We are able to sponsor visas in the UK. We can only support visa sponsorship in exceptional cases in the US, and in many instances, will not be able to support a visa petition. If location constraints might affect your ability to apply, please contact recruitment@governance.ai.

Salary

Compensation is based on experience and location. Successful candidates based in London typically receive between £85,000 and £110,000 per year, and those based in Washington, DC typically earn $110,000–$180,000.

We offer additional compensation for candidates in higher cost-of-living regions, such as the San Francisco Bay Area. There may be additional flexibility in compensation in cases where salary considerations would prevent a candidate from accepting an offer.

Other benefits of the role include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• A £5,000 (~$6,000) annual wellbeing budget 
• A £5,000 (~$6,000) annual professional development budget 
• Remote staff get ~$500/month for a coworking space
• Flexible work hours
• Extended parental leave
• Ergonomic equipment
• A 10% employer pension contribution
• 33 days of paid vacation (including public holidays)

Please contact recruitment@governance.ai if you have questions or concerns regarding compensation or benefits that might affect your decision to apply.

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How to Apply and What to Expect

Application Process

The selection process has three stages:

1. Written application
2. A paid remote work test. Candidates who reach this stage may also be asked to produce a detailed research agenda outlining how they would approach their first two years at GovAI.
3. A final stage including two interviews and reference checks

Special Circumstances

Please contact recruitment@governance.ai if you:

• Need a decision communicated by a particular date

• Require assistance with the application due to a disability

• Have questions about the application process

Addressing complex AI governance challenges requires many different skillsets and perspectives. We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. If our mission excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification listed. Your unique combination of experience and motivation might be exactly what we're looking for.

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