Research Fellow

About the Team

GovAI was founded to help humanity navigate the transition to a world with advanced AI. Our researchers have published in top venues, including Science and Nature, and work closely with decision-makers across government, industry, and civil society. Our alumni have gone on to influential roles in government (US, UK, EU), leading AI companies (e.g. DeepMind, OpenAI, Anthropic), top think tanks (e.g. CSET, RAND), and leading universities (e.g. Oxford, Cambridge).

Our team and affiliate community possess expertise across risk management, threat modelling, frontier AI regulation, technical governance, agent governance, AI economics, international cooperation, US-China relations, and AI forecasting. Since publishing our first research agenda in 2018, we have helped define and shape the field of AI governance.

Although most of our staff are based in the United Kingdom, we also have team members in the United States and European Union.

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About the Role

The Research Fellow role is designed for experienced researchers who want to shape the future of AI governance by conducting independent, high-quality research. Fellows are expected to help drive forward GovAI’s core research priorities while supervising junior researchers and contributing to our intellectual community.

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 other 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:

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

• Advising policymakers and decision-makers on pressing governance issues

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

• Contributing to our research strategy and institutional priorities

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

Our Research Fellows have published in leading journals, advised policymakers, helped shape important workstreams in AI governance, and moved into influential roles across government, industry, and academia.

Broad topics of interest include — but are not limited to — frontier AI safety frameworks, AI regulation, international governance, technical governance, agent governance, economics of AI, threat modelling, and risk assessment and forecasting.

Successful candidates will join GovAI on two-year contracts, with the possibility of renewal.

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 research spans several broad areas. Currently, these include:

• Risk & Security: Risk assessment and risk management, loss of control risk, AI and cybersecurity, AI and biosecurity

• Policy & Regulation: Frontier AI regulation, international governance, industrial policy related to frontier AI, AI and law

• Technical Governance: Technical governance, agent governance, compute governance

• Economics & Global Impact: Economics of advanced AI, international technology diffusion

• AI Landscape: Forecasting AI progress, AI in China, AI in the Middle East, geopolitics of AI

While much of our work concerns the implications of the most capable general-purpose AI systems, we are also interested in work focused on narrower 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

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What We Value

They will also likely demonstrate:

• Self-direction and a desire for impact

• Strong judgment about research prioritisation

• Intellectual honesty and rigour

• Clear communication and collaboration skills

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

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Additional Considerations

We especially welcome candidates with deep expertise in a particular area of relevance, such as technical AI safety, international governance, 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.

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Location

We typically prefer candidates to be based in London, UK, 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 a particular government’s policies, 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 prefer you work out of our London office.


• Supervisor preferences: Some London-based supervisors prefer their supervisees to be primarily London-based.

We are able to sponsor visas in the UK and the US. If location constraints might affect your ability to apply, please contact recruitment@governance.ai.

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Salary

Compensation is based on experience and location. Successful candidates based in London typically receive between £80,000 and £100,000 per year (approximately $110,000–$130,000). 

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 
• An annual travel budget
• 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.

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

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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.