Research Scholar

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 Scholar role is designed to support your career development in AI governance, with significant flexibility to pursue this goal as you see fit.

For example, past scholars have used the position to help create the field of technical AI governance, support UK policymaking through a government secondment, and launch a new organisation to facilitate international AI governance dialogues.

The topics we work on include, but are not limited to: frontier AI safety frameworks, threat modelling, AI regulation, international governance, technical governance, agent governance, the economics of AI, and risk assessment and forecasting.

You will be supervised by a member of the GovAI team or network (typically meeting weekly or bi-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:

• Conducting impactful research and publishing academic papers and policy reports

• Producing analysis for policymakers

• Organising events that bring together stakeholders and drive progress on important issues

• Launching a new initiative or organisation

Some of our most impactful Research Scholars have spent much of their time in areas other than traditional research. For example, they have organised high-impact events, worked as a project manager for policy engagement work, and started new organisations. Research Scholars are welcome to explore such ambitious “applied” projects.

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.

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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, AI agent governance, compute governance

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

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

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.

Some of our most impactful Research Scholars have dedicated the majority of their time to applied work rather than traditional research. We welcome applications from candidates who would primarily focus on launching new AI governance organisations, organising high-impact events, managing policy engagement projects, or supporting other applied work.

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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

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What We Value

They will also likely demonstrate:

• Self-direction and the ability to evaluate projects based on impact

• Intellectual honesty and rigour

• Receptiveness to feedback and commitment to self-improvement

• Strong communication and collaboration skills

• Motivation to help others succeed

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Additional Considerations

For candidates who are hoping to do specific kinds of work (e.g. technical research) or work on particular topics (e.g. US policy), we will also look for expertise and experience in those particular areas.

The most promising candidates typically have either graduate degrees or relevant professional experience, but we consider applicants at all career stages and have hired talented scholars with less experience.

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Duration, Location, and Salary

Duration

Contracts will be for a fixed 12-month term. While these contracts are non-renewable, Research Scholars may apply for longer-term positions at GovAI — such as Research Fellow positions — at the end of their contract.

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Location

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

We do have stronger location preferences in some cases:

• 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.

If you have location restrictions that might prevent you from applying, please inquire at recruitment@governance.ai. 

We are able to sponsor visas in the UK and the US.

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Salary

Compensation is based on experience and location. Successful candidates based in London typically receive between £75,000 and £95,000 per year (approximately $100,000–$125,000). 

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.

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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
3. 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.