Application Guide
How to Apply for Head of Biology, Red Team
at Gray Swan
🏢 About Gray Swan
Gray Swan is at the forefront of AI security, specializing in automated risk assessment for AI models. Their mission to proactively identify and mitigate biological misuse risks makes them a unique and impactful workplace for those passionate about AI safety and biosecurity.
About This Role
As the Head of Biology, Red Team, you will lead the charge in evaluating frontier AI systems for biological threats. This role is pivotal in shaping safety standards and building scalable infrastructure to prevent AI-enabled biological catastrophes, making it a critical position in the intersection of AI and biosecurity.
💡 A Day in the Life
You might start your day reviewing recent AI model outputs for potential biological risks, then collaborate with ML engineers to refine evaluation datasets. Afternoons could involve mentoring your biology team, leading brainstorming sessions for new red-teaming scenarios, and meeting with external partners to align on safety standards.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Gray Swan Is Looking For
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📝 Tips for Applying to Gray Swan
Highlight specific experience in designing adversarial evaluations or red-teaming exercises for biological systems, even if not directly AI-related.
Demonstrate knowledge of frontier AI models and their potential applications in biotechnology, citing recent papers or incidents.
Showcase any projects where you translated biological expertise into datasets, classifiers, or automated systems, even if in a research context.
Emphasize your ability to think adversarially about biological threats and your familiarity with biosecurity frameworks like the Biosecurity Risk Assessment.
Tailor your CV and cover letter to explicitly address the dual-use nature of your research and your commitment to safety.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
- Your vision for building scalable biology safety evaluations for AI systems. - Your experience in leading interdisciplinary teams and fostering collaboration between biology and AI experts. - Your understanding of the current gaps in AI biosecurity and how your expertise can fill them. - Your passion for Gray Swan's mission and how you can contribute to their innovative approach.
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read Gray Swan's published research and blog posts on AI safety and red-teaming methodologies.
- → Familiarize yourself with recent reports on AI and biosecurity from organizations like the Future of Life Institute or the Nuclear Threat Initiative.
- → Look into the backgrounds of Gray Swan's founders and key team members to understand their approach and culture.
- → Explore the tools Gray Swan has developed, such as their automated risk assessment platforms, to understand their technical stack.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Underestimating the technical complexity of AI systems and focusing solely on biology without showing understanding of LLMs.
- Failing to demonstrate a proactive stance on biosecurity, such as not mentioning relevant safety frameworks or guidelines.
- Being overly academic without showing practical experience in building or leading teams in a fast-paced environment.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!