Application Guide

How to Apply for Research Lead - Securing Frontier AI

at RAND Corporation

🏢 About RAND Corporation

The RAND Corporation is a unique nonpartisan think tank that bridges academic research with real-world policy impact, operating as a nonprofit institution that serves public interest rather than private profit. Working at RAND offers the opportunity to conduct rigorous, evidence-based research that directly informs critical policy decisions at the highest levels of government and industry, with a culture that values intellectual independence and multidisciplinary collaboration.

About This Role

As Research Lead for Securing Frontier AI, you would spearhead RAND's research initiatives on the security implications of cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems, focusing on emerging risks, governance frameworks, and mitigation strategies. This role is impactful because it addresses one of the most pressing technological challenges of our time, with findings likely to influence national security policy, international AI governance, and responsible innovation practices across the tech sector.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve leading a morning team meeting to coordinate research on AI vulnerability assessments, followed by analyzing emerging AI capabilities from technical papers and policy documents. The afternoon could include drafting interim findings for a government client brief, collaborating with RAND cybersecurity experts on threat modeling, and preparing for stakeholder workshops with national security agencies.

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🎯 Who RAND Corporation Is Looking For

  • Demonstrated expertise in AI safety/security research with publications or projects addressing frontier AI risks, alignment, or governance
  • Experience translating technical AI concepts into actionable policy recommendations for government or industry stakeholders
  • Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary research teams and manage complex projects at the intersection of technology and policy
  • Strong network within AI safety, national security, or tech policy communities with connections to relevant government agencies (DARPA, OSTP, etc.) or leading AI labs

📝 Tips for Applying to RAND Corporation

1

Highlight specific RAND research projects you admire, particularly those from their Technology & Security or National Security Research divisions

2

Demonstrate understanding of RAND's nonpartisan, evidence-based approach by avoiding ideological language and emphasizing methodological rigor

3

Reference RAND's 'Impact Careers' framework explicitly, showing how your work aligns with their mission of improving policy through research

4

Include concrete examples of how your research has influenced policy or decision-making, even if indirectly

5

Tailor your application to RAND's unique position as a bridge between academia and government - show you can speak both languages

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your specific research agenda for securing frontier AI and how it aligns with RAND's current work in this area", "Examples of how you've maintained objectivity and rigor in politically charged technology policy debates", 'Your experience managing research teams and projects with multiple stakeholders (government, academia, industry)', 'How your background enables you to navigate both technical AI concepts and policy implementation challenges']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Recent RAND publications on AI governance, particularly from their Center for Global Risk and Security
  • → RAND's organizational structure and how research divisions collaborate (especially Technology & Security with National Security)
  • → The specific government agencies and departments that are primary RAND clients for AI security work
  • → RAND's approach to research quality standards and peer review processes
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a research program to assess national security risks from frontier AI systems?
2 What specific governance mechanisms do you believe are most effective for securing advanced AI, and what evidence supports this?
3 How would you approach a scenario where research findings conflict with stakeholder expectations or political pressures?
4 Describe how you would collaborate with RAND's existing experts in cybersecurity, international relations, and defense policy
5 What metrics would you use to measure the impact of your research on actual policy outcomes?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing exclusively on technical AI details without connecting to policy implications or decision-making contexts
  • Presenting research positions as ideological rather than evidence-based, which contradicts RAND's nonpartisan ethos
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of how think tank research differs from academic research in timelines, deliverables, and audience

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

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Good luck with your application to RAND Corporation!

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