Application Guide

How to Apply for Research Scientist, Open Source Technical Safeguards

at AI Safety Ideas (AISI)

🏢 About AI Safety Ideas (AISI)

The AI Security Institute (AISI) is uniquely positioned as the world's largest and best-funded team focused on advanced AI risks, operating directly within the UK government with access to No. 10. This offers unparalleled influence on both AI development and government policy globally. Working here means contributing to high-stakes research that directly informs international AI safety standards and government action.

About This Role

This Research Scientist role focuses specifically on developing open source technical safeguards to mitigate societal risks from AI, particularly around preventing harmful content generation like CSAM and NCII. You'll be translating research into actionable safeguards that can be implemented by frontier AI developers and governments, making this role critical for shaping real-world AI safety protocols.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve analyzing new open source model releases for potential vulnerabilities, designing and testing technical safeguards in collaboration with frontier AI developers, and preparing research briefings that translate technical findings into actionable recommendations for government stakeholders. You'd likely split time between hands-on technical work and cross-functional collaboration with policy teams.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who AI Safety Ideas (AISI) Is Looking For

  • Has technical expertise in AI model safety mechanisms, particularly around content filtering, model alignment, or adversarial robustness for open-weight models
  • Demonstrates experience researching or mitigating specific societal AI risks like harmful content generation, social engineering, or information integrity threats
  • Can bridge technical research with policy implications, understanding how safeguards translate to government action and industry implementation
  • Shows familiarity with the open source AI ecosystem and the unique challenges of implementing safeguards in decentralized model distribution

📝 Tips for Applying to AI Safety Ideas (AISI)

1

Explicitly reference AISI's published research on CSAM/NCII generation risks and suggest how your work could build upon their existing findings

2

Highlight any experience working at the intersection of technical research and government/policy contexts, as this role requires influencing both domains

3

Demonstrate understanding of the 'Societal Resilience' team's multidisciplinary approach by showing how your background connects technical safeguards with societal impact

4

Include specific examples of how you've previously developed or evaluated technical safeguards, particularly for open source or frontier AI systems

5

Tailor your application to show how you can contribute to AISI's unique position of having 'direct lines to No. 10' and international influence

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific technical approach to developing safeguards for open-weight models, not just general AI safety principles', "How your research background aligns with the Societal Resilience team's focus on immediate and medium-term societal risks", 'Examples of translating technical research into actionable recommendations for developers or policymakers', "Why AISI's government-integrated position specifically appeals to you for implementing safeguards at scale"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → AISI's published research on CSAM/NCII generation risks and their existing technical approaches
  • → The UK government's current AI safety policies and how AISI has influenced them
  • → Recent publications or statements from the Societal Resilience team about their research priorities
  • → How AISI collaborates with frontier AI developers (mentioned in their description) and what that means for safeguard implementation

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Technical approaches to preventing specific harmful outputs (like CSAM generation) in open source models
2 How you would design safeguards that balance effectiveness with practical implementation by diverse open source communities
3 Your understanding of the unique challenges in regulating or safeguarding decentralized AI model distribution
4 How you would communicate complex technical safeguards to government stakeholders at No. 10 level
5 Your perspective on the most pressing societal risks from open source AI in the next 1-3 years
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing only on theoretical AI safety without concrete examples of safeguard development or implementation
  • Treating this as a pure research role without acknowledging the policy/government influence aspect central to AISI's mission
  • Applying generic AI safety knowledge without addressing the specific open source and societal risk focus of this role

📅 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!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to AI Safety Ideas (AISI)!

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