Application Guide

How to Apply for Research Scientist/Engineer, Biological Models

at AI Safety Ideas (AISI)

🏢 About AI Safety Ideas (AISI)

The AI Security Institute (AISI) is the world's largest and best-funded organization focused on advanced AI risk assessment, uniquely positioned within the UK government with direct access to the Prime Minister's office. What makes AISI exceptional is its combination of government influence, international reach, and interdisciplinary approach to addressing critical AI safety challenges at the intersection of technology and policy.

About This Role

This Research Scientist/Engineer role focuses on developing and analyzing biological models to assess AI capabilities in scientific R&D and potential chemical/biological misuse scenarios. You'll be working within the Chem Bio team to evaluate technical safeguards and provide evidence-based insights that directly inform government policy decisions and AI developer practices regarding biosecurity risks.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve developing or refining biological models to simulate AI-assisted scenarios, collaborating with virologists and policy specialists to validate assumptions, analyzing results to assess risk levels and safeguard effectiveness, and preparing technical briefings that translate complex findings into actionable insights for government stakeholders. You'd likely participate in interdisciplinary team meetings where technical, policy, and security perspectives converge on specific risk assessment challenges.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

Practice questions for this role

🎯 Who AI Safety Ideas (AISI) Is Looking For

  • Has strong technical background in biological modeling, computational biology, or related fields with experience applying these to risk assessment scenarios
  • Demonstrates interdisciplinary thinking that bridges biological sciences, AI/ML, and security/policy considerations
  • Shows experience or strong interest in biosecurity, chemical/biological risk assessment, or related safety-critical domains
  • Can communicate complex technical concepts effectively to both technical colleagues and policy stakeholders

📝 Tips for Applying to AI Safety Ideas (AISI)

1

Explicitly connect your biological modeling experience to risk assessment or safety applications, not just pure research

2

Highlight any interdisciplinary work or collaboration between technical and policy domains in your background

3

Demonstrate understanding of AISI's unique government position by framing your interest in terms of policy impact, not just technical challenges

4

Reference specific AISI publications or public statements about chemical/biological AI risks to show you've done your homework

5

Emphasize experience with practical implementation of models for decision-making, not just theoretical development

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience with biological models and how they apply to risk assessment or safety evaluation', 'Examples of interdisciplinary collaboration between technical and non-technical stakeholders', "Understanding of AISI's unique position at the government-AI developer interface", 'Motivation for working on AI safety with direct policy impact rather than purely academic or commercial applications']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → AISI's public statements and publications on chemical/biological AI risks (check their website and official channels)
  • → The UK government's approach to AI safety and biosecurity policy (recent white papers or strategy documents)
  • → Current frontier AI capabilities in scientific discovery and their potential dual-use implications
  • → The structure and recent work of AISI's Chem Bio team specifically (look for team member publications or talks)

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk through a specific biological modeling project you've worked on and how you would adapt it for risk assessment
2 How would you evaluate the effectiveness of technical safeguards against AI-assisted chemical/biological misuse?
3 Describe how you would communicate complex model results to government policymakers with limited technical background
4 What do you see as the most pressing AI-related biosecurity risks in the next 2-3 years?
5 How would you collaborate with virologists, policy specialists, and ML researchers on a joint project?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing exclusively on technical modeling without connecting to policy or security implications
  • Treating this as a pure research role without acknowledging the government/policy context
  • Demonstrating limited understanding of biosecurity concepts or chemical/biological risk landscapes
  • Failing to show how your work would translate into actionable insights for decision-makers

📅 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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