Application Guide
How to Apply for Research Workstream Lead
at METR
🏢 About METR
METR is a unique nonprofit research organization focused specifically on developing scientific methods to assess AI capabilities, risks, and mitigations, with particular emphasis on threats related to autonomy, AI R&D automation, and alignment. Unlike many AI safety organizations, METR takes a rigorous, evidence-based approach to understanding AI dangers, making it an ideal workplace for those who want to tackle one of civilization's most important challenges through systematic research rather than advocacy.
About This Role
As Research Workstream Lead, you'll be responsible for designing and overseeing research projects that develop methods to assess AI capabilities and risks, with specific focus on autonomy and alignment threats. This role is impactful because you'll be creating the scientific frameworks that help civilization understand and mitigate potentially catastrophic AI risks, directly contributing to METR's mission of making AI development safer.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day involves designing research methodologies to assess specific AI risks, coordinating with researchers on workstream progress, analyzing data from capability assessments, and ensuring scientific rigor in all projects. You'll spend significant time thinking about how to measure AI autonomy threats and alignment challenges while leading a team focused on developing practical assessment tools.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who METR Is Looking For
- Has strong research background in AI safety, alignment, or related technical fields with experience designing rigorous scientific methodologies
- Demonstrates deep understanding of AI autonomy risks, R&D automation threats, and alignment challenges specifically (not just general AI ethics)
- Can lead complex research projects while maintaining scientific rigor in a nonprofit context focused on existential risk reduction
- Is comfortable with METR's evaluation approach involving paid work tests and potential in-person trials
📝 Tips for Applying to METR
Explicitly reference METR's specific focus areas (autonomy, AI R&D automation, alignment) in your application materials, showing you understand their niche
Prepare for their unique evaluation process by highlighting past work that demonstrates your ability to perform well on paid work tests
Show familiarity with scientific methodology in AI risk assessment rather than just policy or ethical frameworks
Demonstrate understanding of what makes METR different from other AI safety organizations in your application
If you have research that directly addresses AI capability assessment or risk measurement methodologies, highlight this prominently
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your specific experience with scientific methods for assessing AI capabilities and risks (not just general AI safety work)', "How your background aligns with METR's precise focus areas: autonomy threats, AI R&D automation risks, and alignment challenges", 'Examples of leading research projects with rigorous methodology that produced measurable outcomes', "Why you're drawn to METR's evidence-based, nonprofit approach rather than other AI safety organizations"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read METR's published research or methodology papers to understand their specific technical approach
- → Research their team members' backgrounds to understand the organization's research culture and technical depth
- → Understand how METR's focus differs from other AI safety organizations (like Anthropic's alignment research or OpenAI's safety team)
- → Look into their specific projects on autonomy and AI R&D automation to speak knowledgeably about their current work
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying with generic AI ethics experience without showing specific knowledge of capability assessment or risk measurement methodologies
- Focusing on AI policy or governance rather than the scientific research methods METR emphasizes
- Not addressing their specific focus areas (autonomy, R&D automation, alignment) in your application materials
📅 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!