How to apply for Senior Economist, AI Geostrategic and Economic Mechanisms

About Center for AI Risk Management and Alignment

The Center for AI Risk Management and Alignment (CARMA) is a nonprofit dedicated to improving the technical, policy, and multidisciplinary aspects of AI risk management, safety, and alignment. Unlike many AI policy organizations, CARMA focuses specifically on the intersection of AI risks and practical management solutions, making it a unique place for economists who want to shape how society addresses advanced AI. Working here means contributing to high-impact, mission-driven research that directly informs policy and industry practices.

About the role

As a Senior Economist focusing on AI Geostrategic and Economic Mechanisms, you will develop economic models to analyze how advanced AI systems could reshape global economic paradigms and create systemic risks. You will build scenarios for economic disruptions from rapid AI advancement, including labor displacement and market concentration, and model how AI-driven productivity changes could interact with existing economic structures to create new forms of inequality. Your work will directly inform strategies to mitigate these risks and promote equitable outcomes.

A typical day

A typical day might involve collaborating with AI researchers and policy analysts to refine economic models, analyzing data on AI investment trends, and drafting a report on labor displacement scenarios. You could also participate in brainstorming sessions to design new research projects or present findings to stakeholders. The work is highly collaborative and mission-driven, with a focus on producing timely, impactful research.

Who Center for AI Risk Management and Alignment is looking for

• Senior-level economist with a strong track record in economic modeling and analysis, ideally with experience in macroeconomics, labor economics, or industrial organization.
• Expertise in analyzing complex economic systems and risk assessment, with the ability to translate quantitative findings into actionable insights for policymakers and technical audiences.
• Solid understanding of AI systems and their economic implications, including familiarity with AI capabilities, limitations, and current trends in AI development.
• Experience with scenario planning, geostrategic analysis, or power concentration dynamics is highly desirable.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience you have with AI-related economic modeling or scenario planning, even if it was part of a broader project. CARMA values concrete examples of how you've applied economic frameworks to emerging technologies.
• Demonstrate familiarity with CARMA's existing research and publications. Reference specific reports or initiatives in your application to show you understand their approach and can build on it.
• Emphasize your ability to communicate complex economic concepts to non-economists. CARMA is multidisciplinary, so show how you've bridged gaps between technical and policy audiences.
• Provide a writing sample or portfolio that showcases your modeling work, especially if it involves risk assessment or scenario analysis. This is more impactful than generic cover letters.
• In your cover letter, explicitly connect your work to CARMA's mission of AI risk management and alignment. Explain why you're passionate about mitigating systemic risks from AI, not just studying economics.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your specific experience in modeling economic disruptions or systemic risks, particularly those related to technological change. Detail the methods you used and the impact of your findings.', 'How your understanding of AI systems informs your economic analysis. Show that you can critically evaluate AI capabilities and their potential economic consequences.', 'Your ability to translate complex analyses into actionable insights for diverse stakeholders. Provide examples of how your work has influenced policy or decision-making.', "Your alignment with CARMA's mission and values. Explain why you want to work at a nonprofit focused on AI risk management and how you can contribute to their goals."]

Research before applying

• Read CARMA's recent publications, especially any reports on AI risk management, economic impacts, or alignment. Understand their framing and key concerns.
• Explore the backgrounds of CARMA's team, particularly other economists or policy experts, to understand the multidisciplinary environment and potential collaborators.
• Familiarize yourself with current debates on AI geostrategy and economic mechanisms, such as compute governance, AI monopolies, and labor market disruptions. This will help you speak the same language as the team.
• Investigate CARMA's partners and funders to understand their influence and the broader ecosystem they operate in.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you model the economic impact of a rapid AI capability breakthrough, such as AGI? Walk us through your approach.
• What are the key mechanisms through which AI could exacerbate economic inequality, and how would you quantify them?
• Describe a time when you had to communicate a complex economic risk to a non-expert audience. How did you ensure clarity and impact?
• How do you stay updated on AI advancements, and how do you incorporate that knowledge into your economic models?
• What do you see as the most underappreciated economic risk from advanced AI, and how would you address it in your research at CARMA?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Submitting a generic application that doesn't mention AI or CARMA's specific mission. They want to see genuine interest in AI risk, not just economics.
• Overemphasizing academic theory without demonstrating practical application or policy relevance. CARMA values actionable insights.
• Ignoring the geostrategic aspect of the role. If you only focus on domestic economic impacts, you'll miss a key dimension of the job.