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About the Role
This role is for a technical researcher who can contribute strong ML and computational biology expertise to assess the risk-relevant capabilities of specialised biological models. You will translate ambiguous questions into rigorous research questions, assess in-silico performance against experimental outcomes, and investigate the effectiveness of technical safeguards.
Responsibilities
- Evaluate the risk-relevant capabilities of specialised biological models, translating ambiguous questions into measurable research questions and experimental designs.
- Connect computational and experimental evidence using published results, datasets, expert review, and wet-lab collaborations.
- Identify the feasibility and effectiveness of technical safeguards for specialised biological models.
- Track the technical frontier by identifying important developments in biological AI and determining which new models, methods, or capabilities AISI should investigate.
- Communicate clear technical reports, briefings, and recommendations to senior decision-makers within government and other trusted partners.
- Collaborate with research scientists, engineers, biosecurity experts, policy teams, AI safety specialists, and external scientific partners.
Requirements
- Deep, hands-on experience working with biological machine learning models (e.g., protein design, generative, structure prediction, scientific foundation models).
- Strong machine-learning background and applied engineering skills, including experience with PyTorch or similar, and robust Python coding.
- Computational biology expertise, with sufficient understanding of molecular biology, biochemistry, structural biology, protein science, or genomics.
- Strong empirical judgment, including experiment design, identification of baselines/controls, and critical interpretation of scientific results.
- Mission orientation, motivated by public-interest and policy impact, with discretion for dual-use sensitivity.
- Collaborative interdisciplinary communication skills, able to explain complex findings across diverse audiences.
- Ability to spend at least 9 days per fortnight working with the team.
- Willingness to work from the London office at least 3 days per week.
- Must be UK-based.
- Successful completion of UK Government SC clearance is conditional for appointment.
- Willingness to undergo Developed Vetting (DV).
Skills
- Machine Learning
- Computational Biology
- Python
- PyTorch
- Experimental Design
- Scientific Communication
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- AI Safety Frameworks
- Model Evaluations
- Responsible Capability Assessment
- Release Governance
- AI Risk Management
- Protein Design
- Structural Biology
- Virology
- Immunology
- Genomics
- Epidemiology
Location
- London
- Birmingham
- Cardiff
- Darlington
- Edinburgh
- Salford
- Bristol
Work Type
- Hybrid
- Occasional remote work abroad
Experience Level
- Senior
Salary/Compensations
- £65,000–£145,000 (Level 3: £65,000–£75,000, Level 4: £85,000–£95,000, Level 5: £105,000–£115,000, Level 6: £125,000–£135,000, Level 7: £145,000)
- Additional 28.97% employer pension contribution on base salary.
Benefits
- Impactful work with direct influence on global AI governance.
- Talented, mission-driven, and supportive colleagues.
- Work with the Prime Minister’s AI Advisor and leading AI companies.
- Opportunity to shape the first and best-resourced public-interest AI security research team.
- Pre-release access to frontier models and ample compute.
- Extensive operational support.
- Work with experts across national security, policy, AI research, and adjacent sciences.
- Ownership of important problems early for talented and driven individuals.
- 5 days off for learning and development.
- Annual stipends for learning and development.
- Funding for conferences and external collaborations.
- Freedom to pursue research bets without product pressure.
- Opportunities to publish and collaborate externally.
- Modern central London office or similar government offices in other locations.
- Flexibility for occasional remote work abroad.
- Stipends for work-from-home equipment.
- At least 25 days’ annual leave.
- 8 public holidays.
- Extra team-wide breaks.
- 3 days off for volunteering.
- Generous paid parental leave (36 weeks statutory + 3 extra paid weeks + option for additional unpaid time).
- Discounts for cycling to work, donations, and retail/gyms.
About the Company
- The AI Security Institute is the world's largest and best-funded team dedicated to understanding advanced AI risks and translating that knowledge into action.
- Located within the UK government with direct lines to No. 10.
- Works with frontier developers and governments globally.
- Uniquely positioned to mobilize governments for advanced AI.
- Has resources, unique agility, and international influence to shape AI development and government action.
- The Chem Bio (CB) team conducts technical research on AI capabilities related to science R&D and CB misuse, and the effectiveness of technical safeguards.
- The goal of CB research is to inform critical decisions on security, opportunities, policy, and risk mitigation.
- CB is an unusually interdisciplinary team composed of researchers, engineers, scientists, biosecurity experts, and policy specialists.
- CB will significantly scale its evaluations and research programmes, engaging more deeply with partners in major AI labs, the biotech/pharma ecosystem, and security services.
Equal Opportunity
- The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.
- Runs a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
- Offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants at risk of redundancy.
- The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.
- As part of the application process, statistics on D&I are monitored.