About the AI Safety Institute
The AI Safety Institute (AISI), launched at the 2023 Bletchley Park AI Safety Summit, is the world's first state-backed organization dedicated to advancing AI safety for the public interest. Our mission is to assess and mitigate risks from frontier AI systems, including cyber attacks on critical infrastructure, AI-enhanced chemical and biological threats, large-scale societal disruptions, and potential loss of control over increasingly powerful AI. In just one year, we've assembled one of the largest and most respected model evaluation teams, featuring renowned scientists and senior researchers from leading AI labs such as Anthropic, DeepMind, and OpenAI.
At AISI, we're building the premier institution for impacting both technical AI safety and AI governance. We conduct cutting-edge research, develop novel evaluation tools, and provide crucial insights to governments, companies, and international partners. By joining us, you'll collaborate with the brightest minds in the field, directly shape global AI policies, and tackle complex challenges at the forefront of technology and ethics. Whether you're a researcher, engineer, or policy expert, at AISI, you're not just advancing your career – you're positioned to have significant impact in the age of artificial intelligence.
Technical Lead, Biological and Chemical Models
We are looking for an experienced Technical Lead who specialises in AI/ML applied to engineering biology/chemistry.
You will be part of a cross-cutting team within the Bio-Chem work stream at the AI Safety Institute. Our role is to advance safety science of advanced AI models including LLMs and more specialised AI models within biology and chemistry and to inform the wider policy environment.
You are responsible for leading a stream for researching specialised models within Biology and Chemistry with a goal to develop model evaluations, benchmarks, and technical safeguards for specialised models. This is a technical lead role with management responsibility and will be a source of nuanced technical insight.
The workstream is situated within the AISI research unit and will report to the Chem-Bio workstream lead. This post requires Developed Vetting (DV) and any continued employment will be conditional on earning and maintaining this level of clearance. This is a UK Nationals only post, as it is a reserved position. More detail on Security Clearances can be found on the UK Government website.
Role Summary
- Lead a talent driven, multidisciplinary team of Research Engineers and Research Scientists;
- Develop and deliver a strategy for building a cutting-edge research agenda;
- Deliver additional impactful research by overseeing a diverse portfolio of research projects, potentially included a portfolio of externally delivered research;
- Ensure that research outcomes are disseminated to relevant stakeholders within government and the wider community;
- Forge relationships with key partners in industry, academia, and across government, including the national security community;
- Act as part of AISI’s overall leadership team, setting the culture, and supporting team members.
Person specification:
You may be a good fit if you have some of the following skills, experience, and attitudes:
- Strong track record of leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver multiple exceptional scientific breakthroughs or high-quality products. We’re looking for evidence of an ability to lead exceptional teams.
- Strong experience with mentorship of PhD level team members.
- Comprehensive understanding of AI used in engineering biology for example AlphaFold, diffusion models, and biological foundation models.
- A nuanced understanding of experimental approaches used to validate and assess computational prediction in protein biochemistry such as yeast display, SPR, cryoEM, mass-spectrometry and imaging approaches.
- Demonstrable commitment to improving scientific standards and rigour, through the development and implementation of best practice research methods.
- Excellent communication skills, with a track record of translating complex research findings into actionable insights.
- Experience working at the intersection of Biosecurity and AI.
Additional Information
Internal Fraud Database
The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented. For more information please see - Internal Fraud Register.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
UK nationals only.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Additional Information
Internal Fraud Database
The Internal Fraud function of the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function at the Cabinet Office processes details of civil servants who have been dismissed for committing internal fraud, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned. The Cabinet Office receives the details from participating government organisations of civil servants who have been dismissed, or who would have been dismissed had they not resigned, for internal fraud. In instances such as this, civil servants are then banned for 5 years from further employment in the civil service. The Cabinet Office then processes this data and discloses a limited dataset back to DLUHC as a participating government organisations. DLUHC then carry out the pre employment checks so as to detect instances where known fraudsters are attempting to reapply for roles in the civil service. In this way, the policy is ensured and the repetition of internal fraud is prevented. For more information please see - Internal Fraud Register.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check and get baseline personnel security standard (BPSS) clearance before they can be appointed. Additionally, there is a strong preference for eligibility for counter-terrorist check (CTC) clearance. Some roles may require higher levels of clearance, and we will state this by exception in the job advertisement. See our vetting charter here.
Nationality requirements
We may be able to offer roles to applicant from any nationality or background. As such we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet the standard nationality requirements (opens in a new window).
