AI Policy Research Associate

RAND Corporation • Washington, DC

235d • Remote

About The Position

RAND's Technology and Security Policy Center (TASP) is seeking mission-driven Research Associates to contribute to and lead research, decision support, and/or technical work at the rapidly evolving intersection of artificial intelligence, national or global security, and U.S. domestic and international policy. RAND is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization that develops evidence-based solutions to public policy challenges. RAND's reputation for excellence is built on our commitment to quality, rigor, and objectivity. TASP is at the forefront of work on the impact of high-consequence, dual-use technologies on global competition and security. Our research is regularly used by decisionmakers at the White House, U.S. government departments and agencies, the EU and UK governments, and industry leaders, among others. Our alumni have gone on to important roles at institutions such as the NSC, Commerce, DOD, Congress, Google DeepMind, OpenAI, EU AI Office, UK AISI, other key think tanks, and founding mission-driven tech initiatives. This opening is primarily for our Technology Policy and Governance (TPG) and Geopolitics of AGI teams. TPG delivers timely, actionable analysis and policy recommendations to US and European decision-makers on topics at the intersection of AI and national security. This includes rapid-response work as well as longer-term, deeper work, and work that goes directly to decisionmakers as well as publications. Recent examples include responses to the White House's request for feedback on the AI Action Plan. The Geopolitics team helps policymakers understand, anticipate, and prepare to navigate the national security and geopolitical implications of AGI, including by developing an adaptive and forward-looking U.S. strategy for AGI. Recent examples of their public work include Artificial General Intelligence's Five Hard National Security Problems, Seeking Stability in the Competition for AI Advantage, and Managing AI's Economic Future. Research Associates will be a key part of one or more such teams, working alongside a variety of technical and policy experts and with access to extensive government and industry connections. This position is initially structured as a focused 1-year appointment to create the urgency needed to drive ambitious change in this rapidly evolving field. The appointment may be renewed for up to a total of 3 years, with opportunities for longer-term employment at RAND thereafter. Full-time schedules are preferred, and part-time (at least 20 hours per week) schedules will be considered.

Requirements

• Excellent analytic skills; the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; the ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team; and a strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity.
• Strong interest in topics our center works on, as indicated by relevant education, professional experience, personal blog posts, etc.
• Familiarity with potential advances in AI and their national security implications, and expertise in some of the specific topics our center works on, or an ability to rapidly develop those things.
• Ability to tailor communications to expert and non-expert audiences, ideally including explaining complex technical or legal topics and their policy implications to non-experts.

Nice To Haves

• Interest in and ability to develop actionable policy recommendations and clear reasoning for and against them, including on short timelines and on whatever matters emerge as important and timely.
• Experience in the US government or advising or working with policymakers in relation to emerging technology and national security issues, including in the White House, Congress, the interagency process, and/or the intelligence community.
• Legal expertise or ability to develop that.
• Experience working on AI research/deployment and/or working at frontier AI companies.
• Familiarity with conducting China-related research, particularly primary source research.
• Aptitude for project management.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to projects using a broad range of analytically rigorous research methods and skills.
• Contribute to timely research, analysis, and development of policy options as specific questions and policy windows arise.
• Monitor policy, geopolitical, and technical developments related to the specialties you develop.
• Contribute to the dissemination of research results to policymakers and other key stakeholders.
• Potentially perform technical tasks such as coding or data analysis.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree