Program Lead, AIxBio

Cambridge Boston Alignment Initiative•Cambridge, MA

46d•$110,000 - $130,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cambridge Boston Alignment Initiative (CBAI) is seeking a founding organizer for its new AIxBio Research Fellowship, a program at the intersection of AI and biosecurity. This role will own the strategic and operational direction of the program, manage research managers, lead mentor recruitment, and build a high-impact research environment in Cambridge. The Program Lead will work closely with CBAI's Director of Programs and organizational leadership to ensure the AIxBio program aligns with CBAI's broader mission and infrastructure, as well as the existing AI safety fellowship program. The role involves significant program strategy, development, and stakeholder management, with a focus on building and scaling the fellowship. Key responsibilities include developing the program's strategic vision, designing the fellowship from selection to cohort programming, creating evaluation frameworks, and identifying opportunities to deepen CBAI's presence in the biosecurity research ecosystem. The role also involves managing AIxBio Research Managers and leading mentor recruitment by identifying, outreaching to, and onboarding biosecurity and AI researchers. Maintaining strong relationships with partners like SecureBio and Coefficient Giving is also crucial. This is a leadership role focused on building and managing a research environment, not conducting research directly. The ideal candidate is mission-motivated, a strong relationship builder, strategic, operational, and an excellent communicator, with experience in or at the intersection of biosecurity and AI.

Requirements

Deep familiarity with AI x biosecurity, with meaningful experience in or at the intersection of biosecurity and AI (research, policy, field-building, or program leadership)
Ability to engage credibly with mentors and fellows working on capability evaluations, dual-use research governance, or adjacent agendas
A builder's orientation: excitement for launching something new, ability to operate with ambiguity, make good decisions with incomplete information, and build systems that outlast direct involvement
Strong relationship building skills: ability to build trust with senior researchers and institutional partners
Strategic and operational range: ability to think at the program design and organizational strategy level and roll up sleeves when needed
Excellent communication skills: clear writing, compelling presentation, and feedback delivery
People leadership experience: managing or mentoring others, giving clear direction, creating psychological safety, and holding people accountable with care
Mission-motivated: belief in the seriousness of biosecurity risks from AI and a desire to contribute to building a field of researchers and policy thinkers
Credibility to recruit and retain excellent mentors
Judgment to shape a high-quality research environment
Leadership capacity to manage a small team
U.S. work authorization required (OPT accepted)

Nice To Haves

Existing relationships in the biosecurity, AI safety, or adjacent research communities
Experience launching or directing a research program, fellowship, or academic initiative
Published research or policy work in a relevant domain

Responsibilities

Own the strategic vision and continuous improvement of the AIxBio Research Fellowship across cycles
Design the program end-to-end, from the fellow selection process to incorporating inputs from the stakeholders into the program design
Design program structures — mentor matching, fellow selection criteria, research goal frameworks, cohort programming — in collaboration with CBAI's Research Program Associate and research managers
Develop evaluation frameworks to assess fellow outcomes and program effectiveness
Identify and pursue opportunities to deepen CBAI's presence in the Cambridge biosecurity research ecosystem
Collaborate with CBAI program leadership to ensure cross-program coherence and resource alignment
Manage AIxBio Research Managers, providing guidance, feedback, and support
Lead mentor recruitment: identify, outreach to, and onboard biosecurity and AI researchers as mentors
Maintain strong ongoing relationships with mentors, SecureBio, Coefficient Giving, and other program partners
Serve as the primary point of contact for mentors throughout the fellowship cycle, in coordination with research managers