Research Scientist, Frontier Risk & Alignment, Futures team
About The Position
At Microsoft AI, we are on a mission to train the world’s most capable AI frontier models, pushing the boundaries of scale, performance, and product deployment. Our vision is to pursue humanist superintelligence, that is designed to remain controllable, aligned, and firmly in service to humanity. The MAI Futures team is hiring a Member of the Futures Team (Frontier Risk & Alignment) to help shape and realize that vision. The team researches, informs and prepares Microsoft AI and the broader ecosystem for the future of AI and society. Reporting into the Frontier Risk & Alignment sub-team, you will lead research that anticipates risks of advanced AI systems, translate it into publications, and inform Microsoft’s technical and operational workstreams. The topics addressed by the team include superintelligence preparedness, multi-agent safety, traditional frontier risk vectors, research underpinning humanist AI model alignment and more. Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees, we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Requirements
- Doctoral degree in a related field, OR another advanced degree with equivalent research experience.
- Research experience in one or more of: Frontier AI safety or governance; Agentic AI safety, collaboration, or societal implications; Alignment; Philosophical and ethical aspects of AI; Institutional preparedness for advanced AI.
- Deep expertise in frontier risk vectors, frameworks, regulation, or evaluation and mitigation pathways.
- Track record of writing and thought leadership across formats, including academic papers, books or chapters, journalism, or other public-facing work on AI and society.
- Sufficient technical understanding of AI, and a proven ability to collaborate with technical stakeholders, anticipate risks grounded in technical developments, and inform mitigation efforts.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Nice To Haves
- Peer-reviewed publications in leading venues.
- Experience with frontier safety governance or research in leading labs, think tanks, or academic institutions.
- Applied experience developing or informing alignment frameworks, model specs, novel evaluations, or technical mitigations.
- Research spanning both empirical and conceptual work on the future impact of AI.
Responsibilities
- Identify the most pressing open research questions in frontier risk and alignment, and lead world-class, time-sensitive research with direct industry relevance.
- Produce high-quality deliverables including papers, whitepapers, internal memos, blog posts, and briefings that address frontier safety, alignment, and normative model behaviour.
- Define normative alignment positions, contributing to value alignment approaches and providing philosophical grounding for frontier model behaviour.
- Inform applied safety and governance, including technical evaluation and mitigation efforts, Microsoft's Frontier Governance Framework, model release readiness, and day-to-day governance.
- Collaborate across Microsoft with partner teams spanning technical model teams, Responsible AI, Public Policy, red teaming, and security.
- Build and steward a network of external research partners, and represent MSI in key frontier risk forums and conferences.
- Embody our culture and values.
Benefits
- Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.
- Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
