AI Policy Research Resident, Associate / Specialist

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate - Rand Realty; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 111,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

RAND Corporation's CAST center is seeking researchers to lead policy analysis on AI and biotechnology, delivering design, literature reviews, and stakeholder interviews across multidisciplinary teams. You will contribute to rapid-response work and craft policy briefs for decisionmakers while communicating complex findings to diverse audiences.

The role emphasizes identifying emerging policy questions, shaping research directions, and engaging with clients within a hybrid work setting in multiple

Qualifications

• Familiarity with AI capability trajectories and risks.
• Understanding of policy and governance approaches for beneficial AI.
• Ability to structure analysis and produce concise written products for decisionmakers.
• Ability to navigate tensions between safety, innovation, competitiveness, feasibility.
• Thrives in fast-moving, ambiguous environments with limited supervision.

Responsibilities

• Own research deliverables including design, policy analysis, framework development, literature reviews and stakeholder interviews.
• Contribute to rapid-response analysis on short timelines.
• Draft policy briefs, memos, and reports for technical and senior policy audiences.
• Present briefs and reports to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Monitor AI policy, governance developments affecting national and global security.
• Help shape CAST's research agenda and support client engagement.

Skills

AI landscape context

AI policy understanding

Analytical and writing skills

Policy pragmatism

Mission-driven and adaptable

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Master's degree in listed fields with experience

PhD in listed fields

Job description

Job Type

Term (Fixed Term)

About CAST

CAST is a 75+ person center at the forefront of transformative AI and biotechnology policy and their implications for global competition and security. Our teams work on verification frameworks for international agreements on AI , creating AI data centers that are secure , unlocking energy for AI production, developing models for public-private partnerships between frontier labs and government, and conducting AIxBio evaluations and mitigations , among other initiatives .

Responsibilities

• Own key research deliverables - including research design and methods, technical policy analysis, framework development, literature reviews, and stakeholder interviews - collaborating across multidisciplinary teams within CAST and RAND
• Contribute to rapid-response analysis on short timelines
• Draft policy briefs, research memos, report content, and other written products for technical and senior policy audiences
• Present policy briefs and reports to technical and non-technical audiences
• Monitor and assess U.S. and international AI policy, legal, and governance developments relevant to national and global security
• Help shape CAST's research agenda by identifying emerging policy questions, contributing to project scoping and design, and supporting client engagement

Qualifications

All research positions at RAND require 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.

Required

• AI landscape context: demonstrated familiarity with AI capability trajectories, potentially transformative effects and catastrophic risks of these technologies
• AI policy understanding: demonstrated understanding of a wide range of policy and governance approaches to promote beneficial AI, mitigate associated risks, and promote US and allied leadership
• Strong analytical and writing skills: ability to structure analysis clearly, synthesize evidence from diverse sources, and produce concise, well-argued written products for decisionmakers
• Policy pragmatism: ability to navigate tensions between competing priorities - safety, innovation, competitiveness, feasibility - and contribute to implementable options that account for real-world constraints
• Mission-driven and adaptable: thrives in fast-moving and ambiguous environments, able to deliver quality work on short timelines and with limited supervision

Preferred

• Policy-relevant research or writing: published research, analysis, or commentary on AI or emerging technology policy
• U.S. government context: familiarity with U.S. government policymaking processes or experience engaging policy audiences on technology or national security issues
• AI technical acumen: familiarity with how AI systems are built, deployed, and secured - including training methodologies, evaluation practices, and technical governance approaches
• Quantitative or legal analytical skills that complement the team's existing capabilities

Education And Experience Requirements

RAND is hiring for this role at the Associate and Specialist level of experience.

A minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required.

Relevant Fields Include

Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy, Engineering Physics, Information Security, Information Technology, International Relations, Law, Machine Learning, Mathematics, National Security Policy, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Public Policy or Administration, Security Studies, Technology and Policy, or similar.

Minimum Requirements For An Associate

A PhD in a relevant field.
OR
A Master's degree in the fields listed above with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
OR
A Bachelor's degree in the fields listed above with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience.

Minimum Requirements For a Specialist

A PhD in the fields listed above with at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.
OR
A Master's degree in the fields listed above with at least 6 years of relevant professional experience.
OR
A Bachelor's degree in the fields listed above with at least 8 years of relevant professional experience.

Higher levels of education (e.g. PhD, JD, Master's) or experience are preferred.

Security Clearance

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance, which includes having U.S. citizenship, is preferred but not required.

Location

We are actively hiring for this position in Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Boston, MA; Santa Monica, CA; and Pittsburgh, PA. Washington, DC is our preferred location for this role. We offer a hybrid work arrangement combining work from home and on-site options, and will also consider fully remote work within the U.S.

Term

This position is a 3-year term appointment with a possibility of renewal, alongside options for longer term employment. We are seeking full-time candidates.

Salary Range

$110,900 - $183,300

AI Policy Resident, Associate = $110,900 - $152,500

AI Policy Resident, Specialist = $126,400 - $183,300

RAND considers a variety of factors when formulating an offer, including but not limited to, the specific role and associated responsibilities; a candidate's work experience, education/training, skills, expertise; and internal equity. Successful candidates will be offered employment in a specific title, as determined by the candidate's education and experience. The salary range includes base pay plus RAND's sabbatic pay (which provides additional compensation above base pay when vacation is taken). In addition, RAND provides strong benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, paid time-off and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer