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Future of Life Institute (FLI) · 1 month ago

AI Offense-Defense Dynamics Lead Researcher

United States

Contract

Remote

Senior Level

$125K/yr - $200K/yr

Future of Life Organizations is focused on addressing the risks posed by advanced AI systems. As an AI Offense-Defense Dynamics Lead Researcher, you will lead research to understand the dynamics of AI technologies and their societal implications, developing frameworks that provide actionable insights for stakeholders to manage AI risks effectively.

Non Profit

No H1B

Responsibilities

Develop quantitative system dynamics models capturing the interrelationships between technological, social, and institutional factors that influence AI risk landscapes

Design detailed analytical models and simulations to identify critical leverage points where policy interventions could shift offense-defense balances toward safer outcomes

Expand and operationalize our current offense/defense dynamics taxonomy and nascent framework, developing metrics and models to predict whether specific AI system features favor offensive or defensive applications

Build empirically-informed analytical frameworks using documented cases of AI misuse and beneficial deployed uses to validate theoretical models

Research how specific technical characteristics (capabilities breadth/depth, accessibility, adaptability, etc.) interact with sociotechnical contexts to determine offense-defense balances

Build public understanding of offense-defense dynamics through blog posts, articles, conference talks, and media engagement

Create tools and methodologies to assess new AI models upon release for their likely offense-defense implications

Draft evidence-based guidance for AI governance that accounts for complex interdependencies between technological capabilities and deployment contexts

Translate research findings into actionable guidance for key stakeholders including policymakers, AI developers, security professionals, and standards organizations

Qualification

Complex systems modelingRisk assessment methodologiesDual-use technologiesModern AI systems analysisSecurity mindsetAI governanceOperational risk managementSystems dynamics modelingNetwork theoryComplexity scienceExceptional analytical thinkingInterdisciplinary researchPublications in technology risk

Required

A M.Sc. or higher in either Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Criminology, Security Studies, AI Policy, Risk Management, or a related field

Demonstrated experience with complex systems modeling, risk assessment methodologies, or security analysis

Strong understanding of dual-use technologies and the factors that influence whether capabilities favor offensive or defensive applications

Deep understanding of modern AI systems, including large language models, multimodal models, and autonomous agents, with ability to analyze their technical architectures and capability profiles

Experience in any of the following: Security mindset, Security studies research, Cybersecurity, Safety engineering, AI governance, Operational risk management, Systems dynamics modeling, Network theory, Complexity science, Adversarial analysis, or Technical standards development

Ability to develop both qualitative frameworks and quantitative models that capture sociotechnical interactions, and comfort creating semi-quantitative semi-empirical models also grounded in logic

Record of relevant publications or research contributions related to technology risk, governance, or security

Exceptional analytical thinking with ability to identify non-obvious path dependencies and feedback loops in complex systems

Preferred

PhD in a relevant field

Experience with system dynamics modeling, hypergraph techniques, or other complex network analysis methods

Skills in developing interactive tools or dashboards for risk visualization and communication

Background in interdisciplinary research bridging technical and social science domains

Demonstrated aptitude in top-down techniques and first-principles thinking

Experience with the quantification of qualitative risk factors or developing proxy metrics for complex phenomena

Background in compiling and analyzing incident databases or case studies for pattern recognition

Familiarity with empirical approaches to technology assessment and impact prediction

Knowledge of international relations theory as it applies to technology proliferation dynamics

Benefits

Good benefits if U.S. employee

Company

Future of Life Institute (FLI)

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is an independent nonprofit that works to reduce extreme, large-scale risks from transformative technologies, as well as steer the development and use of these technologies to benefit life.

Founded in 2014