Remote Academic Researcher Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Job Type:

Overview

RAND's Center on AI, Security, and Technology (CAST), part of the Global and Emerging Risks (GER) Division, conducts cutting-edge research on transformative, high-impact technologies-including artificial intelligence and biotechnology-to shape policies that protect global security and advance the public good.

We are seeking a mission-driven Technical Analyst who would like to use their technical and domain expertise to contribute to research on risks related to emerging technology, including AI, biotechnology, and cybersecurity. In this role, you will contribute to and lead research at the rapidly evolving intersection of emerging technology and national security.

Our team produces objective policy recommendations and decision-relevant analysis for the White House, the Department of Defense, the intelligence community, and critical industry partners. This position analyses problems where the technical details matter and contributes to project teams that include technical experts, engineers, and scientists.

Research Residents share and uphold RAND's values to high-quality, rigorous analysis and objectivity, engaging with research questions that often pose novel challenges in analysis, modeling, research design, and computing. Research Residents apply their skills in novel and flexible ways to emerging problems at the cutting edge of their fields and apply their insights to critical policy issues.

Position Description

Research Residents will use their practical knowledge and experience, coupled with their technical and methodological skills to:

• Search for, explore, evaluate, and analyze large-scale data sources, both manually and using automated tools.

• Interpret internal data assessments and external research trends to deliver policy briefs, technical memos, and presentations to non-technical government stakeholders and industry leaders.

• Collaborate closely with a range of technical and policy professionals.

• Drive priorities and establish methodologies for broader analysis and information-gathering efforts.

• Conduct analysis on emerging technology challenges, including threat models, system vulnerabilities, and priorities for security-focused R&D.

Qualifications

All research and/or analysis positions at RAND require excellent analytic skills; the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing; a collaborative mindset for multidisciplinary team environments; and a strong commitment to RAND's core values of quality and objectivity.

Required:

• Strong ability to incorporate qualitative information into a holistic picture.

• Ability to work with standard and proprietary analysis tools and ability to teach relevant tools and methodologies.

• Experience producing analytically rigorous outputs, demonstrated through policy reports, academic publications, technical memoranda, decision-relevant analysis, or comparable professional work.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical or scientific concepts and their policy implications to non-technical audiences.

• Ability to reason about policy or decision options given different technical considerations.

• Proactive, independent, able to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment with remote team members.

Preferred:

• Experience in government or other high-stakes, decision-making environments.

• Experience using or developing technical tools to support decision-relevant analysis

• Experience conducting research or analysis on AI, emerging technologies, or technology governance, including AI policy, AI infrastructure, or semiconductor ecosystems.

• Ability to develop rigorous and comprehensive threat models and identify potential system vulnerabilities.

Education & Experience Requirements

RAND is hiring multiple Research Residents at Associate, Specialist, and Expert levels of experience. Minimum education requirements at the Associate level include:

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

Relevant fields include:

Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Artificial Intelligence, Biostatistics, Biology, Computer Engineering, Chemistry, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy, Engineering Physics, Epidemiology, Geology, Health Services Management, Information Security, Information Technology, International Relations, Law, Machine Learning, Mathematics, National Security Policy, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Public Health, Public Policy or Administration, Security Studies, Statistics, Technology and Policy, or similar.

Minimum requirements for an Associate are:

• 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, is required.

OR

• A Bachelor's degree in the fields listed above with at least 5 years of relevant professional experience, is required.

Security Clearance:

Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance 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. The DC office is preferred. We offer a hybrid work arrangement, combining work from home and on-site options. Fully remote work will also be considered.

Term:

This position is a 3-year term appointment with a possibility of renewal and longer-term employment.

Salary Range: $121,700 - $274,300

Associate: $121,700 - $183,300

Specialist: $150,100 - $227,600

Expert: $171,800 - $274,300

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