The Future of Humanity Institute is seeking a Senior Research Fellow on AI Macrostrategy, to identify crucial considerations for improving humanity’s long-run potential. We are looking for a polymath with an academic background related to economics, mathematics, physical sciences, computer science, philosophy, political science, or international governance, who has both outstanding analytical ability and a working understanding of many basic tools used in these fields. Successful candidates will be capable of analysing a wide array of technological and ethical considerations, building simple models to study how strategic choices might affect existential risk, and finding creative means to evaluate hypotheses even in the absence of hard data. Applicants will be familiar with existing literature in existential risk and related fields. He or She will have a strong track record of publication and should have evidence of high-level management of a research project.
Main responsibilities will include guidance on our existential risk research agenda and AI strategy, individual research projects, collaboration with partner institutions and shaping and advancing FHI’s research strategy.
FHI’s work in the area of macrostrategy includes Nick Bostrom’s Superintelligence, the book Global Catastrophic Risks as well as this paper on the strategic implications of openness in AI development.
This is a full-time position at the University of Oxford and fixed-term for two years. Contracts may be extended beyond this period, subject to available funding. Visa support is also available for successful applicants from overseas. Women, black and minority ethnic candidates are particularly encouraged to apply, as these groups are under-represented in academic posts in Oxford. The funds supporting this research project are provided by the European Research Council (ERC)’s UnPrEDICT project.
How to apply
For more information on the post, and to submit an application, please follow this link. Applications not submitted through this process will not be considered.
Applicants must submit a CV and supporting statement as part of their application. The closing date for applications is 12.00 midday on Friday 29 September 2017. Please contact fhijobs@philosophy.ox.ac.uk with questions about the role, and fhiadmin@philosophy.ox.ac.uk with questions about the application process.