GovAI was founded at Yale University in 2016, with Prof. Allan Dafoe as its Founding Director. We were one of the first academic groups to study the policy implications of AI progress. We became an academic center at the University of Oxford in 2018 and then spun out to become a non-profit in 2021.
GovAI is now led by Ben Garfinkel. Our team and affiliate community possess expertise in a wide variety of domains, including AI development best practices, risk analysis, the economics of AI, US-China relations, AI regulation, and AI progress forecasting.
GovAI’s mission: help humanity navigate the transition to advanced AI through rigorous research and support for decision-makers across government, industry, and civil society.
Now open:
Research Scholar (12-month visiting position)
Flexible, career-development-focused role with wide latitude (policy / social science / technical research; advising; convening; launching applied initiatives). Structured support via supervision, mentorship, and regular feedback.Comp (by experience/location):
- London £75k–£95k + benefits
- DC $100k–$150k + benefits
- Apply/info: https://www.governance.ai/post/research-scholar
Research Fellow (2-year staff role, renewable)
For experienced researchers driving core AI governance agendas: independent policy-relevant research, contributing to strategy, mentoring junior researchers.Comp (by experience/location):
- London £85k–£110k + benefits
- DC $110k–$180k + benefits
- Apply/info: https://www.governance.ai/post/research-fellow
Research areas include: risk management, threat modeling, economics of AI, geopolitics, public policy, technical governance (and more).Location/visas:
- Prefer London or DC, open to elsewhere. UK visa sponsorship available.
- US visa only in exceptional cases.
- Deadline: 23:59 AoE, Sun 15 Feb 2026.