I propose a model to think about on-ramps into biosecurity & provide a few use cases for it depending on the background you are coming in with.
I provide an overview of how different organisations in this space fit into the model.
If you are an undergrad check the “I’m new to Biosecurity, where do I start?”.
A common problem
When I first heard about biosecurity I was excited by the 80,000 hours podcast and impressed by the work of Kevin Esvelt, RAND and NTI. Even though I was studying molecular biology, a seemingly relevant subject I couldn’t see a way for me to get involved and to find a full-time role in this field. The gap between hearing about biosecurity and working full-time in biosecurity felt huge.
Figure 1: The gap between hearing about biosecurity and working full-time in the field.
A proposed on-ramp model
Through my experiences with reading groups, UC Berkeley EA, SERI BITS and now the Oxford Biosecurity Group I have found that working on short, object-level, scalable projects fills this gap. And since I get questions of how to fill the gap from others new to the field I made a model to explain my thoughts.
Figure 2: Proposed model for On-Ramps into Biosecurity.
Using the model
Below I outline some touch points that people have with various organisations in the biosecurity space. It’s important to note that this model is not always linear. It’s important to question your assumptions at every stage and the “stages” themselves can be more fluid.
Hear about it (0 − 10 hours)
This stage can be passive or active depending on your timeline. Note that a lot of the ‘hear about it’ resources can also be ‘learn about it’ resources if they are used for more in-depth research at a later stage.
This stage usually takes around 2-3 months and is more active. You are encouraged to continue building out your network of peers, mentors and experts and possibly to form your working group to think about these concepts. However my suggestion would be to do project work as a part of some formal group/institution if possible, to make sure that you work on something valuable.
You can go back and forth between the stages. You can skip a stage.
There are other ways to get into biosecurity
There are other paths to working on biosecurity, like working in an adjacent field and then pivoting. This could sometimes put you in a stronger position to work in biosecurity, though this might take longer.
This model skips out on critical thinking (Tessa’s alternative model below)
Hear about it
Learning to decide whether you’re interested
Starting to generate your own ideas/opinions
Starting to contribute
Making contributions in a more defined area
I’m new to Biosecurity, where do I start?
A step-by-step guide:
Identify where in the diagram you are (see below for example case studies)
Pick 3-5 key skills you are interested in developing
Now identify learning or work opportunities to test out 3&4
Below I include use cases of this model with a few example backgrounds. These are just examples and if you feel ready for full-time work but have less experience than I have specified, please do not be dissuaded.
Case Studies
High school student
Undergraduate with no specific background
Undergraduate STEM background
Masters policy student
Engineer with 3+ years of experience
What’s next?
I hope that Alix Pham and I will build a V1 of a website similar to aisafety.world but for biosecurity in Q1 of 2024. This will combine Max’s overview of biosecurity organisations and also act as a way for new people in the field to get better oriented and to find the next step for them. We hope that it will be legible and easy to navigate. If you want to be involved please reach out at sofya.m.lebedeva@gmail.com.
On-Ramps Into Biosecurity—A Model
AThank you to the following people for reviewing: @Lin BL @Tessa @Max Görlitz @Gregory Lewis @James Smith, Sandy Hickson & @Alix Pham
TL:DR
Getting a full-time role in biosecurity is hard
Seeing a path to get there can be even harder
I propose a model to think about on-ramps into biosecurity & provide a few use cases for it depending on the background you are coming in with.
I provide an overview of how different organisations in this space fit into the model.
If you are an undergrad check the “I’m new to Biosecurity, where do I start?”.
A common problem
When I first heard about biosecurity I was excited by the 80,000 hours podcast and impressed by the work of Kevin Esvelt, RAND and NTI. Even though I was studying molecular biology, a seemingly relevant subject I couldn’t see a way for me to get involved and to find a full-time role in this field. The gap between hearing about biosecurity and working full-time in biosecurity felt huge.
Figure 1: The gap between hearing about biosecurity and working full-time in the field.A proposed on-ramp model
Through my experiences with reading groups, UC Berkeley EA, SERI BITS and now the Oxford Biosecurity Group I have found that working on short, object-level, scalable projects fills this gap. And since I get questions of how to fill the gap from others new to the field I made a model to explain my thoughts.
Figure 2: Proposed model for On-Ramps into Biosecurity.Using the model
Below I outline some touch points that people have with various organisations in the biosecurity space. It’s important to note that this model is not always linear. It’s important to question your assumptions at every stage and the “stages” themselves can be more fluid.
Hear about it (0 − 10 hours)
This stage can be passive or active depending on your timeline. Note that a lot of the ‘hear about it’ resources can also be ‘learn about it’ resources if they are used for more in-depth research at a later stage.
80,000 Hours
EA Forum (hehe)
GCBR Organization Updates Newsletter
Biosecurity newsletters you should subscribe to
University Groups
Your local EA Group
Learn about it (10 − 40 hours)
This stage usually takes around 1-2 months and is more passive.
List of Short-Term (<15 hours) Biosecurity Projects to Test Your Fit
Reading groups at your university
Reading groups at your local EA Group
Find peers (at a similar career stage to you and you can exchange ideas with)
Find mentors (who can help you deliberate between next steps in your career)
Find experts (who can help you deliberate on technical differences between projects and provide insights into specific sub-fields)
Taking to relevant people in the field, building a network
BlueDot Impact Biosecurity Fundamentals
Emerging Tech Policy Careers
Effective Thesis research questions Airtable
Project Work (40 − 100 hours)
This stage usually takes around 2-3 months and is more active. You are encouraged to continue building out your network of peers, mentors and experts and possibly to form your working group to think about these concepts. However my suggestion would be to do project work as a part of some formal group/institution if possible, to make sure that you work on something valuable.
Biosecurity Working Groups
Oxford Biosecurity Group
Wisconsin Biosecurity Initiative
Cambridge Biosecurity Group (contact: Sandy Hickson)
Nordic Biosecurity Group (contact: Johan Täng)
Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition
BlueDot Impact Biosecurity Fundamentals (second part of the course)
Mentorship Programs
Magnify Mentoring
IFBA Global Mentorship Program
UNODA Biosecurity Diplomacy Workshops
Short-term, full-time fellowships
Stanford Existential Risks Initiative (SERI)
Existential Risk Alliance (ERA) Cambridge Fellowship
Swiss Existential Risk Initiative (CHERI)
Full-Time Work (100 hours +)
A more extensive list of organisations has been compiled below
Map of the biosecurity landscape (list of GCBR-relevant orgs for newcomers)
Early Career Positions for Building Biosecurity-Relevant Skills
Career Development Funding from Open Philanthropy
A Ph.D. in a relevant field, if you are excited by research
Working in government where a lot of the most impactful biosecurity work is done.
Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Fellowship (for people later in their careers)
Limitations of the model
The path is not linear
You can go back and forth between the stages. You can skip a stage.
There are other ways to get into biosecurity
There are other paths to working on biosecurity, like working in an adjacent field and then pivoting. This could sometimes put you in a stronger position to work in biosecurity, though this might take longer.
This model skips out on critical thinking (Tessa’s alternative model below)
Hear about it
Learning to decide whether you’re interested
Starting to generate your own ideas/opinions
Starting to contribute
Making contributions in a more defined area
I’m new to Biosecurity, where do I start?
A step-by-step guide:
Identify where in the diagram you are (see below for example case studies)
Have a look at the Map of Biosecurity Interventions and the Map of the biosecurity landscape.
Pick 3-5 key areas that you are interested in
Pick 3-5 key skills you are interested in developing
Now identify learning or work opportunities to test out 3&4
Below I include use cases of this model with a few example backgrounds. These are just examples and if you feel ready for full-time work but have less experience than I have specified, please do not be dissuaded.
Case Studies
High school student
Undergraduate with no specific background
Undergraduate STEM background
Masters policy student
Engineer with 3+ years of experience
What’s next?
I hope that Alix Pham and I will build a V1 of a website similar to aisafety.world but for biosecurity in Q1 of 2024. This will combine Max’s overview of biosecurity organisations and also act as a way for new people in the field to get better oriented and to find the next step for them. We hope that it will be legible and easy to navigate. If you want to be involved please reach out at sofya.m.lebedeva@gmail.com.