Introductory AI x Biorisk Fellowship

This semester, AISST is running a new 9-week introductory reading group on AI x Biorisk. The fellowship will cover:

  • How AI can increase biological capabilities through design tools and experimental execution, including the creation of bioweapons.

  • Current gaps in safeguards, policies, and benchmarks to diagnose and prevent AI x Biorisk.

  • How AI can also benefit biodefense in disease prevention, detection, screening, vaccine design, etc.

  • How malicious actors can misuse AI tools and LLMs for harm, creating biosecurity risks.

  • Governance and policy solutions for preventing AI x Biorisk.

  • Technical safeguards (red teaming, evaluations, benchmarks) for AI x Biorisk.

See here for a preview of the curriculum.

Applications for the AI x Biorisk Fellowship are open. Apply here by Sunday, September 13 at noon ET.

We also have a Policy Fellowship for those interested in AI policy or governance and a Technical Fellowship for those interested in the technical side of AI safety. It is possible to participate in multiple fellowships.

  • Past intro fellows have primarily been undergraduate, masters, and graduate students (as well as postdocs) from Harvard. We also occasionally accept students from other Boston-area universities. Non-student professionals are also welcome to apply, especially during the summer fellowship.

  • The AI x Biorisk Fellowship is intended for anyone with a life science background at any level and who is interested in learning how developments in AI are impacting biorisk.

  • In the past, we’ve received over 300 each semester and accepted around half.

  • No experience needed. Applications that demonstrate some background in AI, particularly in its applications to biology, will be privileged, but this is by no means a pre-requisite to participation in our fellowship.

  • We ask for your availability in the application, and will attempt to accommodate people’s schedules when forming cohorts. Each cohort meets once a week for two hours, with dinner or lunch provided. We’ll be meeting in our office in Harvard Square.

  • If you’ve already read all the material in the curriculum, please email us at harvardaisafetyteam@gmail.com to discuss other ways of getting involved with AISST!

  • The fellowship is facilitated by AISST members with research experience in AI safety. This includes upperclassmen and graduate students.

  • This is our first iteration of the AI x Biorisk Fellowship! We have plans to run the fellowship in Spring 2027, Summer 2027, and Fall 2027 as well.