RAND Europe is a not-for-profit research institute with over 30 years of experience in conducting policy research for governments, international organizations, research councils, charitable foundations, and other organizations. We believe that good research helps shape sound answers to pressing societal challenges, ultimately making communities safer and more secure, healthier, and more prosperous in the future. RAND Europe has approximately 170 staff across offices in Cambridge, Brussels, and the Netherlands.
Our Science and Emerging Technology (SET) research group conducts a wide-ranging portfolio of policy research, especially related to emerging technology policy, research and innovation policy, and energy and environment policy.
The RAND Technology & Security Policy (TASP) Center spans RAND Europe and RAND US. The Center researches how high-consequence, dual-use technologies like artificial intelligence and biotechnology change the global competition and threat environment, then develops policy and technology options to advance the competitiveness and security of the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, their allies and partners, and the world.
Given the current state of AI technical development, there is an urgent need to provide robust and non-partisan research to support critical policy windows such as the EU AI Act implementation, potential UK AI legislation, continued implementation of the US AI Executive order, and the globally relevant discussions in the upcoming AI Action Summit 2025 in Paris.
RAND Europe and the TASP Center seek Research Analysts to conduct policy-relevant research addressing frontier AI’s impacts on technology competitiveness, security, and safety. Candidates should have a master's degree or equivalent experience in fields such as public policy, law, or computer science, and possess strong analytical and writing skills. This role will be key in working on projects and developing proposals, relationships, and thought leadership across a range of relevant topics. These topics include, but are not limited to, the EU AI Act consultations, AI policy in EU member states and in the UK, information security for AI labs and data centres, AI capability evaluations, the intersection of AI with synthetic biology, cybersecurity, geopolitics, or international governance.
The role will initially be offered as a 1-year fixed-term contract, with the possibility of a further 1-year extension and/or a permanent role later depending on the circumstances.
Start dates are available immediately (pending mandatory background checks in line with government criteria) and through to early 2025.
The successful candidate must be based in Belgium (preferably), the UK, or the Netherlands, or be willing to relocate. They may work at our offices in Brussels, Cambridge, or Rotterdam. They would be required to travel at least once a month to Brussels, London, or other relevant locations.
We are open to hiring people with higher or lower experience levels or different expertise areas to what this advertisement emphasizes.

Key Responsibilities

Candidates will be expected to work across a range of the responsibilities listed below but will likely focus on a subset, and we will look to ensure that their work remains aligned with their strengths and interests. We are eager to support candidates’ growth and career progression through our extensive skills and development programme with dedicated support for your personal development.
Research and Analysis

• Conduct research: Lead or contribute to policy and/or technical research focused on frontier AI’s impacts on technology competitiveness, security, and safety , with a particular focus on EU, member states, or UK policy.

• Writing & speaking: Contribute to writing or delivering outputs such as reports, memos, journal articles, blog posts, conference presentations, workshops, and client meetings.

• Stay informed: Monitor and analyse developments in AI policy and technology, especially of relevance to Europe, including legislation, policy texts, and related commentaries.

Project Management and Strategy

• Project management: Help manage research projects and tasks to ensure timely and budget-compliant delivery and keep stakeholders informed of progress as needed.

• Working with others: Communicate and work effectively with clients, stakeholders, external collaborators, and team members. Contribute to a collegiate and supportive environment.

• Strategic planning: Assist in strategy-setting, for example determining what goals, topics, policy processes, countries, relationships, and projects to prioritize.

Business Development and Profile Raising

• Business development: Assist in identifying potential clients and other supporters, writing proposals and grants writing, and business-winning activities.

• Profile raising: Build and maintain our profile and relationships with key AI policy stakeholders in Brussels, London, and beyond.

Requirements
Education and Experience

• Masters or equivalent work experience: A master's degree or equivalent work experience (generally at least 2 years) in a relevant field or sector such as public policy, law, security studies, computer science, hardware engineering, synthetic biology, government, the AI industry, tech policy research, or consulting.

Skills

• Analytical and writing skills: Excellent ability to collect and analyse qualitative and/or quantitative data and write it into an evidence synthesis for consumption by various audiences.

• Task and time management: Ability to prioritise across multiple tasks and deliver to effective timelines in a rapidly moving sector.

Personal Qualities

• Proactivity and adaptability: Self-starter who is comfortable working independently and in team settings, and adapting to changing goals and conditions.

• Passion for impact and relevant topics: Excited to focus on the topics this role would focus on and committed to maximizing our team’s impact in those areas.

• Continuous learner: Open-minded, eager for feedback and learning from other perspectives, and enthusiastic about acquiring new skills and knowledge.

The following qualifications are desired but not essential for this role:

• Methods expertise: Experience with methods such as desk research, literature reviews, interviews, workshops, surveys, economic modelling, econometrics, computational analysis, or AI evaluations.

• Advanced writing proficiency: Ability to write research reports and quick-turnaround memos at high speed and quality.

• Project management: Experience in managing multiple projects and tasks under tight deadlines.

• Communication skills: Effective verbal communication and briefing abilities for diverse audiences.

• Networking ability: Proven skills in building relationships and engaging in frequent networking activities.

• Strategic thinking: Goal-oriented, with the ability to think creatively about achieving high-level objectives.

• Novel, actionable research: Ability to think creatively about policy problems and generate solutions to unprecedented issues in technology governance.

• Detail-oriented: Willingness to dive into details of laws, standards, or similar documents to find relevant information and options. Inclination to ensuring a proposal is in practice implementable and aligned with the goals it is in service of.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this role, please submit a CV and cover letter/supporting statement below and complete all pre-screen questions. We will review applications on a rolling basis.