CRISPR & Gene Editing Subject Matter Expert (PhD / Masters)

This is a remote, project-based role for a PhD student or strong Masters-level researcher with hands-on CRISPR and gene editing experience to contribute to a short-term AI safety evaluation project. Ideal candidates have familiarity with dual-use research of concern (DURC) or biosecurity. Work is over the next week, asynchronous, and assigned on a project-by-project basis, with an expected commitment of 10–20 hours per week for the projects you accept. This position offers exceptional pay, exposure to cutting-edge problems, and a strong addition to your research portfolio.

Commitment: 15 hours/week | Pay: $50 - $150/hr | Type: Contract

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and annotate AI-generated responses to CRISPR and gene editing-related prompts for scientific accuracy, safety relevance, and potential dual-use risk
• Apply domain expertise to assess whether AI outputs reflect appropriate handling of sensitive biological topics
• Flag responses that may constitute biosecurity concerns or misrepresent gene editing techniques
• Provide structured written feedback and rationale for each evaluation decision
• Complete a defined set of annotation tasks within a 1-week project window (10–20 hrs/week)

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in or completed a PhD (Year 2+) or Master's program in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Synthetic Biology, Computational Biology, Bioengineering, Genetics, Microbiology, Virology, or Biomedical Engineering
• Minimum 2+ years of hands-on CRISPR or gene-editing bench experience
• Proficiency with CRISPR/Cas systems (Cas9, Cas12, Cas13), gRNA design tools (Benchling, CRISPick, CHOPCHOP), and cell line work
• Experience with cell line work and off-target analysis methods (e.g., CIRCLE-seq, GUIDE-seq)

Preferred Qualifications

• Research focus in disease/therapeutic CRISPR applications
• Experience with base editing, prime editing, or gene drives
• Familiarity with dual-use research of concern (DURC), biosafety policy, or biosecurity
• BSL-2+ laboratory clearance or experience
• Computational skills in Python or R for bioinformatics, sequence analysis, or BLAST
• Background at or affiliation with gene editing therapeutics companies (e.g., Editas, Intellia, Beam Therapeutics) or biosecurity organizations (e.g., Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, NTI Bio, SecureBio, Georgetown CSET)

Why Apply

• Strong Flat-Fee Compensation – Earn $1,000–$1,200 for approximately one week of work, with up to $1,500 available for exceptional candidates
• Meaningful AI Safety Work – Directly contribute to making frontier AI systems safer in high-stakes biological domains
• Flexible Schedule – Work remotely on your own schedule with a light weekly hour commitment (10–20 hrs)
• Unique Resume Signal – Gain experience at the intersection of cutting-edge gene editing research and AI safety evaluation — a rare and growing field
• Short Commitment, Real Impact – A focused 1-week engagement with clear deliverables and no long-term obligation