Program Lead, Life Sciences

Syntony evaluates, red teams, and helps govern advanced systems, including AI. In the life sciences, that means helping AI developers, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, health systems, research institutions, and public bodies understand how their systems can fail or be misused, and what safeguards and governance should follow.

Our biosecurity work is defensive. It centers on evaluations, safeguards, and governance, and sensitive testing happens only by request and under strict controls. You will set the program’s direction with the founder and work alongside our Head of Red Teaming and Head of Research Strategy and Evaluations.

• Develop and run Syntony’s life sciences program, setting priorities, offerings, and milestones with the founder.
• Build relationships with AI developers, biotech and pharmaceutical companies, health systems, research institutions, funders, and public health and biosecurity organizations.
• Lead proposals and scope evaluation, red teaming, safeguards, and governance engagements for AI used in biology, medicine, and public health.
• Shape Syntony’s defensive biosecurity work, including evaluations and safeguards for AI systems with biological capabilities, with strict handling of sensitive information.
• Translate technical findings into recommendations for scientific, clinical, regulatory, and executive audiences.
• Track scientific, regulatory, and policy developments that affect how AI is built and governed in the life sciences.
• Represent Syntony at conferences and working groups, and contribute to our research and publications.

• 7+ years in the life sciences, biosecurity, public health, health technology, or a closely related research or policy field.
• Scientific training in biology, medicine, public health, or a related field, through a degree or equivalent experience.
• Working knowledge of AI and how it is changing research, drug discovery, clinical care, or biosecurity.
• Experience with business development, partnerships, proposals, or program management.
• Sound judgment about dual-use research, information hazards, and the responsible handling of sensitive findings.
• Ability to brief senior leaders clearly and to write for scientific and policy audiences alike.
• Comfort working through ambiguity at an early-stage company and building a program from a small base.

Experience with biosecurity policy, AI evaluation, or regulatory frameworks for health and the life sciences is useful. We assess demonstrated work and judgment.

This role can be part-time or full-time. Syntony is scaling, so we will shape the role around your availability and what the work needs. We will agree a weekly commitment and scope before you start and revisit them as the company grows.

The role comes with generous cash compensation and equity, which we will discuss in the initial interview. Final terms will be agreed in writing before work begins.

The position is remote.

The role also comes with a generous startup benefits package, including a monthly health and wellbeing stipend, WiFi and phone reimbursement, travel and commuter benefits, a monthly compute budget, and coworking privileges. Read more about our culture and benefits.