What is Impact Research Initiative?

IRI is an 8-week program that introduces undergraduates to high-impact research. Volunteer mentors support a team of 2-3 students to produce a medium-length (~10-page) research paper exploring an important, neglected, and tractable problem in one of our focus areas:

• Technical AI Safety
• AI Governance / Technology Policy
• Economic Impacts of AI
• Biosecurity
• Global Health & Development
• Animal Welfare
• Existential and Suffering Risks
• Global Priorities Research
• Moral Philosophy
• Digital Minds
• Great / Emerging Power Relations
• Institutional Design & Decision-Making

Explore a tree of research topics here: https://whimsical.com/effective-thesis-research-directions-JQRnsjaywETvmLita9hUWm See more example topics below.

What need does IRI fulfill?

IRI allows mentors to:

• gain research oversight and mentorship experience
• connect with bright students who share your academic interests