Advanced Biosecurity Reading Group

A deeper dive into biosecurity for those already familiar with the landscape; if you can set out a threat model and say where the field disagrees with itself this is the group for you. You will meet every 2 weeks to network and discuss recent papers that fellow members will present to you during the session, so there is no homework! Time commitment is just 1hr/ 2 weeks for the discussion (followed by an optional social with pizza and baguettes), alongside preparing to present a paper to the cohort if you’d like.  

How does it work? 

  • Three sessions, fortnightly, on Thursday in weeks 3, 5 and 7 (29.10.26, 12.11.26, 26.11.26), 5.30-6.30pm

  • Followed by socials with free pizza and baguettes

  • Cohort members will present papers or news to the group for discussion, so there is no reading needed

  • Alongside the reading, you have the opportunity to network and get to know other fellows. 

Meet your facilitator

Mira is a Research Scholar at the Existential Risk Alliance (ERA Cambridge). She is a licensed pharmacist and holds a DPhil in Clinical Medicine from the Unviersity of Oxford, having worked over 8 years in cancer and neuroscience drug discovery. She loves cooking and long walks.

What will you cover?

The following structure has suggested topics for attendees to bring research papers or news to discuss in sessions. However, Mira is excited for you to bring in and discuss any new paper that you’d be interested in discussing.

Session 1: From capability to risk (Thursday, 29.10.26, week 3)
What can AI-enabled biological design tools and genomic foundation models currently do, and how you get from a capability to a credible threat model? Where do published claims outrun the evidence? 

Session 2: Evaluating and red-teaming (Thursday, 12.11.26, week 5)
How is dual-use potential actually tested: what do evaluations catch, what do they miss, and what does a red-teaming exercise look like? Plus the problem you inherit once you have findings - what can responsibly be said in public, and to whom. 

Session 3: Governance under uncertainty (Thursday, 26.11.26, week 7)
The levers which exist: synthesis screening, model access controls, publication norms, and the international mechanisms including the BWC. Which governance is effective?

What we're looking for

  • An ability to engage with primary material unaided, meaning papers, evaluations and policy documents, selected based on interest.

  • A key question on your mind, shaped throughout the sessions we hold together.

  • Judgement about sensitive material. Some evidence that you have thought about may contain infohazards, we will ensure adequate communication..

  • Self-direction. With meetings only every other week, most of the work happens unsupervised,so your drive enriches the community.

Apply now