Prep for EA Connect 2025

Context

This is a continuation of my posts on my career transition from Big Tech. TLDR; I’ve been developing a more holistic understanding of the Biosecurity space while exploring a specific intervention (biosurveillance) by trying to reproduce the results of this notebook. I’m also creating this post as a preamble to people with whom I'm connecting with during EA Connect 2025. 

Recent Updates

I’ve spoken to a number of people working in Biosecurity, including Harmon Bhasin and Ryan Teo. Here are some of my key takeaways: 

• In the short term, I should just do a cheap test to see if I enjoy working on biosurveillance, or bioinformatics more broadly. I’m currently working on a metagenomic sequencing exercise, which can be found here. I’m also going to start doing problems on Rosalind (kind of like Leetcode for bioinformatics). 
• Biosecurity might be hard to break into, as it is more credentialist compared to other areas (people weigh advanced degrees more heavily). 
• I should apply to the Career Development and Transition Funding through Coefficient Giving with a project idea in mind, ideally in collaboration with an organization working in this space. 

Uncertainties

Is biosecurity feasible to break into without an advanced degree or academic research experience? 

Most of the people I’ve spoken to have either completed or are in the process of completing an advanced degree. I’m not opposed to going back to school, but it would be good to connect with people who have been able to transition to biosecurity without an advanced degree. So far, I know of: 

• Jeff Kaufman
• Tessa Alexanian

I’ve already solicited advice from Jeff Kaufman, but I plan on connecting with Tessa. 

How would I choose a cause area to focus on? 

At the end of this post, Harmon lists a few computational problems in biosecurity. I think I’d lean more towards computational problems based on my background, but how do I choose which intervention to focus on specifically? Do I do cheap tests for all of them, or should I just dive into the first opportunity that arises? I’m curious how others landed on specific interventions. 

Next Steps/Call to Action

• As mentioned above, one of my next steps is to apply to the Career Transition Funding by Open Philanthropy, but I need a project idea. I would appreciate connections to any labs/organizations working on biosecurity that are open to collaboration. 
• I would appreciate connections with people who’ve transitioned to biosecurity without advanced degrees
• I’d appreciate any insights on how to choose a specific intervention to focus on

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Harmon Bhasin and Ryan Teo for taking the time to connect with me and sharing valuable insights. Keep up the great work!