About

Oxford Biosecurity Group (OBG) is a team of researchers dedicated to addressing issues related to biosecurity. OBG runs multiple 8-week, remote-first projects, and we partner with relevant organisations in the space to drive progress on pressing issues and to help individuals test their fit, grow their network, and upskill in biosecurity. Researchers work in small teams, led by a project lead, to conduct impactful research culminating in one or more final deliverables. A key way that these projects lead to real-world impact is through partnerships - outputs are shared with key stakeholders, and many projects are run in collaboration with an existing organisation.

Why Biosecurity?

We hope to help individuals transition to a biosecurity career. Below are a few reasons why we believe working in biosecurity is important:

1. Global Impact: Biosecurity professionals play a crucial role in safeguarding public health by preventing and managing infectious disease outbreaks and bioterrorism threats, making their work globally relevant.
2. Neglected Area: Biosecurity has historically been prioritized less compared to other areas of life sciences research, creating opportunities for professionals to address critical gaps and make a meaningful impact.
3. Innovation and Advancement: Biosecurity research continually pushes the boundaries of science and technology, fostering innovation in areas such as diagnostics, therapeutics, and surveillance methods.
4. An Interdisciplinary Challenge: Biosecurity integrates biology, technology, policy, and ethics, offering a multidisciplinary career path that allows professionals to constantly learn and adapt to emerging threats. At OBG, we focus on the policy and technology aspects.

Projects

Projects are designed in collaboration with organisations in the space, and based on conversations with experts.

Each project has an overarching goal, separated into specific research questions for a researcher to be working on. Outputs include a final presentation and a final report, and some projects have additional outputs.

See the projects for our current cycle here!

Selection Criteria

Researcher

Researchers will join a small team (typically 3-6 people), led by a project lead, to work on a concrete, scoped, biosecurity project. Your exact responsibilities will depend on the nature of the project and your level of expertise. However, we prefer people who are motivated and are able to work independently. As a researcher, you should expect to spend 5-10 hours a week on your project. This is a volunteer role.