
General Application at Astera Institute (Emeryville, CA)
Astera Institute· Emeryville, CA·
Role details
Summary
This is a general talent pool submission for candidates who see a compelling role that doesn't explicitly exist in the current job listings. The organization invites submissions of ideas for future positions that align with their mission to advance science and technology.
Job description
Don't see a role that is a perfect fit for you, but have a clear idea for one that should exist?
Join our talent pool and pitch your idea to us!
About Astera: Astera is a private foundation on a mission to steer science and technology toward a better future. We believe the coming years will bring an era of unprecedented scientific and technological advancement as exponential progress in AI converges with central advances in other fields to accelerate innovation. This inflection point provides an unparalleled opportunity to fundamentally rethink the institutions, systems, and tools that drive progress. We have committed a $3.5B endowment to that work and fit the form of our support to the function it serves: grants, investments, and in-house research programs. We accept meaningful risk in the research we back and expect some of it to fail because transformative ideas are rarely the ones already proven. Our projects, and the foundation itself, operate like high-velocity startups, with a high performance bar and competitive compensation to match. We are searching for leaders who are compelled by the challenge of driving high-impact change in the way science is funded, conducted, and communicated. You can read more about our mission, vision, and programming at astera.org/vision.
We believe an abundant future for all is possible – but not inevitable. To bring it about, we must rebuild the machinery of science to be more efficient, scalable, and open. We need visionary leaders who are compelled by the challenge of leveraging all the resources at our disposal to drive transformative change in the way science is funded, conducted, and communicated.
Astera is currently seeking candidates for the roles listed on its main careers page. If you think there's a compelling case for a role we haven't listed there yet, though, we want to hear from you! In addition to your CV, please send us no more than a paragraph on the role you think we should consider -- if we're interested in exploring it further, we'll reach out!
Please note that Astera is headquartered in Emeryville, California, and all roles are in-person. This is not an application to a specific job at Astera, and we will only reply to these submissions if we're interested in further exploration. Please keep an eye on our job board for future role announcements.
Why work at Astera Institute
- Mission-driven work: Directly contribute to foundational research that could reshape humanity’s future with AGI and novel science.
- Benefits: Full-time W2 employees receive top-tier medical/dental/vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plans, long-term disability plan, health/dependent-care FSAs, and commuter pre-tax accounts. astera.org
- Culture: Described as an equal opportunity employer committed to equity and inclusion, encouraging diverse applicants. Emphasis on open science, experimentation, and high-leverage impact. astera.org
- Work setup: Headquarters in Berkeley, CA; also has staff in the Netherlands and UK. Specific remote/hybrid policy not disclosed but multiple job postings suggest flexible arrangements.
- Team composition: Highly technical and research-oriented (21 researchers, 10 technical staff, 6 medical). Staff previously from Google, Stanford, UCSF, Arcadia Science, Relay Therapeutics. linkedin.com
- Rapid growth: 63% YoY headcount increase and 1050% growth in job postings signal an expanding organization with ample career opportunities.