Akash Wasil Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Perform research on international AI governance topics, communicate relevant findings to policymakers, and organize workshops to elicit insights and identify priorities across industry, academia, and civil society.

Supervise research fellows on projects US and UK AI policy, AI emergency preparedness and incident response, and other AI governance topics.

Advise on topics relating to AI & national security. Write shortform posts about AI national security risks and methods to manage them.Example post about global security risks: https://medium.com/fidutam/addressing-global-security-risks-from-advanced-ai-e81cc54d0c90Example post examining OpenAI's preparedness framework: https://medium.com/fidutam/preparing-for-ais-global-security-risks-an-overview-of-openai-s-preparedness-framework-c055e4cf556c

Performed research on techniques to promote cooperation among AI systems. Evaluated strategies that could be used to manage coordination failures among advanced AI systems.

Led response to an NTIA Request for Comment on AI Accountability. Wrote a paper about AI accountability, standards, risk management, and risk mitigation strategies. Coordinated a team of about 5 junior researchers.

Wrote outreach materials explaining core ideas in AI safety & ethics.

Ran a research competition for scholars to tackle unsolved technical problems in AI safety.

Conducted interviews and surveys to understand, evaluate, & coordinate the technical AI safety ecosystem.

PhD student in clinical psychology at UPenn working with Professor Rob DeRubeis and Professor Angela Duckworth. My research focused on the intersection of technology and mental health. I studied and developed cost-effective treatments for depression and anxiety. My areas of focus included digital mental health (using technology to disseminate interventions), global mental health (adapting interventions for non-western countries), and positive psychology (developing interventions based on character strengths). I also performed research using machine learning and AI to predict treatment outcomes for patients with depression and anxiety.

New Educators Thriving provides a group-based personal development course to early-career educators. I worked with the organization's founder to develop an evidence-based curriculum for the course and rigorously evaluate its impact.

I worked with Professor John Weisz on a variety of research projects designed to understand and improve youth mental health. On one project, I designed and implemented a school-based mental health intervention in Nairobi, Kenya. In a pilot study, the intervention reduced depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms. Findings from a follow-up study are currently in preparation.On another project, I reviewed the content within popular smartphone applications for depression and anxiety. I identified gaps in existing mental health apps that can guide future research and app development.

Developed content for a smartphone app to improve mental health and wellbeing.

Supported international high school students through the US college application process (college selection, resume formation, common app essays, etc.) via Skype sessions.Past students have been accepted to the University of Pennsylvania, NYU, and Duke on the Robertson Scholarship.

Worked on a literature review and qualitative interview project to better understand the relationship between maternal depression, social support, and child growth stunting in northern Uganda.Worked under Dr. Lena Verdeli

Taught and prepared college preparedness curriculum to 45 high school seniors. The course consisted of sixteen 60-90 minute lessons on topics such as college-level essay writing, time management, networking, and utilizing resources. 88% of students rated my teaching excellent or very good; 95% rated me high in enthusiasm.

Performed research with graduate students on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Performance Responsible for data entry, literature review, and fuel cell operationProject submitted to the Siemens Competition as 18-page research paper

Bachelor'S Degree, Psychology

Activities and Societies: Harvard Political Review, Harvard College Debate Union, Peer Counselling, Student Mental Health Liaisons.

Master'S Degree, Clinical Psychology

Master'S Degree, Security Studies

Focusing on the intersection of AI policy and security studies.