Aman Patel, Adin Richards
This stream is primarily focused on research into physical defenses against engineered pathogens, aiming to inform decisions about PPE stockpiling and distribution approaches, improve improvised PPE and bioshelter scale-up, and reach rapid conclusions on how much to prioritize other areas of physical biodefense (agriculture, emergency response, etc.). We are also open to strategic research into the use of bioweapons by AI or AI-human teams as part of takeover strategies and how this might inform preparedness.
Stream overview
Our stream is focused on physical defenses against extinction level bioweapons (https://defensesindepth.bio/prioritizing-environment-to-human-biological-threats/) or bioweapons used as part of an AI takeover attempt. This mostly consists of PPE (https://defensesindepth.bio/considerations-for-ppe-strategy/) and bioshelters (https://defensesindepth.bio/it-may-be-possible-to-improvise-a-high-grade-bioshelter/) and technologies that support these (such as low-cost particle sensors or fit testing apps). The goal is to inform stockpiling, design, or other strategic choices made by biodefense organizations.
Specific example projects may include:
- Compare different materials for stockpiling or warm-basis to increase improvised bioshelter scaleup or robustness
- Developing a curated, comprehensive data bank on the filtration efficiency of improvised filters and fan curves of common household fans
- Crafting high-level specifications to guide the design of open-source equipment: meltblown polypropylene manufacturing lines, ultra-low-cost particle counters, improvised barrier PPE
Red-teaming various protocols for improvising cleanrooms inside homes
Designing tabletop exercises on environment-to-human scenarios for business continuity officers, emergency managers, and other key stakeholders
- Research infrastructure or supply chain vulnerabilities that an adversary might exploit to worsen a bioweapons attack
Mentors
Adin has been a researcher focused on pathogen transmission suppression (PPE, engineering controls, bioshelters) and agricultural biosecurity at Coefficient Giving for over three years, and has recently transitioned to a grant making role. He is also a PhD student at Johns Hopkins where he focuses on similar topics, and before this he was a Biotechnology Fellow at the Institute for Progress where he mostly worked on US federal agriculture policy.
Aman joined Coefficient Giving in March 2026. Previously, he worked as the Special Projects Lead at Blueprint Biosecurity, a pandemic prevention nonprofit. He has a B.S. in computational neuroscience from the University of Southern California.
We haven’t yet figured out the mentorship split between Aman and Adin; you might get much more time with one of us than the other.
Mentorship style
One 30-60 min weekly meeting by default. We’re active on slack and can usually respond to quick questions there within the work day. For more substantive async engagement, especially project feedback, google doc comments are probably best.
Fellows we are looking for
The most important attribute is being generative when attacking a problem and willing to try a bunch of angles—reaching out to experts, contacting companies, prototyping stuff on your own, etc. While you’d develop a research output, we expect the fellows best suited to this workstream will adopt a dogged attitude, keeping an eye out for opportunities to apply findings to future biosecurity projects like starting a new org or contributing to work in an existing org.
Fellows should also be familiar with developing BOTECs, willing to quickly get up to speed in new technical areas, capable of working independently, and happy to pivot in response to findings or feedback.
A background in the physical sciences or engineering may be helpful, but is definitely not a requirement.
Project selection
We’ll provide fellows with a short list of projects and will meet with them to discuss which they feel most excited about / best suited for.