Associate Researcher

About the Role

YZi Labs is seeking a Background Research Analyst (AI & Emerging Technologies) to conduct research on AI and other emerging technologies, identify breakthrough innovations, and support investment and ecosystem initiatives. This role is ideal for individuals with a strong technical background, deep curiosity about technological innovation and AI advancements, and the ability to connect cutting-edge research, engineering trends, and real-world applications. You will collaborate with researchers, founders, engineers, investors, and ecosystem partners to understand the latest developments and identify high-potential opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Background Research & Analysis
• Conduct background research and analyze emerging technologies, including:
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Large Language Models (LLMs)
• AI Agents
• Machine Learning infrastructure
• Generative AI
• Multimodal AI
• AI infrastructure and developer ecosystems
• AI + Web3 applications
• Other emerging technology sectors
• Track the latest AI research papers, open-source projects, and industry developments.
• Evaluate technical innovations, market trends, and potential real-world applications.
• Develop research reports and insights to support investment decisions and ecosystem strategies.
• AI Ecosystem & Industry Intelligence
• Build a deep understanding of the global AI ecosystem, including leading companies, researchers, startups, open-source communities, and technical trends.
• Develop relationships with AI founders, researchers, engineers, and ecosystem builders.
• Identify promising AI startups, technologies, and research directions.
• Stay updated on major AI advancements from academia and industry.
• Technical Due Diligence & Investment Support
• Support technical evaluation of AI projects and startups.
• Assess technical architecture, product feasibility, scalability, and competitive advantages.
• Collaborate with investment teams to provide technical perspectives during evaluation processes.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear insights for non-technical stakeholders.
• AI Experimentation & Internal Enablement
• Explore and test emerging AI tools, models, and frameworks.
• Identify opportunities to apply AI technologies to improve internal workflows and productivity.
• Support AI-related initiatives and other emerging technologies across YZi Labs and portfolio companies.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Strong technical background in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Computer Science, or related fields.
• Experience working with AI technologies, research, engineering, or AI product development.
• Deep understanding of current AI trends, technologies, and ecosystem landscape.
• Ability to read and understand AI research papers and technical documentation.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate technical opportunities and market potential.
• Passion for emerging technologies and curiosity about the future of AI.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, global environment.
• Excellent English communication skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience with:
• LLMs and AI Agents
• Open-source AI models (e.g., Llama, Qwen, Mistral)
• AI infrastructure and ML platforms
• AI developer tools
• Robotics / Embodied AI
• AI + Crypto / Web3 applications
• Research publications, open-source contributions, or technical projects.
• Experience in AI startups, research labs, venture capital, consulting, or technology companies.
• Existing network within the AI research or startup ecosystem.