I’d like to be a lead researcher / mentor / advisor. How can I do this?

One possible option is to apply to AI Safety Camp as a research lead. If accepted, you’ll get help to recruit a team to work on your project. Currently AI Safety Camp is only running online programs, but they have done in person events in the past, and might do this again in the future.

Another option is to join the Alignment Slack, or any other AI safety community, and offer your mentorship and/or recruit your research team there. You can also make a post on LessWrong.

If you need funding, see here.