Named in honour of Alan Turing, the Institute is a place for inspiring, exciting work and we need passionate, sharp, and innovative people who want to use their skills to contribute to our mission to make great leaps in data science and AI research to change the world for the better.

Please find more information about us here.

The Public Policy Programme works alongside policymakers to explore how data-driven public service provision and policy innovation might help solve long running societal problems. We also work hand-in-hand with public sector organisations and citizens to develop practice-based ethical standards for the responsible development and use of data science and AI. Our dynamic group works closely with the UK government, as well as international organisations like the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the European Commission.

In addition to our work with government and regulators, we carry out interdisciplinary academic research on a wide variety of topics, from identifying policy priorities using agent computing to quantifying online hate speech. Our research projects rely entirely on public funds and their primary aim is to contribute to the Institute’s mission of making great leaps in data science and artificial intelligence research in order to change the world for the better.

ROLE PURPOSE

The AI for Public Services team sits within the Turing’s Public Policy Programme. The team’s mission is to enable the improvement of public services and outcomes for citizens through supporting the responsible and effective adoption of AI by government. We conduct foundational research investigating the big picture of when and where AI can be applied in government and carry out technical projects with government on the adoption of AI in specific public sector use cases. As part of this work, we are seeking to appoint a part-time Research Assistant. This position is designed for recent masters-level graduates or candidates working on a PhD. The successful candidate will help push forward our programme of work, and further our understanding of the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence in government and public services.

The appointed research assistant will work on a variety of projects within the broad area of government AI, with a focus on a stream of work looking to assess the application of AI and specifically foundation model-based technologies to government processes and services. They will help to create a mapping of high-frequency processes within select government agencies, identifying opportunity areas for generative AI to be meaningfully and practically applied to these processes to streamline their completion. They will conduct mixed-methods survey and interview-based research with senior stakeholders across the select government agencies to identify the various processes and methods of work to be mapped. Building on previous work conducted by the team, they will apply a methodology used to assess potential for automation across these processes and will contribute to the creation of a digital sandbox where different AI interventions will be trialled.

The appointed Research Assistant will work closely with government stakeholders to help map internal processes within organisations, and to identify areas where these processes can be streamlined using AI and machine learning. They will be expected to collaborate with other teams across the institute to ensure the project outputs are being clearly communicated to the relevant stakeholders. The outputs of their work will lead to both high impact journal publications in major outlets in political science and public administration and deep engagement with current government AI practitioners.

DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

General duties for Research Assistant posts:

• Contribute to report writing, academic and other publications, and presentations and support in writing other outputs such as blogs, explainers, academic outputs.
• Assist in communicating research outputs to diverse stakeholders, through conferences, events, meetings, and press opportunities as appropriate.
• Liaise with a network of internal and external contacts and key stakeholders to assist with the work of the research project as appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with academic experts and broader research partners from across the Turing and the wider Turing community.
• Contribute to the life of the Institute and support a diverse and inclusive community through embracing the Turing values.
• Undertake required administration tasks.
• Adhere to and promote principles of reproducible and ethical data science and ensure secure handling of data and health and safety in all aspects of work.

Please see the job description for a full breakdown of the role.

• Master’s degree or equivalent in politics, government, policy, sociology, history, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable interest in government and public administration.
• Demonstrable interest in artificial intelligence and technology.
• Experience and/or interest in scientific communication.
• Experience of conducting academic research.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate complex or specialist information/research findings clearly and concisely.
• Ability to present and communicate complex information and conceptual ideas to diverse audiences.
  

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

If you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button below. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV and covering letter. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact us on 020 3862 3536 or email [email protected].

If you are applying for more than one role at the Turing, please note that only one Cover Letter can be visible on your profile at one time. If you wish to apply for multiple roles and do not want to overwrite your existing Cover Letter, please apply for the role using the button below and forward your additional cover letter directly to [email protected] quoting the job title.

If you are an internal applicant and wish to apply, please send your CV and Cover Letter directly to [email protected] and your application will be considered.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: SUNDAY 14 JULY at 23:59 (LONDON, UK BST)

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early or to interview suitable candidates before the closing date if enough applications are received.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This part-time (0.5 FTE) post is offered on a fixed term basis for 18 months from the start date. The annual full time equivalent salary is £41,352 per annum, which is £20,676 for 0.5 FTE plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, https://www.turing.ac.uk/work-turing/why-work-turing/employee-benefits.

The Alan Turing Institute is based at the British Library, in the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter. We expect staff to come to our office at least 4 days per month. Some roles may require more days in the office; the hiring manager will be able to confirm this during the interview.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

The Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated fairly. In accordance with the Equality Act, we welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We are committed to making sure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive. This includes making reasonable adjustments for candidates who have a disability or long-term condition. Please contact us at [email protected] to find out how we can assist you.

Please note all offers of employment are subject to obtaining and retaining the right to work in the UK and satisfactory pre-employment security screening which includes a DBS Check.

Full details on the pre-employment screening process can be requested from [email protected].