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 Alan Turing Institute’s Online Safety Team, which is part of the Public Policy Programme, is a research grouping specialised in understanding and mitigating online harms, with a particular focus on hate speech, abuse and misinformation. Our work supports the core Turing Institute goals of both advancing foundational research in artificial intelligence and translating this research directly into practical impact by working closely with government and civil society.

As we expand our work, we are currently seeking to appoint a Research Associate focussed on the area of AI and online safety. The successful candidate will help support a stream of work in this area focussing on understanding people’s experiences of online harms through survey and experimental based research, especially in the context of the emergence of generative AI.

ROLE PURPOSE

The successful candidate will work with a team of people specialising in the development of AI technology for the public good, with a particular focus on online safety. The main purpose of the role will be to support our survey and experimental research streams in this area. Prior research experience in one of these areas would be a useful skill, however, is not a necessary condition of the job. The candidate would, in conjunction with senior colleagues, help design and implement surveys understanding people’s experiences of online harms and attitudes towards online safety.

DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The successful candidate will:

• Conduct original research in the area of artificial intelligence for online safety with a focus on survey and experimental based techniques. This would involve, for example, reviewing relevant literature, helping to design experiments and survey questions, managing interaction with platforms such as Qualtrics, and interpreting and writing up results.
• Support the Head of Online Safety in writing grant applications and submitting funding proposals.
• Contribute to the national and international landscape of research and applications in online safety / AI and public policy.
• Carry out collaborative projects with colleagues in partner institutions, and research groups.
• Support the work of policymakers, regulators, and others by providing advice, attending workshops and giving talks.
• Write Turing Public Policy Briefing Paper, blogs and insight reports.
• Support with building the AI and public policy community at The Turing.

Please note that job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities. This job description is written at a specific time and is subject to changes as the demands of the Institute and the role develop.

• Research Associate level: PhD in a related area or equivalent level of professional experience.
• Research Assistant level: A master’s degree in social science or a related discipline, or equivalent level of professional experience.
• Ability to creatively solve problems, working both independently and with other team members.
• Ability to perform relevant literature reviews.
• Able to analyse and resolve problems and take steps to prevent future recurrence.
• Ability to lead one’s own work, including planning and execution, and to prioritise work to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work across the team to contribute and assist in diverse research activities.

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: Wednesday 22 November 2023 at 23:59 (London, UK GMT)

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 post is offered on a fixed-term basis, until 31 March 2025 either part time (minimum 0.5 FTE) or full time.

The annual full-time salary as a Research Associate is £42,893 - £48,510 (depending on experience). Our offer will include the excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, https://www.turing.ac.uk/work-turing/why-work-turing/employee-benefits.

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant at a full-time salary of £40,148 per annum.

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 building a diverse community and would like our leadership team to reflect this. We therefore welcome applications from the broadest spectrum of backgrounds.

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].