The Alan Turing Institute is the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence. The Institute is named in honour of the scientist Alan Turing and its mission is to make great leaps in data science and artificial intelligence research in order to change the world for the better.

The public policy research programme works alongside policy makers to explore how data-driven public service provision and policy innovation might help to 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.

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 tackling modern slavery and 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

Technical standards are set to play a progressively important role for the governance and management of AI technologies. Recent years have seen the emergence of an increasingly dynamic and complex landscape of AI standards development efforts at national and international levels. Accompanying these efforts is a wide range of open questions concerning best practices for the development of AI-related technical standards, both in procedural and in substantive terms. In addition, the growing number of relevant initiatives and actors involved in them creates challenges for stakeholders’ ability to navigate the landscape and raises questions of coordination and prioritisation.

The Public Policy programme is looking to recruit a Research Associate for work in this rapidly evolving and multi-faceted area. The successful candidate will report to the Policy Theme Lead and play a central role in delivering the programme’s expanding work on AI standards. Expected fields of activity include:

• Research and thought leadership on best practices for the development of AI standards that adopts a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective, combining technical and non-technical angles and integrating questions of technical safety and interoperability with broader considerations of ethics, trustworthiness, and responsible innovation.
• Development of resources and tools designed to help a diverse range of stakeholders with an interest in AI standards – including developers and users of AI, policymakers, regulators, and citizens – navigate the AI standards landscape. This may include work focused on equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to participate in standard development processes as well as on stakeholders’ ability to understand, assess, and use the standards resulting from these processes.

DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Work with the Public Policy programme’s Policy Theme Lead and other programme members to produce deliverables that form part of the programme’s work on AI standards.
• Contribute to building and managing relationships and carrying out stakeholder engagement activities across different communities, including academic collaborators, standards development organisations, policymakers, regulators, and industry.
• Carry out knowledge exchange and impact-oriented activities.

• A PhD or an equivalent level of professional experience in a relevant field that equips the postholder with the skills needed to meaningfully and constructively engage with standardisation as it relates to AI technologies.
• A reliable understanding of technical as well as governance- and management-related aspects concerning the design, development, and use of AI technologies (including ethical and regulatory considerations).
• Knowledge of the landscape of standards development organisations and the structure of standard development processes (preferably in an area of standardisation that has relevance to AI).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate research and advocacy clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences.
• Ability to explain complex/specialist information and technical concepts in ways that are understandable to non-experts.
• Ability to collaborate successfully in a multidisciplinary environment across different levels of seniority.
• Ability to manage the delivery of projects and events.

Please see the job description for a full breakdown of the duties and the person specification.

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 that outlines how you meet the job specifications; plus a list of publications as well as a sample piece of writing (a journal article, conference proceeding, book chapter, or equivalent). If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact us on 020 3970 2148 or 0203 862 3340, or email [email protected].

In the event of increased interest and receiving a high volume of applicants for this role, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early or to interview suitable candidates before the closing date.

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.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Wednesday 27 October 2021 at 23:59.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This full time post is offered on a fixed term basis for 2 years. The annual salary is £37,000-£42,000 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies, https://www.turing.ac.uk/work-turing/why-work-turing/employee-benefits

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.

Reasonable adjustments to the interview process will be made for any candidates with a disability.

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].

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.[JR1]