The Alan Turing Institute

There has never been a more significant time to work in data science and AI. There is recognition of the importance of these technologies to our economic and social future: the so-called fourth industrial revolution. The technical challenge of keeping our data secure and private has grown in its urgency and importance. At the same time, voices from academia, industry, and government are coming together to debate how these technologies should be governed and managed.

The Alan Turing Institute, as the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence, plays an important part in driving forward advances in these technologies in order to change the world for the better.

The Institute is named in honour of Alan Turing, whose pioneering work in theoretical and applied mathematics, engineering and computing is considered to have laid the foundations for modern-day data science and artificial intelligence. The Institute’s goals are to undertake world-class research, apply its research to real-world problems, driving economic impact and societal good, lead the training of a new generation of scientists, and shape the public conversation around data and algorithms.

After launching in 2015 with government funding from EPSRC and five founding universities, the Institute has grown an extensive network of university partners from across the UK and launched a number of major partnerships with industry, public and third sector. Today it is home to more than 400 researchers and a talented business team.

The Public Policy Programme

The public policy programme works alongside policy makers to explore how data-driven public service provision and policy innovation might solve long running ‘wicked’ policy problems and to develop the ethical foundations for the use of data science and artificial intelligence in policy-making.

Our aim is to contribute to the Institute’s mission – to make great leaps in data science and artificial intelligence research in order to change the world for the better – by developing research, tools, and techniques that have a positive impact on the lives of as many people as possible.

Ethics of Digital Technologies in The Criminal Justice System

Digital technologies, data science, and artificial intelligence (AI) have diverse and far-reaching implications for the lives of individuals and the functioning of societies. These technologies promise myriad benefits, and public authorities are beginning to take notice. Faced with increasing budget cuts and rising service demands, public bodies are looking to algorithmic systems to help them deliver what they see as more objective, efficient, and accessible services. Among the most controversial domains for digitisation of this sort is the criminal justice system. As governments begin to explore the full scale of algorithmic capabilities in practice, the public policy programme of The Alan Turing Institute is building the ethical foundations and investigating the limitations of using algorithmic systems in a criminal justice context.

To help public authorities benefit from digital technologies in general and automated systems in particular, the public policy programme is carrying out a range of research projects to assess the modernisation of the criminal justice system and the ethical challenges and requirements that arise. The primary aim of the research projects is to generate new actionable insights and recommendations to guide the development, deployment, and use of algorithms in the criminal justice system.

The Role

The Alan Turing Institute is recruiting a full-time postdoctoral scholar to work as part of the public policy programme’s ethics team.

Depending on her or his academic training, the scholar will focus either on (1) researching the socio-political and ethical implications of the design, development, deployment, and use of algorithms in the criminal justice system or (2) researching the technical dimensions of the responsible design and deployment of algorithmic systems in the criminal justice sector. (This could include explorations of the requirements of responsible data management and fairness- aware model design or of the possibilities for building technical tools of evaluation and explanation for algorithmic models.)

The researcher will work with the public policy team, using multidisciplinary research methods to investigate key questions, such as:

• When is the use of algorithmic systems in a criminal justice context morally permissible and ethically justifiable? What are the ethical limits of algorithm-human interaction?
• How, by whom, and when should algorithmic systems be used in order to ensure a high ethical standard of individual treatment?
• How and to what standards should algorithmic systems be developed, verified, tested, reviewed, and maintained in order to ensure a high ethical standard of individual treatment?
• What kind of benefits could algorithmic systems potentially contribute in a criminal justice context and how can they be secured?
• How might technical and non-technical approaches to making transparent the process of algorithmic design and use in criminal justice systems be combined or integrated to produce ethically acceptable outcomes?

Research should translate into concrete frameworks, actionable policy proposals, recommendations for regulation, policy measures, and guidelines for best practice aimed at ensuring an ethically sound use of algorithmic systems in the criminal justice sector.

The successful candidate will play an important role in shaping and conducting the public policy programme’s research into digital ethics in the criminal justice sector. The Research Associate will be able to work closely with academics and policy-makers in an interdisciplinary, dynamic and collaborative environment.

Duties and Responsibilities

The core functions of the Research Associate are as follows:

• Work with the public policy programme’s ethics team to develop and/or support research into the ethics of using algorithmic systems in a criminal justice context. The research should ultimately contribute usable insights building on fundamental values and principles to ensure the ethical design and use of algorithms.
• Serve as a key link between the Turing’s academic community and the Institute’s external partners in the policy, ethics, and criminal justice space.
• Externally, the Research Associate will build and maintain relationships with policy makers as part of the public policy programme’s external engagement strategy.
• Internally, the Associate will work collaboratively to pursue the research agenda described above, will identify relevant academics from the Turing community to collaborate with where relevant, and will develop work plans to ensure timely delivery of objectives.
• Participate in knowledge exchange activities as appropriate. This may include:
• Preparing research outputs that are tailored to a diverse audience, ranging from policy-makers to researchers, civil society and the general public.
• Working with the Turing’s Communications team to ensure that the Turing’s research is effectively promoted in the mainstream media.
• Working in close coordination with other members of the public policy programme to maximise the programme’s influence on ongoing policy debates.
• Representing the Turing at external conferences and events.

The successful candidate will have:

Essential

• A PhD or equivalent experience in either a natural, computer or social science field with experience in using computer programming and/or advanced statistical or numerical methods;
• Demonstrable interest in conducting interdisciplinary research and experience working with modelling and quantitative research methods to study complex socio-economic and/or policy issues
• Firm understanding of the ethical challenges of using digital technologies in the criminal justice system;
• Strong methodological and theoretical foundations and experience working at the intersection of technology and society;
• A proven ability to communicate research and advocate policy at multiple levels and to diverse audiences;
• A record of scientific publications, which may include journal articles, book chapters, policy reports / white papers;
• An interest in the mission of The Alan Turing Institute and in exploring the real-world impact of cutting-edge technology, in particular in criminal justice.

Desirable

• Technical skills in fairness-aware modelling and ethics-by-design;
• Experience in a policy environment, such as international organisations, government agencies, think tanks, or learned societies; or experience in tech companies or consultancies;

Terms and Conditions

This is a fixed-term position for a period of 3 years. The annual salary offered is £34,000 - £41,000, dependent on skills & experience. The post will be held primarily at the Institute’s site at the British Library, Euston Road, London. A competitive benefits package is also available.

How to Apply

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply to [email protected] by submitting:

• your CV;
• a cover letter that outlines how you meet the person specification;
• a list of publications as well as a sample piece of writing (a journal article, conference proceeding, book chapter, or equivalent); and
• contact details for two referees. (If you would not like these referees to be contacted until a later stage in the process, please indicate this.)

If you consider that you meet the criteria set out in the person specification and wish to apply for the role, please click the apply button below. You will be required to register on the candidate portal and to submit an application form.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the role further with a member of the Institute’s HR Team, please email [email protected] or call 0203 862 3394.

Applicants who would like to receive this advert in an alternative format or who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on 0203 862 3394 or via email at [email protected]

Interviews for this role will take place on the 19th of June 2019.

Closing Date for Applications: 24 May 2019

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, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Reasonable adjustments are available to support candidates through the application and interview process. Happy to Talk Flexible Working

Please note all offers of employment are subject to continuous eligibility 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].