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.

Building on NATS and Turing strategic partnership, the collaboration is now embarking on a £13.4M, 5 year EPSRC Prosperity Partnership Programme, entitled BlueBird. Alongside NATS and Turing, the research programme includes partner universities of Exeter and Cambridge. The research programme is led by Professor Tim Dodwell (Turing AI Fellow at Turing & University of Exeter), Dr Evelina Gabasova (Turing Principal Research Data Scientist), Prof Mark Girolami (Turing Programme Director for Data Centric Engineering programme), Prof Richard Everson (Professor of Machine Learning at University of Exeter and Turing Fellow), Dr Edmond Awad (Assistant Professor at University of Exeter), Dr Adrian Weller (Turing Programme Director for the AI programme), and our partners at NATS including Dr Richard Cannon (Research Lead) and their widier research team.

The ambition of this partnership between NATS and The Alan Turing Institute is to develop the fundamental science to deliver the world's first AI system to control a section of airspace in live trials.

The EPSRC programme, which started in July 2021, is recruiting 6 post doctoral researcher positions to be based at Exeter and Turing, across three theme which include (1) Digital Twin of UK Airspace (2) Multi-Agent Machine Learning Control of Air Traffic (3) Safe and Trustworthy Air Traffic Control.

Links to all the roles available can be found on the project website: https://www.turing.ac.uk/research/research-projects/project-bluebird-ai-system-air-traffic-control

ROLE PURPOSE

Within the data centric engineering programme at Turing we are recruiting a PDRA for 2 years to develop novel machine learning control algorithms for air traffic control. This is a collaborative interdisciplinary research position, working with a team of researchers initially consisting of 2 post doc positions and 2 software engineers - based at Turing and Exeter. The aim of the theme is develop machine learning control algorithms which can dynamically, safely and efficiently control air traffic in real world situtations. The successful applicants will work within this team, which will be lead and supervised by Professor Richard Everson (Exeter & Turing) and Professor Tim Dodwell (Turing AI Fellow at Turing & University of Exeter).

We welcome applications from a broad range of background include computer science, mathematics, statistics and engineering; with knowledge of optimisation, reinforcement learning, multiagent systems and high performance computing are particular sought after.

For this theme, there are two Post-doctoral positions currently available, one based at Turing and one at Exeter. If you are interested in these roles in general, we ask you to submit (the same) application to each position. Shortlisting and interviews will be carried out by identicial panels.

DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Develop, Implement and Test New Multi-Agent Machine Learning Algorithms for Air Traffic Control.
• Demonstrate a commitment to open innovation and reproducible research – exemplified by the Turing Way.
• Contribute to knowledge transfer activities with NATS as partnership organisation.
• Work closely in a large, distributed team.
• Regularly present findings to industrial partners and scientific communities, through presentation at leading conferences and high impact journals.

Essential

• PhD in appropriate analytical subject include Mathematics, Computer Science or Engineering
• Research Assistant level: close to completing PhD in appropriate analytical subject include Mathematics, Computer Science or Engineering
• Track Record in Probabilistic Machine Learning, Bayesian Statistics / Big Data
• Track Record in Software Development
• Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to write for publications, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings.
• Good effective communication (oral and written) and the ability to adapt the style of communication to the audience and ensures understanding.
• Proactive approach to managing stakeholders and their requirements and identifying opportunities for collaboration
• Adapts services and systems to meet stakeholders’ needs and identifies ways of improving standards.
• Ability to work Independently and to work with others.
• A developing track record in producing high quality academic publications with the ability to write research reports and papers in styles accessible to both academic and lay audiences.

Desirable

• Experience in high performance computing

Please see the Job Description attachment for a full breakdown of the role.

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 3575 or 0203 862 3340, 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.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Sunday 05 September 2021 at 23:59.

Please see links below for the opportunities with our partners for this programme at the University of Exeter:

• https://jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=591201WqCA&WVID=3817591jNg&LANG=USA
• https://jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=594316WoFr&WVID=3817591jNg&LANG=USA
• https://jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecruitment/wrd/run/ETREC107GF.open?VACANCY_ID=734166WpQO&WVID=3817591jNg&LANG=USA

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This full-time post is offered on a 2-year fixed term basis. 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

Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant at a salary of £34,500 per annum.

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 teal 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].