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 Finance and Economics Programme brings together leading experts in data science, machine learning, finance and the social sciences, from both academia and industry to tackle the most challenging questions by producing world-leading research with significant impact. The programme works closely with government and the industry to exploit the potential of new technologies in the financial sector and economic research, and to position the UK as the leader in these areas.

Dr Andrea Baronchelli leads the Token Economy Theme at the Alan Turing Institute, which aims to bring together researchers and industrial partners interested in understanding the socio-economic implications of the blockchain revolution and the emerging Token Economy. The overarching goal is to investigate the current blockchain ecosystem to improve the design of future tokens, minimise potential risks for users and maximise potential societal benefits.

This research project will explore the interplay between centralisation and decentralisation in the Token Economy, starting from the Bitcoin blockchain. It will initially focus on dark web marketplaces (DWMs) as both central actors of trade and sources of new decentralised avenues for the exchange of wealth and goods.

ROLE PURPOSE

Dark web marketplaces (DWMs) are major actors of illicit online trade, with millions of users producing an aggregated revenue of billions of US dollars. Recent research by the Dr Andrea Baronchelli, the Principal Investigator (PI), and his team revealed a rich user dynamic around DMWs.

The successful candidate will investigate the network dynamics of transactions occurring between DWM users. While the market acts as a fundamental meeting point for users, preliminary research by the PI and his team has revealed that it also favours the emergence of direct transactions between users (for simplicity, P2P network). Thus, the star-like network representation in which a central marketplace is connected with otherwise isolated peers does not capture the real dynamics of DWM ecosystems.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to the project with their current expertise while deepening their knowledge of methods required to deal with large time-evolving networks. They will interact with scientists from other disciplines in order to embed the project results into a genuinely interdisciplinary setting. With time, the postdoc will have the opportunity to assume a leading role in the project implementation and dissemination (including publications), as well as in designing new research.

The research is sponsored partly through a generous gift from PayPal and it is anticipated that there will be frequent interactions with the PayPal Team working on topics of common interest. In London, the postdoc will be based primarily at The Alan Turing Institute and secondarily at City University of London.

DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Successful candidates will:

• Apply state-of-the-art and novel data science, network science, and artificial intelligence techniques emerging from the Institute and elsewhere to the research challenges of the Turing partnerships
• Scope, pilot and deliver high-quality research activity in partnership with partner stakeholders, and under the direction of the Principal Investigator and Programme Director
• Drive collaboration with academic experts and broader research partners from across the Turing and the wider Turing community
• Publish and disseminate high-quality research papers and publications detailing research output and project case studies.
• Become part of the broader partnership team and be expected to engage on a regular basis with the partner.

Essential:

• PhD in Computer Science, Physics, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Operations Research, or closely related discipline.
• Research Assistant level: Near completion of a PhD or equivalent level of professional qualification in Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Operations Research, Computer Science or closely related discipline.
• A solid background in one or more of the following: Network Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, Mathematical Modelling of collective behaviour of interacting systems and rigorous agent-based modelling.
• Experience in design, development and implementation of research software libraries, ideally using one of the following: Python, R, Julia and their associated frameworks.
• Track record of outstanding research and in delivering impact appropriate to career stage

Please see the job description for a full breakdown of the Duties and Responsibilities 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. 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].

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 10 January 2022 at 23:59

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This full-time post is offered on a 2-year fixed-term basis. The annual salary is £37,000-£42,000 (depending on experience) 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 £34,510 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 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 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].

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.