Research Associate/Senior Research Associate - AI Transparency and Explainability in the Financial Sector

Alan Turing Institute London United Kingdom Research Programmes
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Company Description

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.

Position

PUBLIC POLICY PROGRAMME

The public policy programme works alongside policymakers to explore how data-driven public service provision and policy innovation might solve long running ‘wicked’ policy problems and what role government should play in regulating and governing uses of artificial intelligence and related emerging technologies.

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 policy proposals that have a positive impact on the lives of as many people as possible.

THE ROLE

The Alan Turing Institute is recruiting a full-time postdoctoral researcher to work on a 12-month project dedicated to questions of transparency, explainability, and interpretability in relation to the use of AI in the financial services sector. The scholar will join the public policy programme and work closely with academics and policymakers in an interdisciplinary, dynamic, and collaborative environment.

The public policy programme has been commissioned to work with government regulators to examine current and future uses of AI across the financial services sector (including banking, insurance, and asset management) and to analyse the regulatory and ethical challenges that arise in this context. The project will place a particular focus on assessing technical, regulatory, and ethical considerations regarding algorithmic transparency, explainability, and interpretability for use cases of AI in the financial services context. The advertised role will be dedicated to delivering this work, providing an exciting opportunity to make innovative contributions in a rapidly evolving field of research and have public impact by informing regulators’ approaches concerning AI in financial services.

The successful candidate will be a key member of the project team, playing a central part in shaping the project and assuming responsibility for its successful delivery. In addition to conducting research and developing a written report that will represent the project’s main deliverable, important components of the role include continuous engagement in collaborative and knowledge-sharing activities with financial regulators, managing stakeholder consultations, and organising activities aimed at communicating project findings to public audiences.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Conduct research on the use of AI in the financial services sector and the regulatory and ethical challenges associated with uses of AI in this context;
  • Examine existing and anticipated trends concerning uses of AI in banking, insurance, and asset management;
  • Analyse the state of the art in technical, regulatory, and ethical debates on algorithmic transparency, explainability, and interpretability;
  • Assess the implications of considerations of transparency, explainability, and interpretability for use cases of AI in financial services, with a focus on issues of regulatory concern;
  • Develop innovative technical solutions to challenges of algorithmic transparency, explainability, and interpretability in financial services;
  • Design creative policy proposals for governing the use of AI in financial services that are sensitive to use-case-specific considerations and differentiate between different applicable regulatory goals;
  • Lead on the drafting of a major research report aimed at industry practitioners and policymakers;
  • Serve as a key link between the Turing’s project team and the government partners involved in the project, engaging in close collaboration with these partners in shaping and delivering the project. As part of this aspect of the role, a significant part of the researcher’s time will be spent working in the offices of the main project partner;
  • Manage relationships with the project’s wider stakeholder community and conduct engagement activities (e.g. workshops, roundtables, interviews) to elicit input and inform project findings;
  • Represent the Turing at relevant external conferences and events and contribute to the Turing’s public communication strategy around the project

Requirements

ESSENTIAL

  • A PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant field that provides a reliable foundation for understanding issues of algorithmic transparency, explainability, and interpretability from technical and normative perspectives;
  • Previous work experience in relevant organisations, such as financial services, professional services, consulting, or technology firms, government bodies, or research institutions; appointments made at the Senior Research Associate level require at least two years of work experience;
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex and technical information in accessible terms and to communicate effectively at different levels and to diverse audiences, including non-academic stakeholders;
  • Ability to collaborate successfully in a multidisciplinary environment spanning statistics, computer science, law, the social sciences, and philosophy;
  • Ability to manage deadlines, take the initiative in planning and executing work, and carry out research independently, under the guidance of the PI;

DESIRABLE

  • Formal training in machine learning, statistics, or related technical fields;
  • Prior work on algorithmic transparency, explainability, and interpretability or on other topics in the field of AI/technology ethics more broadly;
  • Knowledge/understanding of the structure of the financial services industry and the regulatory landscape in relation to financial services, including the policy principles underpinning financial services regulation;
  • Experience in developing policy recommendations;
  • A record of scientific publications, which may include journal articles, book chapters, policy

Other information

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 covering letter, CV, one to three writing samples, and contact details for your referees. Please upload your writing samples together with your CV in a single PDF file and, if available, include at least one single-authored writing sample. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact us on 0203 862 3394 or email [email protected]

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 25th August 2019

The deadline for applications is 25 August 2019. However, we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This full-time post is offered on a fixed-term contract for a period of 12 months starting on 1st September 2019 or as soon after that as possible. The salary range offered for this role is £34,000 - £41,000 at the Research Associate level or £42,000 - £49,000 at the Senior Research Associate level. A competitive benefits package is also available (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, gender reassignment, marital and civil partnership status, pregnancy, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can also be made for any candidates with a disability.

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]