Research Fellow

You will join our team working on deep learning-based Natural Language Processing (NLP) models for mental health and sharenting behaviour classification as part of the ProTechThem (Building Awareness for Safer and Technology-Savvy Sharenting) research project. The post will be in the Agents, Interaction and Complexity (AIC) group, which is part of the department of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) at the University of Southampton. The AIC group leads a number of nationally important research centres including the UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous System Research Hub (tas.ac.uk) and the UKRI MINDS Centre for Doctoral Training (mindscdt.ai).

The ProTechThem project (www.protechthem.org) is exploring how recent advances in few-shot Large Language Models (LLMs) in the domain of mental health can be improved and adapted to classify behaviour markers associated with risky sharenting practice in social media and online forums. Sharenting is the sharing of identifying and sensitive information of minors and can introduce significant risks including negative psychological repercussions and pathways to child abuse and identity fraud/theft.

The successful candidate will be given time during the project to develop their expertise in these areas, allowing them to create state-of-the-art NLP models and publish to the top NLP literature. You will have career development opportunities to increase your professional network (e.g. UKRI TAS Hub networking events), gain teaching experience (e.g. teaching assistance delivering lectures) and develop your research independence (e.g. apply for funding from Turing Post-Doctoral Enrichment Awards or internal grants).

To be successful you will have a PhD* in NLP, deep learning or a closely related subject. 

The department of Electronics and Computer Science is the leading university department of its kind in the UK, with an international reputation for world-leading research across computer science, electronics, and electrical engineering. Research takes place in a multidisciplinary, collaborative environment and draws on our outstanding facilities. With over 550 researchers from many different subject backgrounds, the research culture in ECS is fast-changing and dynamic. Our internationally renowned teaching and research have been ranked among the highest in the UK.

For informal enquiries before submitting your application, contact Dr Stuart E. Middleton (sem03@soton.ac.uk). 

At the University of Southampton, we value diversity and equality.

Applications will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon completion of PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

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