Research Assistant/Associate in AI Ethics and Decision-making in Connected Places (Fixed Term)

Location: West Cambridge, Cambs, UK

An exciting opportunity exists for a Research Assistant or Associate in the Department of Engineering, to work on the Ethically rooted AI for public value project funded by the University of Cambridge's flagship AI@CAM initiative. The project seeks to put ethical considerations at the heart of decisions to use artificial intelligence (AI) within digitalisation initiatives to create public value to help transform the landscape. Specifically, it focuses on the question of how to root public sector AI use to create public value in ethical considerations. The Research Assistant / Associate will bring on board their knowledge to shape and inform the project execution, working with the interdisciplinary team of academics in different fields including computer science / engineering, project management, asset management, architecture, urban planning, and AI ethics.

The post holder will be based at the Civil Engineering Building, West Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, UK.

The key responsibilities and duties are: developing the research vision into executable tasks that feed into the project's overarching aim through qualitative (and potentially quantitative) methods; developing excellent original research into ethical consideration for AI use in the urban context and producing high-quality research and industry-facing outputs; developing and maintaining strategic project networks with members of the team; and coordinating the organisation of research activities (e.g., workshops with project participants).

The skills, qualifications and experience required to perform the role include the following:

Research experience and knowledge of different kinds of AI and their applications in the public sector, as well as non-technical dimensions related to ethics, governance and management is strongly desirable;  Experience with socio-technical studies, and comparative, case study and/or action research and qualitative methods is desirable.

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD (and/or equivalent professional experience). Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at Research Assistant level, which will be amended to Research Associate once the PhD has been awarded.

Salary Ranges: Research Assistant: £29,605 - £33,966; Research Associate: £36,024 - £44,263

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available until 30^th April 2026 in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47367.

Please ensure that you upload the following:  Curriculum Vitae (CV), including any relevant publications, a covering letter describing how you meet the essential and desirable criteria, and the contact details of two referees, in the Upload section of the online application. If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application. Please submit your application by 23:59 on the closing date.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Jessica Krishan: csic-admin@eng.cam.ac.uk, T: +44 (0)1223 746976.

Please quote reference NM42444 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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