Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI), University of Cambridge, is hiring a Postdoctoral Research Associate to work on the project The Major Transitions in the Evolution of Cognition, which spans multiple disciplines including machine learning, cognitive science and philosophy.

The project aims to systematically understand the wealth and diversity of intelligences, by treating the evolution of cognition as a series of major transitions. We are seeking to fill two positions. This Research Associate will adapt theories on major transitions into artificial agents or tests for artificial agents using the Animal-AI testbed, a platform used to compare human, animal, and AI capabilities. Candidates for this post should have experience and interest in cognitively inspired deep reinforcement learning or closely related approaches, especially those that have the potential to be applied in 3D environments.

You should have a PhD in a relevant field (e.g., philosophy, cognitive science, or computer science) and should provide strong evidence of potential for research and publication at the highest level.

CFI is a highly interdisciplinary research centre addressing the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence (AI), in both the short and long term. CFI is based at the University of Cambridge, with partners in Imperial College London, and UC Berkeley, and close links with industry and policymakers. More information is available at: www.lcfi.ac.uk.

The Major Transitions in the Evolution of Cognition is a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, Macquarie University, and The Australian National University. You will work with Marta Halina and the Animal-AI Testbed team as part of the Kinds of Intelligence programme at CFI.

In order for your application to be considered, please upload the following:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV), which should include contact details of two referees
• Covering letter of no more than 1,000 words outlining a proposed research direction, and explaining how your skills and proposal would contribute to this project in particular, and CFI more broadly,
• A sample of professional writing of no more than 5000 words that demonstrates your suitability for this project.

If you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.

If you would like more information about the role, informal enquiries can be directed by email to mh801@cam.ac.uk, or if you have questions about the   application process, please contact the School's HR Team on sahhr@admin.cam.ac.uk.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47811.

The closing date for applications is midnight (BST) on Tuesday 10^th September 2024. Interviews are planned to take place in the last week of September 2024, subject to change.

Please quote reference GO42822 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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