Research Fellow

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to April 2026

Background

The School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham is inviting applications for a Research Fellow on Formal Methods for Safe AI with focus on modelling and verification for AI-Enabled Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing. 

As systems and processes increasingly integrate machine learning components, whose behaviour can be unpredictable, ensuring their safety and alignment with expected outcomes is essential for responsible governance. Formal guarantees of compliance with predefined specifications are vital for establishing trust among systems, users, and regulatory bodies. In particular, there is a growing interest in integrating AI within bio-pharmaceutical processes, which demand probabilistic reasoning to ensure safety and robustness of deployed AI technologies. 

Main Duties

The research fellow will be responsible for developing mathematical models and advanced algorithms for automated probabilistic verification in AI safety. In this role you will:

• Contribute to the research goals of the project through collaborative research, with guidance from mentors and a strong network of collaborators.
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding.
• Analyse and interpret data.
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding.
• Disseminate research findings at conferences and seminars and contribute to academic publications.
• Supervise students on research-related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline.
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods.
• Undertake management/administration arising from research.
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration.
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader.
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines.
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

This position is ideal for candidates eager to pursue a career in academia or advanced research, and who are encouraged to contribute their own independent research ideas to the project.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and normally, a higher degree relevant to formal verification, dynamical systems, stochastic analysis, statistics or equivalent qualifications.
• Proven ability to publish in top-tier conferences and journals in machine learning, automatic control, bioinformatics. 
• Experience presenting research findings at seminars and conferences and ability to communicate complex information clearly.
• Proficiency in programming, with knowledge of (or willingness to learn) machine learning software and formal verification platforms.
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively.
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project.
• Coordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort.
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day-to-day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly.

Informal enquiries can be made to Dr. Mirco Giacobbe, email: m.giacobbe@bham.ac.uk or Dr. Leonardo Stella, email: l.stella@bham.ac.uk 

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the 'Apply' button above.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.

Closes: 27/03/2025

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