Senior Research Associate in AI for Environment and Health in Bristol

The successful candidate will have a strong interest in effectively utilising and developing AI methods to tackle real-world environmental challenges. We are particularly interested in researchers with a PhD or equivalent expertise in deep learning methods (e.g. convolution neural networks, diffusion models, graph neural networks), foundation models (e.g. large language models), and/or knowledge graphs techniques (e.g. ontology engineering, knowledge graph embedding). The candidate should also have experience or an interest in applying these methods into addressing real-world issues such as climate change, public health, or social inequality.

Supervised by Dr Zhu and Dr Lo, the successful candidate will develop spatially explicit machine learning frameworks and interdisciplinary knowledge graphs to integrate high-resolution temperature, humidity, air pollution, mortality, demographic, socio-economic, urbanisation, housing, transport, greenspace, and access to healthcare data in the UK. This AI-powered integration will enable us to build a model to predict heat-related mortality, and to downscale this model to ultra-high spatial resolution for heat adaptation and urban planning.

Additionally, the post-holder will be responsible for:

• Leading and contributing to academic journal articles
• Organising AI for the Environment workshops with collaborators and stakeholders
• Creating data products and novel AI-driven computational methods that enable the broader community to access and analyse interdisciplinary environmental and social data effectively

The project offers abundant opportunities for the successful candidate to disseminate project outputs to diverse communities (e.g., in academic conferences, government stakeholder workshops) and actively shape our planned impact-driven activities.

You should apply if:

• Interest in Impact: You are motivated by the potential to create impactful solutions for environmental and social issues using AI.
• Expertise in AI Methods: You have a strong background in AI methodologies, particularly in deep learning, foundation models, or knowledge graph techniques.
• Practical Experience: You have hands‑on experience applying AI techniques to address real-world challenges, particularly in areas such as climate change, public health, or social inequality.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: You thrive in collaborative environments and are eager to engage with a diverse team of researchers from various fields.

Additional information:

• Contract type: Open Ended with funding available for 18 months
• Work pattern: Full time
• School/Unit: School of Geographical Sciences
• This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 04/02/2026
• Interviews are anticipated to be held on Monday 16th February.

Our strategy and mission: We recently launched our strategy to 2030 tying together our mission, vision and values. The University of Bristol aims to be a place where everyone feels able to be themselves and do their best in an inclusive working environment where all colleagues can thrive and reach their full potential. We want to attract, develop, and retain individuals with different experiences, backgrounds and perspectives – particularly people of colour, LGBT+ and disabled people - because diversity of people and ideas remains integral to our excellence as a global civic institution.