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- Tasks: Join us as a Research Associate to develop AI technologies for multicultural political discussions.
- Company: The Open University is a leading institution in innovative research and education.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a project that enhances citizen engagement and promotes democracy through technology.
- Qualifications: PhD in a relevant field and experience with large language models and web development required.
- Other info: Hybrid working model available; collaboration with European partners on impactful projects.
The predicted salary is between 32200 - 38700 £ per year.
About the Role
The Research Assistant/Associate role is externally funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme (HORIZON-CL2-2024-DEMOCRACY-01) in the context of the MULTIPOD project on "Multilingual and multicultural spaces for political deliberation". The overall objective of this project is to develop new multilingual technologies for healthier multicultural political deliberation, that is to say inclusive participation of European citizens in political discussion processes across languages and cultures, which can effectively lead to informed policies.
To this end, MULTIPOD will develop innovative, user-friendly and AI-powered methods for the extraction, transformation and visualisation of knowledge in order to increase hybrid (face-to-face and virtual) deliberative participation in policy debates. This will include real-time audience interaction technologies for on-site participation, as well as topic extraction, aggregation and visualization services for large scale participation in online discussion processes. The project will also develop new ML/NLP and generative AI solutions to enable a moderated human-AI exchange of usable multicultural and multilingual knowledge between online and offline interaction spaces. The project will focus not only on the design and development of these technologies, but also on the development of lessons learned from the application of these anticipated innovations in real-world contexts at different scales.
About the Unit KMi
The Knowledge Media Institute (KMi) is a multidisciplinary corporate R&D lab for the Open University, committed to world class research activity at the forefront of data science and new media technology. KMi has extensive experience in data and web science and has, for almost 25 years, deployed research results to address real world scenarios that have led to innovation in education and commercial settings. KMi currently consists of around 80 researchers, has published more than 1000 scientific papers since its creation, and has been involved in over 100 EU and national projects, including ONR Project Bcause, FP7 CATALYST, EPSRC EDV - Election Debate Visualisation Project, Horizon Europe ORBIS, MK:Smart, and many others. The research conducted under these projects covers a wide range of issues related to the use of technology to democratize our society by improving citizen engagement in political and decision-making processes. Our focus is on the development of large-scale ideation and deliberation systems, enabling many voices to contribute to effective, impartial and democratic conversations that lead to intelligent group behaviour and social change.
Key Responsibilities
- To familiarise and extend the data and codebases of technologies that are already in place in the MULTIPOD consortium and the IDEA research group (e.g democraticreflection.cloud, decidim.org, www.weblyzard.com, and bcause.app).
- To consider different approaches for large scale aggregation, structuring and analysis of online discussion data.
- To develop and implement gen-AI solutions for argument mining and discourse analysis.
- To develop and implement new online deliberation technologies (front and back-end), and integrate them with other MULTIPOD tools.
- To write papers for publications in high quality journals and conferences.
- To manage a smooth collaboration with our European partners and stakeholders in the MULTIPOD consortium (which include, industry partners, NGOs, local government and Academic organisations across Europe).
Skills and Experience
Essential- PhD in a relevant area.
- Evidence of high-quality research and development in a relevant area.
- A strong record of research and/or knowledge exchange that is commensurate to the position.
- Experience in applying and developing Large language Models applications.
- Working knowledge of Web Development stack (e.g NoSql, Typescript, NodeJS, HTML5/CSS3/JS, Python, Firebase, Angular 2+).
- Able to draft technical reports and contribute to teamwork.
- Familiarity with handling deliverables and shortly paced deadlines.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Able to draft and contribute to conference/journal papers.
- Development skills applied to a variety of research domains and technologies.
Essential Requirements
To apply for this role please submit the following:
- CV that includes details of academic qualifications, teaching and research experience, grants received and publications.
- Supporting Statement that outlines how you meet the essential / desirable criteria listed above.
You will need to have your CV and Supporting Statement ready ahead of submitting the electronic application.
Next Steps
Interview date: Likely to be 6 - 8th August via MS Teams. Candidates will be notified as soon as possible after the closing date whether they have been shortlisted for interview.
Work location
It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where you can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that attendance on our Milton Keynes campus will be required when necessary and in response to business needs, for example for laboratory-based research and/or supervision of research students or occasional team meetings. This is likely to be once per fortnight.
Flexible working
We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what may work for you and the role.
For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Prof Anna DeLiddo at anna.deliddo@open.ac.uk.
Research Associate in Generative AI and Multimodal Interaction employer: The Open University UK
Contact Detail:
The Open University UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Research Associate in Generative AI and Multimodal Interaction
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the MULTIPOD project and its objectives. Understanding the project's focus on multilingual technologies for political deliberation will help you articulate how your skills align with their goals during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of generative AI and multimodal interaction. Attend relevant conferences or webinars to connect with potential colleagues and gain insights into current trends and challenges in the industry.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with large language models and web development stacks. Be ready to share specific examples of projects you've worked on that demonstrate your technical expertise and problem-solving abilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Consider reaching out to Prof Anna DeLiddo for an informal chat about the role. This can provide you with valuable insights and show your genuine interest in the position, making you stand out as a candidate.
We think you need these skills to ace Research Associate in Generative AI and Multimodal Interaction
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your academic qualifications, research experience, and any relevant projects. Focus on your PhD and any publications or grants that align with the role's requirements.
Craft a Strong Supporting Statement: In your supporting statement, clearly outline how you meet both the essential and desirable criteria listed in the job description. Use specific examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your skills and achievements.
Highlight Relevant Technical Skills: Emphasise your experience with large language models and web development technologies. Mention specific tools and languages you are proficient in, such as Python, NodeJS, and HTML5/CSS3, to show you are well-equipped for the role.
Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread your CV and supporting statement. Check for any grammatical errors or typos, and ensure that your documents are clear and concise to make a strong impression.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Open University UK
✨Know Your Research
Familiarise yourself with the MULTIPOD project and its objectives. Understand how your skills in generative AI and multimodal interaction can contribute to the development of multilingual technologies for political deliberation.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with large language models and web development stacks. Highlight specific projects where you've applied these skills, especially in relation to argument mining and discourse analysis.
✨Prepare for Collaboration Questions
Since the role involves working with European partners and stakeholders, think about examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively in a team setting, especially in a multicultural environment.
✨Communicate Clearly
Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential. Practice explaining complex concepts in simple terms, as you may need to draft technical reports or contribute to publications during your role.
