Research Software Engineer in Leeds

Are you an ambitious researcher software engineer looking for your next challenge? Do you have an established background in developing software solutions? Do you want to play a leading role in developing an AI platform to valorise agri-food waste-streams and improve protein security?

We are looking for a Research Software Engineer to join our international and interdisciplinary team developing an open-source AI platform for protein production from agri-food waste-streams. We have recently been awarded £2M from the Bezos Earth Fund as part of their AI for Nature and Climate Grand Challenge to develop this platform.

Nearly 29% of the world’s population faces food insecurity, yet millions of tonnes of nutrient-rich agri-food waste is generated globally each day. This waste can be upcycled into sustainable, high-quality microbial protein (e.g. yeast, fungi, bacteria and algae) via fermentation for use as ingredients in existing foods or to produce novel meat and dairy alternatives. However, microbial fermentation processes are difficult to design, optimise and scale up, especially for complex, and highly variable waste streams. This limits their investment attractiveness and economic viability, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and ultimately their global adoption.

The University of Leeds in collaboration with the Commonwealth Science and Innovation Research Organisation CSIRO in Australia will develop the world’s first open-access AI platform to address these challenges by streamlining the development of microbial protein production processes. Leveraging advances in modern AI, the platform will consist of a Waste to Protein AI Engine coupled with an adaptive user interface enabling users to input their waste composition, volume, and location and immediately receive actionable insights, such as optimised fermentation parameters, microbial strain recommendations, projected protein yields and economic returns.

Our AI platform will also provide users with an R&D roadmap that recommends critical trials to perform during process development and scale-up to reduce experimentation needs and provide partnership recommendations for areas where they lack expertise, facilities or market access.

You will be based in the Food AI Lab www.foodailab.co.uk in the School of Food Science and Nutrition and benefit from engaging with the growing AI, Alternative Protein and Food activities, including the National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre NAPIC, the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics Food Community and the Global Food and Environmental Institute. You will also benefit from collaborating with CSIRO and numerous industry partners in the UK and across the globe.

You will have a PhD or near completion (i.e., initial thesis to be submitted before the start date) in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related discipline with a component of software development and system architecture, and experience in Cloud Infrastructure and Deployment. You will have proficiency in API development and component integration and strong programming skills in languages relevant to data science and web development (e.g., Python, JavaScript).

You will also have excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical software concepts to non-technical stakeholders (e.g., food producers and policymakers) with a proven ability to work closely with a small group of researchers and collaborate within a wider, multidisciplinary and international team.

To explore the post further or for any queries, please contact: Professor Nicholas Watson, Professor of Artificial Intelligence in Food.

£41,064 to £48,822 per annum depending on experience (Grade 7)