Reader in Artificial Intelligence in Bath

The Department of Computer Science wishes to appoint academics to strengthen our rapidly growing Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Research Group. We are looking for academics at the Reader level, with expertise in Natural Language Processing, Reinforcement Learning and/or AI Security to lead research, teach and help with the running of the department.

The AI & Machine Learning Research Group at the University of Bath has grown significantly over recent years and includes experienced AI researchers alongside a strong and growing group of early career researchers. This supportive and inclusive environment provides many opportunities to develop and progress. Our Research is organised into four groups: Artificial Intelligence, Human-Computer Interaction, Mathematical Foundations, and Visual Computing. We are a highly collaborative team, working not only with other researchers in our department but across the university and beyond.

The Department of Computer Science hosts the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Accountable, Responsible and Transparent Artificial Intelligence (ART-AI), which brings together AI challenges across science, engineering, humanities and social sciences. You will have opportunities to collaborate with partners such as Google AI, DeepMind, the FCA, ONS, NHS, and universities, including São Paulo, Zhejiang and Tsinghua.

Also hosted by the Department of Computer Science is the Centre for the Analysis of Motion, Entertainment Research and Applications (CAMERA), offering a range of exciting opportunities for AI research around virtual production, motion capture and volumetric capture. In addition to university and external HPC resources, the department has its own cloud service with over 80 GPUs.

As a department, we will offer you support and growth opportunities, including career mentoring, opportunities to progress, manage, lead and access our network of application sector partners, including entertainment, sport, healthcare and technologies. We will help you to develop collaborations with regional, national and international partners, for example in science, entertainment, sport and healthcare. We will support the deepening of existing academic collaborations and the development of new ones.

You will offer us a strong academic record and the ability and enthusiasm to create an engaging experience for our excellent students.

What you will do

• Research: You will work with colleagues, students and researchers to develop and publish papers. You will apply for research funding to support your ideas. You will find ways of making your research available to society, for example, by working with industry, developing spinouts, collaborating with charities, influencing policymakers, or delivering talks and demonstrations to inform and excite wider audiences.
• Teaching: You will design and deliver teaching materials for lectures, tutorials, and labs. You will be educating and inspiring some of the brightest students in the country, delivering an engaging experience and a supportive programme.
• Helping with the running of the department: You will have a few internal roles to help the Department run smoothly. For instance, you might help with student placements, ethics processes, recruitment and admissions or lead a research team.

The support and growth opportunities we will give you

• Training for an HEA fellowship qualification: New Readers will have the option to be enrolled into the Pathway to HEA Fellowship. This course will give you skills and support to help you in the teaching aspects of the role. After completing the course, you will become a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
• Mentoring: All of our staff are allocated a mentor when they join. Your mentor will support you in your day-to-day job and help you progress.
• Opportunities to progress, manage and lead: We’re a growing team and there are lots of opportunities to grow with us.
• Opportunities to collaborate and build on our networks: As well as the partners we mentioned above, we have developed strong networks across sectors such as entertainment, sport, healthcare and technology. You will be able to work with and build on these networks to help with your research and to attract more funding.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will hold a PhD (or equivalent) in a relevant field and possess an undergraduate degree or equivalent experience. Membership in a professional body and a higher education teaching qualification (e.g., PGCert, FHEA) are required. They should have experience in providing research leadership, a strong record of publications in top-tier peer-reviewed journals, and proven success in securing research funding. The candidate must demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the subject area and be up to date with teaching methods and learning technologies. Key skills include academic leadership, research vision articulation, excellent communication, teamwork, and positive relationships with academic, business, and community partners. A commitment to research excellence, ethical conduct, and enhancing student experiences is essential.

If you have any questions or you would like to talk informally about the role, please contact Professor Eamonn O’Neill, Head of Department, or Professor Özgür Şimşek, Deputy Head of Department and Head of the AI and Machine Learning Research Group. The University of Bath is an equal opportunities employer – we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We’re working to improve the gender balance in the Department of Computer Science, and we particularly welcome applications from women.