The Open University UK Hiring for PDRA in Artificial Intelligence Job at Remote Full Time

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education.

The role

The Postdoctoral Researcher (PDR) will be working as part of this UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship-funded project on how Artificial Intelligence (AI) shifts power in society and what this means for justice. Specifically, this interdisciplinary project will apply the lenses of intersectional feminist and queer theory to understand the current efforts to make AI more fair or ethical, and envision a potentially different path for AI in the future. Some of the fields of research that will inform the project include:

• Education and training of AI researchers
• Communities marginalised and harmed by AI
• Current implementations of AI for social good, ethical and fair AI
• Design justice and speculative design with stakeholders

The PDR will work closely with PI Tracie Farrell and AI-lead Miriam Fernandez, as well as with community practitioners and researchers including sociologist Serena Coppolino Perfumi, artists Liz Rosenfeld and R. Justin Hunt, and Design Justice practitioner Leah Lockhart.

We would particularly welcome applicants with lived experience of the issues relevant to the project.

Skills and experience

• PhD or working towards a PhD in a relevant area (for example, AI or subfields of AI, human-computer interaction)
• Evidence of software engineering skills (specifically, skills related to AI, such as machine learning, neural networks, natural language processing)
• In-depth understanding of Artificial Intelligence (in particular, explainable AI)

More information can be found in the Job Description attached below.

If you would like to discuss the particulars of this post before making an application, please email [email protected] or contact Lauren Denton, telephone +(0)1908653492.

What you get in return

We have a strong commitment to providing training and development in and beyond your current role. This includes thorough induction into the organisation and regular reviews of your training and development needs.

We also offer a great range of benefits that support our employees and their families for the long term. Benefits include an attractive pension proposition and 33 days holiday per annum pro rata, plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure days.

How to apply

Unless otherwise stated in the advert, all applications are completed online via the OU Job’s page and following the instructions below and clicking the “APPLY NOW” link below. Applications submitted via 3rd party websites will not be considered.

To apply for this role please submit the following:

• CV
  
• Personal statement, up to 1,000 words, you should set out in your statement why you’re interested in this role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job and person specification.
  

The above documents will need to be submitted as one attachment during the application process, please include the personal statement followed by the CV in this document.

To ensure your file is uploaded to our system correctly, please make sure your document is saved with the following file name as appropriate to the vacancy you are applying for: reference, surname, first initial.

You will need to have your documents ready ahead of submitting the electronic application.

APPLY NOW

Closing dte: 19th August 2022

Interview date: Week commencing 5th September 2022

You will receive updates regarding your application from [email protected]. Please ensure this email address is added to your list of trusted senders. Please also keep an eye on your junk folder to ensure you do not miss any important updates regarding this role.

You can view your application communications on the Candidate portal.

Please note: If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that on this occasion you have not been selected for interview, however we thank you for your interest in The Open University and encourage you to apply for future positions.

Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

The Open University is an Institution that strives to create an academic climate in which diversity is embraced by maintaining and respecting the dignity, respect and civility of individuals from all backgrounds, identities, cultures and experiences. The programmes in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education, and Language Studies play an integral role in achieving the University’s widening participation and social justice mission. We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all our staff can reach their potential and attract diverse candidates. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.

We offer a range of inclusive employment policies which include family and carer friendly flexible working arrangements and have many supportive staff networks and wellbeing services. We also endorse the principles of Athena SWAN, with commitment from all levels of the organisation in promoting gender equity.