Research Assistant in AI Skills

3 days ago Be among the first 25 applicants

This range is provided by The University of Sheffield. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Are you interested in shaping the future of AI education and employment in the UK? We are seeking a Research Assistant to join the Centre for Machine Intelligence to work on a project exploring the changing needs for AI skills in the UK economy, and how we can better train professionals in every sector with the technical and business skills needed to work with AI.

The successful candidate will play a central role in supporting key policy priorities for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the government department responsible for the AI Opportunities Action Plan. This project will investigate the skills associated with AI professionals, including technical and non-technical skills, and how different kinds of education can help prepare people with these skills.

This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of training professionals with the knowledge and skills for the “AI everywhere” economy. In the Centre for Machine Intelligence, you will have the chance to collaborate with and learn from experts across specialty areas around the university and our regional partners, and to strengthen your skills addressing real-world problems related to AI.

• Conduct a survey of employers across key UK industries to assess professional AI skills in practice
• Conduct qualitative interviews with industry professionals and skills policy experts to explore training strategies for AI skills.
• Contribute to reports and publications.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Essential or Desirable

• Stage(s) assessed at Bachelor’s or master’s degree in human-computer interaction, education, public policy, or other related discipline (or equivalent relevant experience)
• Essential Application:
  Demonstrated experience with quantitative or qualitative social research, including surveys and interviews.
• Essential Application/interview:
  Familiarity with data analysis methods, including thematic analysis, and presentation of scientific results.
• Essential Application/interview:
  Knowledge of training and development for professional workplace skills.
• Essential Application/interview:
  Good verbal and written communication skills suitable for engaging with diverse audiences.
• Essential Application/interview:
  Good problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Essential Interview:
  Knowledge of current AI technologies.
• Desirable Application/interview:
  Prior contributions to published research papers and/or policy reports.
• Desirable Application/interview: (empty)

• Grade:
  Grade 6
• Salary: £32,080 to £33,951 per annum
• Work arrangement:
  Full-time
• Duration: 1st February – 31st July 2026
• Line manager:
  Senior Lecturer and AI for Health Lead (project lead)
• Direct reports: N/A
• Our website:
• For informal enquiries about this job contact Dr Denis Newman‑Griffis, project…