Research Associate in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing

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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.

As a Research Associate in the GATE (General Architecture for Text Engineering) team, you will conduct cutting-edge research in detecting and analysing online misinformation. Your work will advance machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) methods to analyse complex information manipulation, legal responses, and opposition actors across critical domains such as election integrity, public health, and geopolitical conflict. You will also develop an AI-powered chatbot that will support key stakeholders (eg journalists, policymakers) in applying appropriate measures to counter disinformation.

You will follow ethical and legal protocols, ensuring that the AI methods are reliable and robust to adversarial attacks.

Additionally, you will lead the write-up and publication of novel research in top-tier journals, present findings at leading international conferences, and collaborate with consortium partners to translate technical discoveries into actionable toolkits. Dedicated funding is provided for conference travel, journal publications, and high-impact stakeholder demonstrations.

• Apply natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning techniques to analyse online disinformation, near-real-time social media streams, network actors, and legal/regulatory responses.
• Translate insights into domain logic, training data, and algorithms to develop an AI-powered chatbot, collaborating with researchers from psychology and social sciences.
• Carry out research on large-scale social media streams, identifying community structures, evidence of coordinated behaviour, bot activity, and systemic tactics used to influence policy stakeholders.
• Set project milestones, test methodologies, maintain documentation, and ensure timely delivery of project deliverables.
• Meet regularly with consortium partners, technical teams, and external stakeholders to align research with practical impact.
• Publish novel techniques and findings in top-tier journals and present at relevant academic, industry, and policy conferences.
• Collaborate effectively with researchers, PhD students, and technical staff across the department and partner organisations.
• Deliver and undertake training in interdisciplinary research skills, including but not limited to NLP, machine learning, social media analysis, chatbot and agentic development, and computational social sciences.
• Make ethical decisions in research activities - prioritising human rights, freedom of expression, and ethical AI principles - while embedding sustainability into daily work.
• 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 are 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.

• A PhD, or be close to completion, in natural language processing, machine learning, or computational social science (or equivalent experience). Essential. Application.
• An excellent track record in machine learning / NLP methods for social media analysis and disinformation analysis, or related topics (for example threat detection). Essential. Application/interview.
• Experience in chatbot or AI agent development. Essential. Application/interview.
• Proficiency in deep learning and NLP frameworks (for example PyTorch, Tensor Flow, Transformers, Hugging Face). Essential. Application/interview.
• A strong track record of scientific publications. Essential. Application/interview.
• Understanding of psychological inoculation principles (for example prebunking, cognitive resilience). Desirable. Application/interview.
• Experience in multidisciplinary co-design software development. Desirable. Application/interview.
• Experience in using large language models (LLMs) and prompt engineering/tuning for domain-specific applications. Essential. Application/interview.
• Ability to collaborate closely with international collaborators to deliver cross-disciplinary research and publications. Essential. Application/interview.
• Creative problem-solving abilities and a strong capacity to manage project milestones, technical…