Ethics & Law Research Associate

Todsventures; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

Todsventures is seeking a thoughtful researcher or practitioner for a part-time advisory role focusing on AI ethics and legal theory. This role involves guiding the project’s ethical foundations, contributing to peer-reviewed publications, and advising on the legal landscape impacting enterprise AI. The ideal candidate will have a degree in Ethics or a related field, expertise in AI ethics discourse, and excellent written communication skills. The position is remote/hybrid and offers flexibility.

Qualifications

• Degree (BA, MSc, PhD) focusing on artificial intelligence.
• Demonstrable expertise in normative theory and applied ethics.
• Experience working with technical teams and enterprise stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance on AI ethics frameworks.
• Advise on the legal landscape relevant to enterprise AI.
• Co-author peer-reviewed research papers.

Skills

Expertise in AI ethics discourse

Excellent written communication skills

Working knowledge of EU AI Act and GDPR

Engagement across disciplines

Education

Degree in Ethics, Philosophy, AI, or related discipline

Job description

About the Project

TODS Ventures is developing a highly ambitious Enterprise AI Governance Platform — a research-led project at the intersection of artificial intelligence, mathematics, law, ethics, and enterprise technology. The platform applies rigorous, multi-dimensional governance to AI interactions at scale. The project combines original academic research with practical software engineering, and is preparing for peer-reviewed publication alongside a commercial product launch. This is an early-stage, high-calibre founding team engagement.

The Role

We are looking for a thoughtful and intellectually rigorous researcher or practitioner with a background in Ethics, Philosophy, AI, or Law — at BA, MSc, or PhD level. You will serve as the project's intellectual lead on AI ethics and legal theory — shaping the ethical and normative foundations of the platform, contributing to peer-reviewed publications, and advising on the legal and regulatory landscape as it applies to enterprise AI. What matters most is depth of thinking, relevant expertise, and the ability to engage seriously across disciplines. This is a fractional advisory role at approximately 20% FTE.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert guidance on AI ethics frameworks — including normative theory, value alignment, moral philosophy, and applied ethics in enterprise contexts.
• Advise on the legal and regulatory landscape relevant to enterprise AI — including EU AI Act, GDPR, liability frameworks, and emerging AI governance standards.
• Co-author and review peer-reviewed research papers targeting AI ethics, law, and governance venues.
• Help design and critically evaluate the ethical dimensions of the platform's governance approach, including multi-stakeholder value trade-offs.
• Engage with the academic literature on AI accountability, fairness, transparency, explainability, and human oversight.
• Advise on ethical review processes and academic positioning to support credibility with regulators, enterprise buyers, and the research community.

Required Skills & Experience

• Degree in Ethics, Philosophy, AI, Political Theory, or a closely related discipline (BA, MSc, or PhD all welcome) — with a strong focus on artificial intelligence.
• Demonstrable expertise in contemporary AI ethics discourse — including fairness, accountability, transparency, and explainability (FATE).
• Working knowledge of the EU AI Act, GDPR, and international AI governance frameworks.
• Experience engaging across disciplines — working alongside technical teams, lawyers, policymakers, or enterprise stakeholders.
• Excellent written communication skills for both academic and practitioner audiences.

Desirable / Nice to Have

• A PhD in a relevant discipline, or an active research profile with peer-reviewed publications in AI ethics or governance.
• A law degree or legal background — particularly in technology law, data protection, or AI regulation. Full legal qualification is not expected.
• Familiarity with mathematical concepts such as vector spaces, metric spaces, or multi-dimensional representations — as they apply to decision-making or knowledge modelling.
• Background in deontic logic, normative systems, or formal approaches to ethics.
• Experience advising technology companies, regulators, or standards bodies on AI ethics.
• Familiarity with AI governance tools, auditing frameworks, or technical standards (e.g. ISO/IEC 42001).
• Knowledge of professional ethics in regulated sectors — financial services, healthcare, or legal services.
• Prior engagement with grant-funded AI research or EU-funded projects.

Type Freelance Advisory

Duration 1 Jul 2026 – 31 Mar 2027

Commitment Part-time · ~20% FTE

Location UK or EU · Remote / Hybrid

Rate To be negotiated