Reader In Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning, NLP, Reinforcement Learning, and AI Security)

University Of Bath; Bath; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An esteemed educational institution in Bath is seeking a dedicated individual to join their AI & Machine Learning Research Group. The role includes developing impactful research, delivering engaging education to students, and assisting in departmental operations. The ideal candidate possesses a PhD, a strong publication record, and experience in research leadership. Enhanced opportunities for career progression and mentorship are part of this inclusive and collaborative environment.

Benefits

Free counselling services

Cycle to work scheme

Generous employer pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Family-friendly workplace

Relocation allowance

Qualifications

• Proven success in securing research funding.
• Strong record of publications in top-tier peer-reviewed journals.
• In-depth knowledge of the subject area.

Responsibilities

• Develop and publish papers with colleagues and students.
• Design and deliver teaching materials for lectures and labs.
• Assist in the running of departmental processes like recruitment.

Skills

Research leadership

Excellent communication

Teamwork

Knowledge of teaching methods

Positive relationships

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Higher education teaching qualification

Job description

Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Research Group

The AI & Machine Learning Research Group at the University of Bath has grown significantly over recent years and includes experienced AI researchers such as Prof Nello Cristianini, Prof Özgür Şimşek and Prof Mike Tipping 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 to 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.

Potential interview Dates

Online discussion on 11th March 2026 and On campus is on 20th and 21st April 2026

The University of Bath is an equal opportunities employer

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant . an accredited Disability Confident Leader ; autism friendly university , committed to building disability confidence and supporting disabled staff .

What we can offer you

• Free counselling services through Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
• Staff discount on language courses
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes
• Generous annual leave allowance with an additional 5 discretionary days so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance
• A wide range of personal and professional development opportunities including Apprenticeships, LinkedIn Learning and more
• Free entry to the Holburne Museum in Bath
• Local discounts and more
• A family-friendly workplace
• An excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce
• Relocation allowance
• Visa reimbursement and Interest-Free Loan to help with the cost of some immigration expenses

Further details:

• Job Description & Person Specification

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Right to Work in the UK

We do not assess immigration or right to work status until offer stage. Being invited to interview does not guarantee you are eligible for visa sponsorship and all offers are conditional on meeting right to work requirements. Further information is available on our application support webpage.

Anonymous shortlisting

We are constantly seeking to reduce the unconscious bias that enters any assessment process, with the goal of creating an inclusive and equal assessment process. To support this, personal details such as your name, may be removed from application forms at the initial shortlisting stage.

If you have any questions or you would like to talk informally about the role, please contact Professor Eamonn O'Neill, [e-mail] , Head of Department, or Professor Özgür Şimşek, [e-mail] , Deputy Head of Department and Head of the AI and Machine Learning Research Group.