Research Assistant / Associate x2

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI) at the University of Cambridge invites applications for two Research Assistant / Associates. Positions are full-time for 24 months, ideally starting 1 December 2026.

Roles involve establishing 'red lines' for AI using cognitive capability profiles and AI evaluation, with input from statistics, psychology, and governance. Appointments depend on PhD status; those awaiting PhD may join as Research Assistant Grade 5 and advance to Research

Qualifications

• Postdoctoral-level appointment is dependent on the award of a PhD.
• Role focuses on AI evaluation and establishing 'red lines' for AI.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration across AI, statistics, psychology and governance.

Responsibilities

• Establish 'red lines' for AI using cognitive capability and propensity profiles.
• Lead AI evaluation work drawing on Bayesian statistics and causal modelling.
• Collaborate across disciplines including psychology and governance.

Skills

Cognitive capability profiling

AI Evaluation

Bayesian statistics

Causal modelling

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Psychology awareness

AI governance

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Job description

The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI), with the Institute for Technology and Humanity (ITH) at the University of Cambridge invites applications for two Research Assistant / Associates. The appointment will be full-time, for 24 months in the first instance (ideal start date 1st of December, or soon after that).

The successful candidates will work on a project focused on establishing 'red lines' for AI using cognitive capability and propensity profiles.

The work will focus on AI Evaluation and will be drawing from multiple disciplines, but primarily from artificial intelligence, technical AI safety, Bayesian statistics and causal modelling, psychology and AI governance.

Appointment at the Research Associate level is dependent on the award of a PhD. This is a postdoctoral-level appointment, those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will be appointed at the Research Assistant -Grade 5, which will be amended to Research Associate-Grade 7 once the award of the PhD has been conferred.

CFI is a highly interdisciplinary research centre addressing the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence (AI). Based at the University of Cambridge, the Centre has close links with industry, policymakers, and many academic disciplines.

Informal enquiries about the role are welcomed and should be directed to Professor Jose Hernandez-Orallo at [e-mail]. For questions on the application process, please contact the School's HR Team on [e-mail].

The closing date for applications is midnight (GMT) on Sunday 1st of November 2026. Interviews are planned for the second week of November, subject to change.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.