Research Associate: Explainable ML for Online Misinformation

Dunhillmedical; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 41 days

Hybrid working opportunities

Generous pension scheme

Staff networks and discounts

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a Research Associate in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing to advance methods for detecting online misinformation. You will work on near-real-time narrative analysis, explainable ML, and evaluation of AI tools in collaboration with journalists and researchers.

You will publish novel techniques, lead cross-disciplinary work, and contribute to open research questions while maintaining robust documentation and ethical practices.

Qualifications

• PhD or near completion in NLP/ML/computational social science.
• Excellent track record in ML/NLP methods for social media or disinformation.
• Proficiency in deep learning and NLP frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, Transformers, Hugging Face).
• Strong publication record in relevant fields.
• Experience evaluating chatbot accuracy and AI-generated search outputs.
• Experience with explainable NLP/ML methods.
• Experience with LLMs and prompt tuning for domain tasks.
• Ability to collaborate with international partners.
• Creative problem-solving and milestone management.

Responsibilities

• Apply NLP and ML to analyse online disinformation in near-real-time streams.
• Evaluate accuracy of online chatbots and AI-generated search overviews.
• Develop explainable, robust, and scalable narrative analysis tools.
• Set milestones, maintain documentation, and ensure timely delivery.
• Collaborate with consortium partners, technical teams, and external stakeholders.
• Publish findings in top journals and present at conferences.
• Train researchers and staff in interdisciplinary research skills.
• Embed ethical AI principles and sustainability into daily work.

Skills

NLP

Machine learning

Deep learning

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Transformers

Hugging Face

LLMs

Prompt engineering

Education

PhD in NLP/ML/Computational Social Science

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Transformers

Hugging Face

Job description

The University of Sheffield is seeking a Research Associate in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing to advance methods for detecting online misinformation. You will work on near-real-time narrative analysis, explainable ML, and evaluation of AI tools in collaboration with journalists and researchers.

You will publish novel techniques, lead cross-disciplinary work, and contribute to open research questions while maintaining robust documentation and ethical practices.