Research Associate in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

41 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Flexible/ hybrid working opportunities

Staff discounts and wellbeing

Conference travel funding

Job summary

The University of Sheffield invites applications for a Research Associate in the GATE team to advance NLP/ML methods for online misinformation. You’ll collaborate with journalists and fact-checkers to develop explainable analytics for real-time narratives and evaluate AI-driven search and chatbots.

You will publish research in top journals, present at international conferences, and contribute to toolkits with funding for travel and dissemination.

Qualifications

• PhD in natural language processing, machine learning or computational social science, or within one month of completion.
• Excellent track record in ML/NLP methods for social media, narrative, or disinformation analysis.
• Proficiency with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Transformers, Hugging Face.
• Experience evaluating accuracy of chatbots and AI-generated search results.
• Experience with explainable NLP/ML methods and with LLMs/prompts for domain applications.

Responsibilities

• Apply NLP and ML to analyse online disinformation in near-real-time social media streams.
• Evaluate accuracy of online chatbots and AI-generated search overviews.
• Build explainable, robust narrative analysis tools for large-scale data.
• Set milestones, test methodologies, and maintain project documentation.
• Collaborate with consortium partners, technical teams and external stakeholders.
• Publish novel techniques and findings in top journals and present at conferences.
• Train others in interdisciplinary research skills including NLP, ML, and web service deployment.

Skills

NLP / ML for disinformation

Explainable NLP/ML

LLMs / prompt engineering

Deep learning frameworks

Collaborative research

Education

PhD in NLP / ML or related field

Post-PhD status or near completion

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

Transformers / Hugging Face

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

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.

Overview

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 explainable methods from machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) to analyse false and misleading narratives spreading over time and online platforms, working in close collaboration with journalists and fact-checkers. You will also evaluate the accuracy of information provided by widely used chatbots (eg ChatGPT) and AI-generated search overviews. 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.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Apply natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning techniques to analyse online disinformation narratives in near-real-time social media streams.
• Evaluate the accuracy of online chatbots and AI-generated search overviews.
• Implement explainable, robust, and scalable narrative analysis tools capable of processing large-scale social media streams.
• 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, web service development and deployment, 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.

Person Specification

• A PhD, or within one month of completion, in natural language processing, machine learning or computational social science. Essential Application
• An excellent track record in machine learning / NLP methods for social media, narrative, or disinformation analysis. Essential Application/interview
• Proficiency in deep learning and NLP frameworks (eg PyTorch, TensorFlow, Transformers, Hugging Face). Essential Application/interview
• A strong track record of scientific publications. Essential Application/interview
• Understanding of principles for evaluating the accuracy of widely used chatbots (eg ChatGPT) and AI-generated search overviews. Desirable Application/interview
• Experience in explainable NLP/ML methods. Essential 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 documentation, and tight deliverables. Essential Application/interview

Further Information

• Grade 7
• Salary £39,560 - £43,099
• Work arrangement Full-time, working at least 60% on-site
• Duration 18 months
• Line manager Professor of Text Analytics (project lead)
• Direct reports None
• Right to work in the UK If you do not currently hold the right to work in the UK, you can find more information here to help determine your visa eligibility. Additional guidance is also available on the UK Visa & Immigration website.
• Our website https://sheffield.ac.uk/cs
• For informal inquiries about this job contact Professor Kalina Bontcheva, project lead, at [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

It is anticipated that the interviews will take place in the week commencing 16th November. During the interview, you will be expected to give a short presentation and answer technical and non-technical questions about your previous work and experience. We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the interview stage in the week commencing 9th November. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision

What we offer

• A minimum of 41days annual leave, including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women's and Parent's networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development with access to learning and mentoring schemes, integrated with our Academic Career Pathways.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
  • paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
  • access to menopause support in the workplace
  • paid time off and support for fertility treatment
  • and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Leader (opens in a new window). If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date :08/11/2026

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society.

We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision ( www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision ) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.