Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow in Machine Learning and Argumentation

Research Fellow / Senior Research Fellow in Machine Learning and Argumentation

Applications are invited for a fixed term (3 years) Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow in Machine Learning and Argumentation at the University of Southampton. The successful applicant will undertake research on the UKRI funded project 'Rebooting Democracy: Democratic Innovations for the Information Age'. This interdisciplinary project brings together experts in Politics and Artificial Intelligence as well as policymakers, and is led by Dr Matt Ryan (Politics and International Relations, School of Economic, Social and Political Sciences) and Prof Tim Norman (Agents, Interaction and Complexity Group, School of Electronics and Computer Science). The project will harness and combine advances in comparative social science, computer science, and democratic innovation and the fellow will assist in developing and harnessing novel AI for the public good.

You will join a large team that investigates which democratic innovations work (and do not) in order to design and test interventions to sustain democracy. You will conduct research into novel machine learning and data analysis techniques, including argument mining, that can assist in the identification and analysis of data from large semi structured datasets. The fellow will also support the collaborative design of visualisations to provide insights from data to decision-makers regarding public sentiment and debate and support interventions in controlled trials aimed at bolstering democratic norms. The role will also involve supporting the PI in effective liaison with collaborators and stakeholders and the project will support career progression of the successful candidate through mentoring and training programmes.

The successful candidate should hold a PhD or equivalent professional qualification in computer science with expertise in machine learning and either NLP or argumentation, and interests in explanation, socio-technical systems and debate. Experience collaborating with stakeholders outside of academia is also desirable. The candidate will need to show capability of engaging efficiently in interdisciplinary research, and ability to organise their own activities and deliver high-quality work to deadlines. Specifically, the candidate will be based at the University of Southampton and will:

• develop procedures for data identification, harvesting and linking of unstructured, semistructured and real-time natural language data
• develop algorithms and processes to expand data availability for comparing social indicators,
• investigate novel techniques to identify sentiment, analyse argument, and track consolidation of arguments in public discussions,
• liaise with social scientists and software developers to build a dashboard of visualisations harnessing new forms of social data and inform interventions for democratic reform,
• contribute to design and implementation of experiments which test interventions to improve the quality and effectiveness of citizen deliberation and participation,
• lead on and contribute to dissemination of research through high quality academic papers in both AI and social science conferences and journals, and
• support the research, and efficient implementation of project workpackages, including non-academic dissemination and impact activities and engaging in training for career progression.

The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of world Universities and one of the UK's top 15 research-intensive universities. The Schools and Departments contributing to the project have world class research expertise in advanced research methods, democratic innovation, and AI research. Details of research and staff profiles are available on our website https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/departments/faculties.page . Information on all aspects of the Agents, Interaction and Complexity Group and the Department of Politics and International Relations, the Department from where the project is led, are found at https://www.aic.ecs.southampton.ac.uk/ and http://www.southampton.ac.uk/politics . Information about the School of Economic, Social and Political Sciences can be found at www.southampton.ac.uk/socsci, and for the School of Electronics and Computer Science at https://www.ecs.southampton.ac.uk/ .

Applications from candidates wishing to work part-time are welcomed however a Certificate of Sponsorship may not be available for part time applicants.

The post is fixed term for 36 months, available from 1st December 2020, or as soon as possible thereafter and should be taken up by 25th January 2021 at the latest. Informal enquiries should be directed to Dr Matt Ryan M.g.ryan@soton.ac.uk or Prof Tim Norman T.J.Norman@soton.ac.uk .

There is one position available, with the successful candidate to be appointed as either a Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow depending on qualifications and experience. Two Job Descriptions are attached, one is for the Research Fellow, and the other will be for a Senior Research Fellow.

Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.