Position Details

School of Computer Science

Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263 with potential progression once in post to £46,974

Grade: 7

Full Time, Fixed Term contract up to September 2025

Closing date: 20th October 2024

Background

The School of Computer Science at the University of Birmingham is inviting applications for a Research Fellow position focused on Automated Reasoning for Safeguarded AI.

As software and cyber-physical systems increasingly integrate machine learning components, whose behaviour can be unpredictable, ensuring their safety and alignment with expected outcomes is essential for responsible governance. Formal guarantees of compliance with predefined specifications are vital for establishing trust among systems, users, and regulatory bodies. In particular, there is a growing demand within AI communities for robust methodologies to formally verify the behaviour of complex systems that incorporate neural networks.

Role Summary

The Research Fellow will play a crucial role within the Safeguarded AI project, funded by ARIA (Advanced Research and Invention Agency). As a key contributor, they will work in close collaboration with Dr. Mirco Giacobbe (University of Birmingham) and Dr. Stefano Gogioso (University of Oxford and Hashberg Ltd), engaging in cutting-edge research in AI safety, formal verification, and automated reasoning.

This position involves developing and refining advanced automated reasoning algorithms, with a focus on satisfiability solving and quantum simulation techniques. The goal is to enable the formal verification of complex systems that embed neural networks, establishing the formal validity of proofs of correctness, providing solid guarantees that the system’s behaviour is aligned with its intended specification.

This project offers an opportunity to be at the forefront of interdisciplinary research, making a significant contribution to the fundamental principles of how AI technologies are verified and safeguarded, with the potential to shape future regulatory and safety standards in the AI field.

Main Duties

The research fellow will be responsible for developing advanced theory and algorithms for automated reasoning in AI safety. This role involves:

• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding
• Analyse and interpret data
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc
• Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader
• Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation, literature reviews, and research interviews*
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters*
• Provide guidance, as required, to support staff and any students who may be assisting with the research*
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines*
• Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture.

* These indicative responsibilities may also be included in a research role at grade 6.

This position is ideal for candidates eager to pursue a career in academia or advanced research, and who are encouraged to contribute their own independent research ideas to the project.

Person Specification

• First degree in area of specialism and normally, a higher degree relevant to formal verification, automated reasoning, theorem proving, or quantum computing or equivalent qualifications
• Proven ability to publish in top-tier conferences and journals in AI, computer-aided verification, automated reasoning, or quantum computing
• Experience presenting research findings at seminars and conferences and ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Proficiency in programming, with knowledge of (or willingness to learn) machine learning software, automated reasoning tools, or quantum simulation platforms.
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project
• Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly

Informal enquiries to Dr. Mirco Giacobbe, email: m.giacobbe@bham.ac.uk or Dr. Stefano Gogioso, email: stefano.gogioso@hashberg.io

We believe there is no such thing as a ‘typical’ member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.