University College London | Research Assistant in Mapping AI Safety

About us

UCL Department of Science and Technology Studies (STS) seeks to appoint one Research Assistant to support the project titled ‘Mapping AI Safety’, which is a collaboration between the Department and the Ada Lovelace Institute. This is a full-time appointment, available from October 2026 to March 2027.

As the momentum behind AI development grows, AI safety has emerged as a vitally important research area, but it is contentious. With its AI Security Institute (AISI), The UK has established a world-leading centre for research and policy advice. But, as a new area of science, there are questions about research priorities and how these map onto the public interest. The Public Values in AI Research project (https://publicvaluesinairesearch.wordpress.com/), funded by the UKRI Metascience programme, is already contributing to debates in the scientific community about priorities for AI research (see two articles in Nature, (https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-01257-6 and https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01123-x). In partnership with the Ada Lovelace Institute, we now have funding to connect our metascience research to a vital policy discussion. Our maps of AI safety research, built with scientometrics and LLM-driven classification, allow stakeholders to see the field in new ways and discuss its trajectories. Drawing on the Ada Lovelace Institute’s networks and expertise in civil society engagement, we will use these maps in a series of workshops where people at the heart of AI safety will be able to share their insights and generate new research questions. We will also work with AISI to bring in perspectives from researchers at the heart of government.

About the role

The post holder will support the organisation of stakeholder workshops, analysing results and writing reports. They will develop their experience of both academic and policy research, based at both a leading university and a leading independent research institute.

The post holder will also work closely with the research team at UCL and the Ada Lovelace Institute, and will be expected to work at the Ada Lovelace Institute office as well as the UCL STS office. The role may require occasional attendance at meetings or workshops beyond standard duties, and the post holder will be expected to maintain confidentiality where required.

About you

The appointee will hold an undergraduate degree in sociology, science and technology studies, political science, communication studies, informatics, social computing or a related discipline.

The post holder will hold experience of qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, as well as a keen and demonstrable interest in AI safety and policy, responsible research and innovation.

A full Job Description and Person Specification for this role can be found at the bottom of this page. If you have any queries about this position, please contact Prof Jack Stilgoe (j.stilgoe@ucl.ac.uk).

Application process: As part of your application, please ensure that you include a CV and a cover letter. This should address how you demonstrate each of the criteria listed in the person specification.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• On-site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.

Source and more details: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/search-ucl-jobs/details?nPostingId=19690&nPostingTargetId=48179&id=Q1KFK026203F3VBQBLO8M8M07&LG=UK&languageSelect=UK&mask=ext