Ai for Assessment Researcher

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

AI For Assessment Researcher

Manchester: £45,590 - £52,089

Milton Keynes: £47,470 - £54,238

Hybrid – 2x days a week in the office

Imagine shaping the future of AI in education. What if your research could unlock innovative assessment that is fair, explainable, and high-quality? Join us in a pioneering project that merges advanced AI with educational assessment, making a real-world impact.

At AQA, in collaboration with King’s College London, we are developing a cutting-edge AI system to assist human experts in their work. You will be at the forefront of AI research, designing state-of-the-art algorithms with real-world applications.

What You’ll Do

• Research, design, implement, and test NLP algorithms for AI-driven assessment.
• Collaborate with AQA assessment experts to ensure AI solutions align with real-world needs.
• Develop interactive front-end and back-end solutions to refine AI models with human feedback.
• Publish research findings, contribute to academic discussions, and present at conferences.

What’s in it for you?

• Enjoy a flexible work environment with a 35-hour week and extensive opportunities for professional and personal development.
• Access to an enhanced contributory pension scheme which could you see you paying in 7% and AQA contributing 11.5% (Other options are available)
• Receive 25 days of annual leave, increasing to 30 days with service, plus bank holidays and additional Christmas office closure.
• Comprehensive health coverage from day one, including Bupa PMI, Health Cash Plan, and Life Assurance.
• Participate in eco-friendly transport schemes, including electric vehicles and cycle-to-work options.

What You’ll Need

• A PhD (or equivalent experience) in NLP, AI, or a related field.
• A strong research record, evidenced by publications or equivalent contributions.
• Proficiency in NLP techniques, research methodologies, and AI applications.
• The ability to communicate complex findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

How do I apply?

Read the full job description and upload your most recent CV and cover letter by following the link provided. As part of your application please also include an example of your previous work on NLP or AI (e.g. conference paper, github repository, jupyter notebook or similar).

Closing date for applications will be Thursday 17th April.

AQA is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and supported to thrive.

Recruitment Agencies

We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.

Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.

Full Job Description

Summary

Purpose:
To key purpose of the role is to research, design, implement and test advanced and explainable algorithms for natural language processing to be used in educational measurement and assessment.Landscape:
The post holder will participate in the EPSRC Prosperity Partnership project ‘AI-enabled High Stakes Assessment’ jointly between AQA and King’s College London (KCL). This collaborative 3-year project aims to enhance the quality of secondary school qualifications (e.g. GCSE and A-level) by developing a cutting-edge, modular AI system powered by Large Language Models (LLMs). Combining AQA's expertise in assessment with KCL's proficiency in LLMs, the project represents an interdisciplinary effort.

Two researchers will be appointed for this project, one based at AQA while another at KCL. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with the KCL project team and have opportunities to build their research profile through demos, presentations, and academic publications.

Activities:
Research, design, implement and test algorithms that are capable of marking exam responses to a level of quality and transparency comparable to that of a human expert
Use AQA assessment data and collaborate with AQA assessment experts to evaluate algorithms on real-world data and ensure they are fit-for-purpose, specific to AQA’s business and defensible
Develop interactive front-ends and back-ends to ensure algorithms can be queried by human experts and can improve thanks to human experts’ feedback
Keep abreast of advances in the subject area and translate new knowledge into research activity.
Regularly report on research progress to the project leads, and disseminate research findings in academic conferences, business meetings and public events.
Advise and learn from other researchers working on comparable areas to ensure research synergies

To be successful in this role, you will need to know:
Cutting-edge knowledge of Natural Language Processing (NLP), Artificial Intelligence or a very closely related discipline, demonstrated by a PhD or an equivalent professional qualification or demonstrable experience.
Strong research record in NLP as evidenced by publications in high quality journals and conferences, or equivalent demonstrable evidence
Sufficient breadth or depth of specialist knowledge in the discipline and of research methods and techniques to work within established research programmes, delivering to specifications and milestones
Ability to initiate, plan, organise, implement and deliver research work to tight deadlines.
Demonstrable ability to communicate research findings succinctly and clearly to a range of stakeholders, including several key non-academic and non-technical stakeholders, in a variety of formats (written and spoken forms)
Contribute to a motivated and positive team culture, providing expertise and developing self and others to achieve excellence
A commitment to AQA’s mission of never letting a learner down, and to fundamental AQA values including Customers front and centre, Step up, Shape tomorrow, Work and learn together, Results matter.
Desirable
Understanding of the assessment research environment and awareness of key debates, players and influencers.
Broad understanding of the political, educational and business context within which AQA works