Research Assistant - Privacy Enhancing Technologies & AI

Role: Research Assistant in Privacy Enhancing Technologies and AI 

Grade & Salary: Grade 6, £29,605 to £33,965 per annum

Contract: Full time, fixed term for 6 months

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)

Purpose of Role

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh is seeking candidates for a Research Assistant who will support the work of the funded EPSRC (£3.4M) project Protecting Minority Ethnic Communities Online (PRIME). The PRIME project aims to broaden understanding of online harm and how it can be mitigated through new systems, tools and processes by focusing on Minority Ethnic (ME) communities' experiences of digitalised services, particularly in the areas of housing, health and energy. We will draw on knowledge, methods and skills from social policy, cyber security and privacy, data mining and machine learning; human computer interaction, applied linguistics and educational technology. Working closely with the National Research Centre on Privacy, Harm Reduction and Adversarial Influence online (REPHRAIN (https://www.rephrain.ac.uk) the PRIME consortium includes researchers from Heriot-Watt, Glasgow, York, Cranfield, and Open Universities, and it will engage with a wide range of individuals from ME communities, community organisations, public agencies and energy suppliers to identify and categorise the nature of the harms experienced, and assess the adequacy of existing systems and processes to counter them. In the first instance, we will translate this knowledge into the co-design and co-production of novel, effective and scalable social and technological harm-mitigating solutions through a Citizen-led Race Equity Living Lab (CREL).  

The Research Assistant will work alongside the Research Associates in machine learning and data mining and the Research Associates in HCI, to design better privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) and an XAI framework that helps counter discriminatory processes in digitalised services. They will also assist with other relevant work-packages e.g., the Glasgow University led co-production CREL activities and the analysis of datasets. With the information gathered from the CREL labs and the datasets they will work to develop and test privacy enhancing technologies. We hope by doing this work we will address ethnic inequalities in service provision and demonstrate more accountability to the public in terms of greater transparency and equitable service outcomes. 

Duties & Responsibilities  

• In general, to support the PI and Co-I in Computer Science at HWU of the PRIME project in achieving the goals of that project, under their direction.  
• Undertaking the specific role of Research Assistant in the project under supervision.
• Taking responsibility for some elements of the planned development of the PETS and XAI framework 
• Planning and carrying out a work programme appropriate to the research activity  
• Contributing to dissemination and publication of research teams findings as appropriate.  
• Contribute to learning and teaching through activities such as, tutoring and marking (limited to no more than 10% on an annualised basis).  

Please note that this job description is not exhaustive, and the role holder may be required to undertake other relevant duties commensurate with the grading of the post. Activities may be subject to amendment over time as the role develops and/or priorities and requirements evolve.   

The applicant should have a Hons (2.1 or above) or Masters in Computer Science (or a very closely related cognate discipline). The applicant is expected to have excellent programming (including Python) experience, prototyping and evaluation skills to enable and support the development of the PETS and XAI framework (you will be supported in this by the two senior and two junior research associates). Experience of applying Privacy Enhancing Technologies to real-world problem solving is desirable.  

For further information or informal enquiries regarding this position please email Professor Lynne Baillie  l.baillie@hw.ac.uk 

Essential & Desirable Criteria

Qualifications 

A Hons Degree (2.1 or above) or Masters degree in Computer Science or very closely related subject. 

Essential

1. Excellent experience of software engineering and software testing 
2. Excellent programming skills in some of the following: Python, Java, C# or C++, functional programming  to support the development of the PETS and XAI framework 
3. Prototyping and evaluation skills to enable the development and testing of the PETS and XAI framework 
4. Experience of software development within a research context. 
5. Knowledge in some of the following: user centred design, co-design and development 
6. Strong analytical and problem solving skills. 
7. Strong communication skills (verbal, written and presentation). 

Desirable 

1. Industry experience on projects. 
2. Good team player with good interpersonal skills. 
3. Tenacity and confidence in engaging stakeholders during an iterative development life cycle. 
4. Adaptability, willingness to learn new fields and develop new skill sets. 

Other 

1. Ability to travel within the UK and Internationally (if required). 

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Thursday 26th September 2024.

Please submit the following via. the HW online recruitment portal;

1. A letter of interest describing your relevant background and skills for the project, and why you are interested in this project.
2. A current curriculum vitae that includes dates and details of your educational background (degrees, subject, classification, degree transcripts), technical programming skills, publications, work experience and other relevant information. 
3. The name and contact information of two referees (one of which must be your current line manager or Hons/Masters supervisor), these will only be solicited by the University for shortlisted candidates. 

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.  Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/ .

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.