Research Associate in AI and Data Privacy

UWE, Bristol - School of Computing and Creative Technologies

About this role

As part of UWE’s Computer Science Research Centre, you will join a national team delivering “TREvolution”. This ambitious project sits at the heart of the UK’s aim to establish a safe and collaborative, AI-enabled network of Trusted Research Environments where approved researchers can efficiently access and analyse sensitive data to advance research for public benefit.

You will to be part of a team working at the cutting-edge where advanced analytics (including federation and AI) meets data privacy. We are creating tools for assessing and managing the vulnerability of research outputs (such as statistics, or trained AI models) produced from sensitive data to subsequent ‘inference attacks’ that might disclose individuals’ confidential data.

Your role will include:

• Designing, implementing (in python, extending the SACRO toolkits), and conducting experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of various inference attacks and risk mitigation strategies for trained AI models.
• Assisting in the design and creation of resources to effectively communicate the privacy risk of a trained AI model. These will include novel Risk Visualisation tools, and under-pinning ‘hands-on’ Training resources.
• Working with DARE UK’S ‘real world exemplar projects’ to understand their needs, and extend the SACRO family of tools to support more use-cases.
• Incorporating these to deliver step-changes in scalability and applicability of the SACRO framework and embedding within the wider TREvolution project deliverables.

This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to collaborate with leading academics, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. With access to state-of-the-art research facilities, you will contribute to high-quality publications, shape national policy discourse, and explore innovative approaches to privacy risk management. This is a rare chance to advance your research career while making a tangible impact on unlocking the potential of data and advanced analytics.

About you

We’re looking for dynamic researchers with the ambition to deliver research that matters. You will be passionate about AI and data science, but respectful of people’s concerns about privacy, and the need to ensure inclusive benefits for all.

You will hold (or be close to completing) a Masters degree in a relevant area of AI or Data Science.

You thrive in collaborative environments and have the communication skills to work with a diverse range of stakeholders. Experience in a range of research methods, and the confidence to select appropriate techniques is essential, and an understanding of secure data environments would be desirable.

Where is this role based?

This post is based within the School of Computing and Creative Technologies at our lively Frenchay campus where we have invested in the latest facilities and resources to give both our staff and students access to everything they need to succeed.

Further information

If you would like to speak to us to find out more about this role please contact Professor Jim Smith on 0117 328 7417 or email: James.Smith@uwe.ac.uk

This is a fixed-term post until 31st March 2027, and is full-time working on a 1FTE contract.

This post is available on a job share basis for applicants wishing to work part time