Applications are invited for a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Reader position in computational cognitive science in the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh, as part of an expansion in cognition, neuroscience, and AI.

The successful candidates will have (or be near to completing) a PhD, an established research agenda and the enthusiasm and ability to undertake original research, to lead a research group, and to engage with teaching and academic supervision. We are seeking current and future leaders in the field.

In the case of exceptional applicants, appointments may be available as a Senior Lecturer or Reader (Grade UE09). Job descriptions for each level are outlined below. The level of appointment would be determined by the selection panel following interview in Edinburgh in early 2019.

Appointment will be full-time and open-ended.

All applications must contain the following supporting documents:

• Teaching statement
• Research statement
• Full CV (resume) and publication list

Please note that references will be sought for all shortlisted candidates. Please indicate on your application form if you are happy for your referees to be contacted.

Feedback will only be provided to interviewed candidates.

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Frank Keller (keller@inf.ed.ac.uk).

Salary: Lecturer Grade UE08 £40,792 – £48,677 per annum / Senior Lecturer or Reader Grade UE09 £51,630 – £58,089 per annum

Closing Date: Tuesday 15th January 2019 at 5pm (GMT)

Further Information

We seek candidates with inter-disciplinary research interests, who combine computational and machine learning based methods and cognitive science, and have an interest in advancing the state of the art in AI by understanding how humans excel in domains that remain challenging for computers. This position is part of an expansion in cognitive science, neuroscience, and AI, which also includes a lectureship in Computational Neuroscience and Artificial Intelligence:

Computational Neuroscience and AI position

The candidate’s research programme should complement the School’s contributions in computational neuroscience, cognitive science, robotics, and artificial intelligence. There are ample opportunities to enact collaborative activities with researchers in foundational sciences such as systems neuroscience and cognitive psychology.

The candidate’s research focus might involve, for example:

• judgement and decision-making
• learning and memory
• cognitive or neural development
• motor control or planning
• comparative cognition
• vision and perception

Candidates should have a strong technical track record and be able to teach undergraduate and master’s level courses in areas such as AI and machine learning, in addition to teaching in cognitive science.

The School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh is one of the largest in Europe, with more than 120 academic staff and a total of over 500 post-doctoral researchers, research students and support staff. Informatics at Edinburgh rated highest on Research Power in the most recent Research Excellence Framework. The School has strong links with industry, with dedicated business incubator space and well-established enterprise and business development programmes. The School of Informatics has recently established the Bayes Centre for Data Technology, which provide a locus for fruitful multi-disciplinary work, including a range of companies collocated in it. The School holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance the representation of women in science, mathematics, engineering and technology. We are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions actively promoting LGBT equality.

1. Job Details

Job title: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Reader in Computational Cognitive Science.

School: School of Informatics

Line Manager: Head of School

Lecturer (Grade UE08)

2. Job Purpose

To undertake original research in computational cognitive science, within the School of Informatics. To impart knowledge by teaching, by facilitating student learning (including undergraduate, masters and doctoral levels), and by publishing in peer-reviewed media. To undertake a fair share of academic administration duties within the School.

3. Main Responsibilities (Approx. % of time)

Plan and undertake original research in computational cognitive science, including securing external research funding and leading post-graduate and post-doctoral researchers within a research programme. (40%)

Maintain a demonstrably high level of high quality research activity by disseminating research findings by producing first author and co-authored papers for publication, presentation at conferences etc. (20%)

Teach undergraduate, masters and doctoral level courses. Make significant contribution to the School’s teaching (course/module offerings and methods). Be involved in enhancing eLearning and on-line teaching initiatives. (30%)

Contribute to academic administration roles within the School. (10%)

4. Planning and Organising

The postholder will need to undertake a significant amount of project management and implementation. This will include:

• The definition and planning of a programme of work to deliver the anticipated research outputs.
• Maintain a portfolio of research activity and publications/outputs of high quality and impact.
• Lead funding bids and research activity in the specialist area.
• Appropriate planning and organising of staff and resources.
• Plan, prepare and deliver effective teaching, supervision and assessment of undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Participate in development of the curriculum and of teaching methods within the School.

5. Problem Solving

Examples of problems that the post-holder has to solve include:

• To ensure the progress of projects, the postholder will analyse and solve research problems
• Develop appropriate theories, methodologies and techniques, with an emphasis on quality and innovation
• Resolution of resource management issues within the scope of the postholder’s research and teaching responsibilities
• Participate in the development of research strategy at Institute and School level

6. Decision Making

The postholder will prioritise own workload and set operational targets for the researchers he/she is responsible for. The postholder will provide assistance to other researchers students and staff.

7. Key Contacts/Relationships

Within the School: Head of School, Head of Institute and, potentially, many other academic colleagues.

Within the University: Collaborators within other Schools in interdisciplinary projects, contribution within College and University working parties/committees etc as required.

Outwith the University: Academic colleagues within specialist area (as collaborator, reviewer, expert witness, etc), research grant funders, international conference organising committees (in particular serving as a Chair/committee member).

8. Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed for the Job

• PhD and experience as an established academic in computational cognitive science.
• Ability to undertake original research, including leading a research group.
• Ability to attract research funding as an independent researcher.
• A track record of first author and/or collaborative publications in high quality journals and international conferences.
• Strong relevant research and teaching skills.
• Effective written and oral communication skills in a range of contexts (e.g. teaching, research presentations and publications).
• The ability to engage with a range of teaching mediums including online and distance learning.

For the position of Lecturer, candidates who are close to completing their PhD, and who meet the other selection criteria, will be considered.

9. Dimensions

• Manage and co-manage external research funding over the relevant period of grants and assume responsibility for delivery of relevant research outputs.
• Teach and supervise on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
• Produce peer-reviewed articles/publications in appropriate media in line with School/Institute research strategy and to enhance personal and School reputation as a leading informatics research organisation.

10. Job Context and any other relevant information

The Institute for Language, Cognition and Computation (ILCC) pursues research on computational approaches to language, communication, and cognition. This includes natural language processing, speech technology, information retrieval, visualisation, cognitive modelling, educational technology, design informatics, and human-computer interaction. ILCC is one of the largest institutes in the School of Informatics, comprising 27 faculty, around 20 postdocs, and 70 PhD students. It incorporates the Centre for Speech Technology Research (shared with Linguistics) and EdinburghNLP, one of the largest and most productive Natural Language Processing groups in the world. ILCC faculty participate in the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Science. The Institutes’s facilities include an eye-tracking lab, dedicated sounds studios and perception labs for speech research, an instrumented meeting room, and virtual reality and visualisation suites.

The Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation (ANC) encourages interdisciplinary and collaborative work bringing together the traditional disciplines of neuroscience, cognitive science, biology, computer science, mathematics and statistics. Combined study of the adaptive nature of artificial and biological systems facilitates the many benefits accruing from treating essentially the same problem from different perspectives. Most research falls within the areas of Computational Neuroscience and Neuroinformatics, Machine Learning and Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. ANC currently has 16 faculty, 15 postdocs, and 36 PhD students. ANC hosts the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Science, with focus on both theoretical and applied aspects of AI and data science

Opportunities for collaboration exist also in the Centre for Intelligent Systems and its applications, whose members develop computer systems that can reproduce or complement human abilities, work with people, and support collaboration between humans, and the Institute of Perception, Action and Behaviour, whose members conduct research into robotics, computer vision, computer graphics, machine learning.

Informal Enquiries

Informal enquiries may be addressed to Prof Frank Keller (keller@inf.ed.ac.uk).

Application Procedure

All applicants should apply online by clicking the apply link at the bottom of this page. The application process is quick and easy to follow, and you will receive email confirmation of safe receipt of your application. The online system allows you to submit a CV and other attachments.

You will be notified by email whether you have been shortlisted for interview or not.

The closing date is 5pm (GMT) on Tuesday 15th January 2019.

Eligibility to Work

In accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 and Immigration Act 2016 the University of Edinburgh, as an employer, has a legal responsibility to prevent illegal working and therefore must check that all employees are entitled to work in the United Kingdom (UK).

To do so, the University requires to see original documents evidencing right to work in the UK before commencement of employment and this is normally carried out at interview. Details will be provided in any letter of invitation to interview.

For further information on eligibility to work please visit our eligibility to work webpage

If you are from outside the EEA and not currently eligible to work in the UK, there are visa routes that may be available to you, for example:

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent): If you are an academic in the field of sciences; humanities; engineering; medicine; digital technology; or the arts, it may be possible for you to apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa. This route requires you to apply to be endorsed as an internationally recognised leader or emerging leader in your particular field by a designated competent body (Arts Council England, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, Tech City UK). However, if you are applying for a senior academic role, e.g. Professor/Reader there is an accelerated route to endorsement. Further information can be found on the UKVI website

Tier 2: The University is a UKVI licensed sponsor and is able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to successful candidates who are offered highly skilled roles and meet the eligibility criteria. The CoS enables candidates to apply for a Tier 2 (general visa).

Further information about whether you require a visa and other visa routes can be found at: www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa

Conditions of Employment

Pension Scheme

This role is grade UE08 or UE09 and therefore the post holder is automatically included in membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), subject to the USS membership criteria, unless they indicate that they choose not to join the Scheme.

For further information please visit our Pensions website.

Salary

The role is grade UE08 or UE09 and attracts an annual salary of either UE08 £40,792 to £48,677 per annum or UE09 £51,630 to £58,089 per annum for 35 hours each week. Salary is paid monthly by direct transfer to your Bank or Building Society account, normally on the 28th of the month. Salaries for part-time staff are calculated on the full-time scales, pro-rata to the Standard Working Week.

The University reserves the right to vary the candidate information or make no appointment at all. Neither in part, nor in whole does this information form part of any contract between the University and any individual.

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