Job Purpose

To make a leading contribution to the EPSRC-funded project “Designing Interaction Freedom with Active Inference (DIFAI)”, working with PI Professor Roderick Murray-Smith and Co-Is Dr John Williamson, and Dr Sebastian Stein. The job requires the proven ability to develop novel theory and build and evaluate working interactive prototypes involving complex computational models. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the formulation and submission of research publications and research proposals as well as help manage and direct this complex and challenging project as opportunities allow.

We are looking for a post-doctoral researcher to join a research project which brings the Active Inference perspective to the study of human computer interaction. This requires us to build/learn generative, probabilistic forward models of users and their physical and computational environments. This will involve modelling sensors, developing dynamic models for control and developing a theory for future direct manipulation interactions with AI-enhanced systems outside of language-model-based thinking. The ideal candidate will be someone with a strong background in HCI theory and the ability to develop novel theory. They must also have strong development skills, to enable them to lead the process of prototyping new interactive systems with sensors, build machine learning algorithms that work in-the-loop, and deliver empirical work and publications.

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Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Take a leading role in the planning and conduct of assigned research individually or jointly in accordance with the project deliverables and project strategy.

2. Characterisation of completed models and software and the documentation of research output including analysis and interpretation of all data, maintaining records and databases, drafting technical/progress reports and research papers as appropriate.

3. Establish and maintain your research profile and reputation and that of The University of Glasgow Inference Dynamics and interaction Research group, in the School of Computing Science, including establishing and sustaining a track record of independent and joint publications of international quality in high profile/quality refereed publications, enhancing the research impact in terms of economic/societal benefit, and gathering indicators of esteem.

4. Survey the research literature and environment, understand the research challenges associated with the project & subject area, & develop/implement a suitable research strategy.

5. Presentation of work at international and national conferences, at internal and external seminars, colloquia and workshops to develop and enhance our research profile.

6. Take a leading role in the identification of potential funding sources and to assist in the development of proposals to secure funding from internal and external bodies to support future research.

7. Take a leading role in developing and maintaining collaborations with colleagues across the research group/School/College/University and wider community of academic and industrial partners.

8. Take a leading role in team/group/project meetings/seminars/workshops and School research group activities to enhance the wider knowledge, outputs and culture of the School/College.

9. Take the lead in the organisation, supervision, mentoring and training of undergraduate and/or postgraduate students and less experienced members of the project team to ensure their effective development.

10. Perform administrative tasks related to the activities of the project/research group and School, including Budgets/Expenditure. 

11. Make a leading contribution to Teaching activities (e.g. demonstrating etc) and associated admin as assigned by the Head of School and in consultation with Principal Investigator.

12. Keep up to date with current knowledge and recent advances in the field/discipline.

13. Engage in personal, professional and career development, to enhance both specialist and transferable skills in accordance with desired career trajectory.

14. Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the line manager or Head of School/Director of Research Institute.

15. Contribute to the enhancement of the University’s international profile in line with the University Strategy, World Changing Glasgow 2025.

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For appointment at Grade 8:

16. Take the lead in identifying and attracting new sources of independent and external research funding and researchers into this research area as opportunities permit to support future research.

17. Present research findings at high profile national and international conferences, seminars and meetings to raise the profile of the research group in order to enhance the research strength of the School.

18. Make a leading contribution to the management of the team/project and sustain an enhanced level of academic outputs and profile.

These key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive but simply highlight a number of major tasks which the staff member may be reasonably expected to perform.

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Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge and Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Normally Scottish Credit and Qualification Framework level 12 (PhD) plus track record of emerging independence within a research/professional environment, or alternatively possess professional qualifications and experience equivalent to PhD level plus the requisite experience.

A2 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within the field of human-computer interaction with a strong overview of how machine learning and/or probabilistic modelling/active inference can be integrated in it.

A3 Evidenced knowledge of experience with python and modern machine learning architectures (e.g. VAEs, transformers) and libraries (e.g., numpy, pytorch or tensorflow or JAX frameworks).

A4 Knowledge of mathematical modelling.

A5 A track record in computational HCI, with experience in leading and publishing papers at top HCI venues (CHI, UIST, ToCHI, etc.)

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Desirable:

B6 A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of current issues and future directions within the field of Active Inference, control theory or Bayesian inference.

B7 Experience with building computational models of human users in an interaction setting.

B8 Experience in organising and analysing human user trials.

B9 Experience with a modern machine learning environment, including use of GPU clusters and modern ML tools and JAX.

B10 Experience in working with sensors and signal processing.

B11 Experience in real-time graphics/game development.

B12 Experience in delivering and publishing software libraries (e.g. track record of creating research-related open source projects) and/or benchmark datasets

For appointment at Grade 8:

B13 An established track record of presentation and publication of relevant research results in quality publications and/or at conferences with a leading contribution.

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Skills

Essential:

C1 Evidence of experience with application of advanced mathematical modelling/probabilistic modelling/machine learning/active inference to challenging problems.

C2 Evidence of strong software development skills in a machine learning and mathematical modelling context, including development of novel ML/active inference architectures, working on novel experimental data and completing analyses.

C3 Research or Industrial creativity and strong cross-discipline collaborative ability

C4 Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including public presentations and ability to communicate complex data/concepts clearly and concisely with a range of stakeholders

C5 Excellent interpersonal skills including team working and a collegiate approach

C6 Appropriate workload/time/project/budget/people management skills

C7 Extensive IT and data analysis/interpretation skills as appropriate

C8 Self-motivation, initiative and independent thought/working

C9 Problem solving skills including a flexible and pragmatic approach

C10 Good Team Leadership skills including demonstrable supervisory skills

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For appointment at Grade 8:

C11 Able to work both individually as well as part of a team and manage less senior staff members as appropriate to co-ordinate publication strategies and disseminate results

C12 Strong cross-discipline collaborative ability, including evidence of working across industry and academia;

C13 Able to work in/with both industrial and academic environments with a good understanding of key legislative and process frameworks and/or industrial technology and approaches.

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Experience

Essential:

E1 Sufficient depth of relevant research experience, including sufficient postdoctoral experience in a related field, appropriate to an early career researcher.

E2 Experience in developing and implementing computational software for human-computer interaction, including user-facing interface prototypes.

E3 Proven ability to deliver quality research outputs in a timely and efficient manner, with a track record of leading first author presentation and publications in quality publications/conferences, appropriate for the career stage

E4 Experience of making a leading contribution in academic activities.

E5 Ability to demonstrate a degree of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of the literature, design & analysis of experiments & drafting of papers.

E6 Experience in undertaking independent research.

E7 Commitment to open research, as appropriate to the discipline, through open data, open code, open educational resources and practices that support replication.

E8 Proven commitment to supporting the career development of colleagues and to other forms of collegiality appropriate to the career stage.

E9 Evidence of experience with python and experience managing ML code in modern machine learning architectures (e.g. VAEs, transformers) and libraries (e.g., numpy, pytorch or tensorflow or JAX frameworks).

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For appointment at Grade 8:

E9 Sufficient depth of relevant research experience, normally including sufficient postdoctoral experience in a related field, appropriate to a senior PDRA / early career researcher

E10 An established national/international profile

E11 Experience and evidence of making a leading contribution in academic activities

E12 Experience of independence as illustrated by identification of project objectives from assessment of literature, design and analysis of research data and publication of papers

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Closing date: 17 September 2025

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Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 7/8, £41,064 - £46,049 / £50,253 - £58,225 per annum

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This post is full time, and has funding for up to 2 years

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The University of Glasgow has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.  If you require a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK, you will be required to meet the eligibility requirements of the visa route to be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship.

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Please note that this post may be eligible to be sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa route if tradeable points can be used under the Skilled Worker visa rules. For more information please visit: https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.

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As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

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We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

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We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

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We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.