Research Fellow in Participatory AI Methods
Develop participatory AI systems that empower communities to shape AI uncertainty expression and ethical dilemmas.
Best for:Best for researchers with expertise in participatory design, human-computer interaction, or social sciences, who have experience coordinating research projects and facilitating co-design sessions with diverse communities.
Overview
This Research Fellow position at King’s College London’s Centre for Data Futures focuses on advancing participatory AI methods within the NAVIGATE research programme. The role involves leading the participatory refinement workstream, transitioning from synthetic data experiments to human-centred testing with students and online participants. The successful candidate will design co-design sessions with professional communities (e.g., GPs, educators, legal practitioners), evaluate outcomes, and collaborate on a public-facing demonstrator. The project aims to democratise AI systems by enabling communities to influence how AI handles uncertainty and disagreement. The position is funded by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and offers a fixed-term contract with potential extension.
What you'll do
- Lead the participatory refinement workstream of the NAVIGATE research programme, transitioning from synthetic data experiments to human-centred testing with students and online participants.
- Design and facilitate co-design sessions with professional communities (e.g., GPs, educators, legal practitioners) to refine AI systems’ handling of uncertainty and disagreement.
- Develop methods to evaluate the outcomes of co-design sessions and assess their impact on community-driven AI refinement.
- Collaborate with technical teams to integrate participatory strategies into a public-facing AI demonstrator, in partnership with Imperial College London.
- Ensure community refinement of AI systems does not result in data extraction, aligning with the Centre’s Data Empowerment Clinic principles.
- Coordinate research projects, supervise junior researchers, and contribute to peer-reviewed publications or research outputs.
- Work closely with the Centre’s NLP PDRA and Prof Yulan He on the technical pipeline for AI uncertainty expression.
- Engage with design-engineering collaborators to translate participatory strategies into functional AI layers.
Requirements
Degree required: PhD in experimental and quantitative social sciences, human-computer interaction (HCI), design research, experimental psychology, digital humanities, health services research, education, public policy research, or science and technology studies, or a related field.
Language: English; proficiency required for research communication and collaboration.
Instruction: English
Publications: Record of published research in peer-reviewed journals or other research outputs.
- Demonstrated track record of research with human participants, including experimental studies and participatory or co-design methods.
- Experience coordinating research projects and supervising junior researchers.
- Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals or other research outputs.
- Ability to design and facilitate co-design sessions with diverse communities.
- Familiarity with ethical dilemmas and uncertainty expression in AI systems.
- No specific nationality or residency restrictions mentioned.
- No age or prior experience caps explicitly stated.
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-10-18
Applicants must submit their CV, cover letter, and research statement through the university’s online application portal. Additional documents may include a list of publications and contact details for referees. Ensure all materials are tailored to highlight relevant experience in participatory design and human-AI interaction.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Research statement
- List of publications
- Contact details for referees
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