Research Associate in Ethics of Autonomous Systems

The role

We are seeking a Research Associate to work on an exciting new project exploring trust in the design and use of autonomous systems with developing functionality. You will be based in thriving interdisciplinary Centre for Ethics in Medicine (CEM), in the Department of Population Health Sciences, in Bristol Medical School, and will work very closely with colleagues in the Bristol Robotics Lab.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team on the UKRI Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Node in Functionality programme, which aims to explore how evolving functionality (adaptation) influences how autonomous systems need to be specified, designed, verified, and regulated in order to be trustworthy. You will be part of a large multidisciplinary team of researchers from ethics, sociology, computer science and engineering working together to develop design-for-trustworthiness techniques and methods applicable to a wide range of autonomous systems, including swarm robots, soft robots and unmanned air vehicles (. 

What will you be doing?

The successful candidate will carry out research activities on the ethics workstream of the TAS functionally programme, as directed by the ethics workstream lead (Dr Jonathan Ives) and PI (Dr Shane Windsor). This will include theoretical ethical analysis, periods of ethnographic study in robotics labs, qualitative interviews, qualitative data analysis, writing for publication, public engagement, and a small amount of teaching and assessment consistent with the role.

You should apply if

You have a good knowledge of healthcare ethics and law in general

You have a strong interest in the ethics of trust and technology

You have experience/knowledge of qualitative research

You will ideally have some experience/knowledge of empirical bioethics research and/or some experience working in ethical issues around trust and/or technology

For informal enquires please contact: Jonathan Ives () 

Additional information

Contract type: Open ended with funding until 30/04/2024

Work pattern:  Full time

Grade: I

Salary:  £33,797-£35,845 per annum

School/Unit: Population Health Sciences, Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences

S hift pattern :  n/a

This advert will close at 23:59 GMT on Sunday 10th January 2021.

We welcome applications from all members of our community and are particularly encouraging those from diverse groups, such as members of the LGBT+ and BAME communities, to join us.