Research Associate on Aggregating Safety Preferences for AI Systems

Research Associate on Aggregating Safety Preferences for AI Systems

Computer Science - Wolfson Building, Parks Road, Oxford

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position on the project Aggregating Safety Preferences for AI Systems: A Social Choice Approach, funded by ARIA under the Safeguarded AI TA1.4 call. The post holder will be line managed by Dr Markus Brill at the University of Oxford and work collaboratively with academic partners at Berkeley, Potsdam, Groningen, and beyond.

The project explores novel aggregation methods at the intersection of AI safety, computational social choice, and judgment aggregation, aiming to formally integrate multi-stakeholder preferences into AI system design and evaluation.

The post holder will take a leading role in advancing theoretical and algorithmic research in the domain of probabilistic preference aggregation, contribute to the design and analysis of normative frameworks and aggregation rules, and develop scalable solutions for handling ambiguity and incomplete information in stakeholder inputs.

About Us 

The University of Oxford is a stimulating work environment, which enjoys an international reputation as a world-class centre of excellence. Our research plays a key role in tackling many global challenges, from reducing our carbon emissions to developing vaccines during a pandemic.

The Department of Computer Science at Oxford is renowned for pioneering research and teaching across diverse fields, consistently ranking among the best in the world. Our commitment to innovation drives us to tackle complex technological and societal challenges.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees’ wellbeing, reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:

o Excellent contributory pension scheme  o 38 days annual leave (including public holidays) - pro rata for part time jobs  o  Family leave schemes  o  Cycle loan scheme and discounted public transport  This post is based at the Department of Computer Science and on-site working is required.

Diversity

Committed to equality and valuing diversity.

Application Process

You will be required to upload a supporting statement and an up-to-date CV as part of your online application.

Your supporting statement must clearly demonstrate how you meet each of the essential selection criteria listed in the job description. Applications that do not include a supporting statement or CV, or fail to address the criteria in sufficient detail, will not be considered.

While we recognise the value of AI tools in assisting with application preparation, submissions that are clearly AI-generated without personalisation or insight will be rejected. It’s crucial that your application reflects your own experiences and understanding of the role.

The closing date for applications is midday on 26th March 2026 . Interviews are expected to be held in late March or in April. 

Contact Person : HR Coordinator Vacancy ID : 185545

Contact Phone : Closing Date & Time : 26-Mar-2026 12:00

Pay Scale : RESEARCH GRADE 7 Contact Email : hrcs.ox.ac.uk

Salary (£) : Grade 07RS: £39,424 - £47,779 per annum inclusive of Oxford University weighting

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185545 Job Description and Selection Criteria 624