Postdoctoral Research Associate

Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum

CAHSS / School of Law

Full-time: 35 hours per week

Fixed-term: 3.5 years

Help us redefine what’s possible. Be part of something bigger. 

Here, you can continue to make a difference in everything around you. Take on new challenges, grow your career, be recognised for your contributions, and benefit from our commitment to your wellbeing. Be part of something bigger — where your work has real impact and your development matters. 

The Opportunity:

We are seeking to appoint a talented researcher to the role of Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) to work on The Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life (LCAL). LCAL is a major new interdisciplinary research hub dedicated to the study of how machine learning and AI algorithms are transforming societies. LCAL pursues one of the most urgent questions for contemporary society: how do we wish to live with and alongside algorithmic technologies? Our researchers are examining the novel paradigms of knowledge, perception, and action that emerge with contemporary algorithmic technologies. Led by Prof. Louise Amoore at the Centre’s hub in Durham University, LCAL has collaborative partners in York, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, and Duke Universities.

The post-holder will join the “Decisions” cluster, led by Prof. Nehal Bhuta, which examines how algorithmic life is changing the character of decisions through the hybrid knowledges of humans and algorithms. From the critical decisions in military and security domains to those in welfare and public administration, algorithmic life advances automated and machine decisions into human life. The work within this cluster will develop novel algorithmic life approaches to decision, and to ideas of accountable, responsible, or ethical decision. 

The successful candidate will hold a PhD (or have a defence date) in any relevant field, including but not limited to Law, History, Sociology, Anthropology, Philosophy, Computer Science, and Science and Technology Studies. 

Their proposed research will address one or more of the Thematic Programmes and Clusters of the LCAL, as well as the Decisions Cluster. They will be well-organized, motivated and able to take initiative to develop advanced research, work with others in an interdisciplinary environment, and contribute to building intellectual community through knowledge exchange. 

Specifically, they will:

• Pursue research that is world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour, commensurate with Law School and LCAL’s continuing emphasis on international excellence; 
• Develop clear plans for the pursuit of suitable national and international funding opportunities to support research and end-user engagement;
• Contribute to enhancing the quality of the research environment LCAL and the Law School, the wider University and beyond through collaborative research activity; 
• Demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the administrative work, citizenship and values of the Law School and LCAL.
• To contribute to attracting and supervising research students, and to enhance the Law School and LCAL’s commitment to its vibrant and international postgraduate culture. 

This post is full-time (35 hours per week); however, we are open to considering flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.

View the full job description (opens in a new browser tab).

How to apply

Please include the following documents in your application:

• A CV  
• A covering letter which details your experience, strengths and potential in the requirements set out above; 
• Personal research plan detailing how your research contributes to the Decisions Cluster, highlighting also possible links to other clusters (data, publics, forms of life) and or one or more of the four thematic programmes of LCAL (generativity; image and language; synthetic worlds; and being human). Maximum 3 pages A4. 
• Two of your most significant pieces of written work.  Where possible your written work should have been published or submitted/under review, however work such as a chapter of your PhD thesis or a conference paper may be submitted where you consider these to best represent the quality and significance of your work. 

Where possible we request that you provide accessible web links to your publications, which the committee will use to access your work. The application form contains fields in which to enter each of the web links. 

Please note we are unable to access publications behind a paywall.  

In the event you are unable to provide accessible links to online hosting of your work, publications should be uploaded as PDFs as part of your application in our recruitment system. 

All application documents should be uploaded with your name and document type as PDF files. 

Referees 

You should provide 3 academic referees. 

References will be requested for candidates who have been shortlisted and will be made available to the panel during the interview process. 

As part of your application, you will be asked whether you give your consent to your academic references being sought should you be invited to attend an interview. We will only request references where permission has been granted. 

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

• A competitive salary. 

• An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. 

• To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.

• Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits. 

Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion

The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.

Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our 
right to work webpages.

The University may be able to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. This will depend on a number of factors specific to the successful applicant. 

Key dates to note

The closing date for applications is 7 October 2026.

Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone.

Interviews date to be confirmed.