University of Edinburgh
Postdoctoral Research Associate
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Postdoctoral Researcher in AI Assurance and Insurance (UKRI-Funded)
School of Mathematics, University of Edinburgh
UE07: £41,064–£53,301 per annum Full-time, 35 hours per week Fixed-term: 2 years Vacancies: 2
About the Position
This role is part of AI²: Assurance and Insurance for Artificial Intelligence, a joint research programme led by universities (Edinburgh, Oxford, Warwick) and industry partner AXA. It explores:
- Mathematical, statistical, and computational foundations to evaluate, price, monitor, and mitigate risks arising from AI systems, including generative and agentic AI.
Key Objectives
Successful candidates will:
- Develop methods for rigorous AI risk assessment and insurance pricing
- Focus on subfields such as:
- Risk measures, systemic risk, conformal prediction*
- Uncertainty quantification*
- Stochastic/Bayesian optimisation, reinforcement learning*
- AI security, red-teaming and jailbreak evaluation*
- Contribute to tools for uncertainty quantification, tail-risk pricing, and systemic failure modelling in AI systems
- Publish research, present findings at conferences, and collaborate with academic and industry partners
About the School & Opportunity
- The University’s School of Mathematics, globally ranked 18th in Shanghai’s Mathematics Subject Ranking (2023), seeks interdisciplinary researchers
- Collaborate with AXA and research teams at Oxford, Warwick, and Edinburgh to address theroretical foundations of AI insurance
- Engage with broader stakeholder communities (insurance/finance, regulatory bodies)
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Key questions the project tackles:
“How should AI risk be quantified? How can model failures be priced? What role does systemic risk play in AI ecosystems?”
Main Responsibilities
Research
- Conduct high-quality research on AI risk assessment, assurance, and insurance pricing
- Drive innovation in relevant research areas (see above)
- Develop reproducible mathematical/computational tools for risk evaluation (e.g., benchmarking, simulation frameworks)
- Publish in peer-reviewed journals/conferences
Collaboration
- Work across Edinburgh, Oxford, and Warwick, with regular interaction with AXA partners
- Actively contribute to project reporting, workshops, and grant development
Impact & Dissemination
- Present findings in academic, industrial, and public settings
- Engage with sociopolitical implications of AI assurance and insurance
Requirements & Qualifications
- Doctorate (or equivalent experience) in mathematics, statistics, computer science, AI, or related discipline
- Strong research track record demonstrating expertise in at least one relevant area
- Ability to bridge AI assurance, risk theory, and insurance mathematics
- Good communication and collaboration skills
- Strong command of programming (e.g., Python), open-source contributions preferred
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
N.B.: Flexible Working
- Open to considering hybrid/part-time working arrangements
How to Apply
Apply via the University of Edinburgh recruitment portal. Submit:
- Curriculum Vitae (publications/software repositories included)
- Supporting statement (addressing selection criteria)
- Two-page research statement (connecting your work to AI² themes)
- Two references
Deadline
Sunday 7th July 2026, 11:59 pm UK time
About the University
- Ranked 3rd in the UK for Mathematical Sciences (by Research Power)
- Valued Diversity: Athena Swan Silver, Stonewall Proud Employer
- Leadership roles including:
- ERC grant holder hosting
- Lead institutions for the Maxwell Research Institute
- Competitive salary, benefits (pension, flexible work), and a global research hub
For queries, contact Professor Lukasz Szpruch: L.Szpruch@ed.ac.uk.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills