University of Edinburgh
Postdoctoral Research Associate in Applied Artificial Intelligence for Public Breeding
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Grade UE07: £41,064 to £48,822 per annum
The Roslin Institute / CMVM
Full Time: 35 hours per week
Fixed term: for 24 months (there may be the opportunity to extend to 30 months tbc)
The Opportunity:
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Applied Artificial Intelligence for the recently established TEAM-AI project: Tools for Evaluating and Advancing Meaningful AI Adoption in Public Breeding Programmes, a global partnership between the Roslin Institute and CGIAR, including CIMMYT and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARES). In this role, you will develop and evaluate innovative artificial intelligence approaches to support public plant breeding. Working with large-scale genomic, phenotypic, environmental, and field trial datasets, you will benchmark AI and quantitative genetics methods, develop multimodal and hybrid modelling frameworks, and investigate explainable AI strategies to improve prediction, interpretability, and breeding decision-making.
Join TEAM-AI to translate cutting-edge analytics into practical solutions for global food security.
TEAM-AI aims to ensure that advances in AI and data science deliver meaningful benefits for public breeding programmes and the farmers they target. This role offers a unique opportunity to combine expertise in biometrics, quantitative genetics and software development to address real-world challenges in agriculture. Working closely with CGIAR and NARES partners through collaborative visits, workshops and training activities, you will gain experience with public breeding programmes operating across diverse environments. The resulting tools and resources will be deployed across CGIAR and NARES programmes, helping breeders make more informed and representative decisions, accelerate crop improvement, and strengthen food security and climate resilience across the Global South.
The successful candidate will join the Biometrics for Breeding Group at Roslin, who develop statistical and quantitative genetic methods for improving the productivity and sustainability of breeding programmes amid a changing climate. We offer exciting opportunities to build an international network spanning academia, industry and public breeding programmes, while contributing to capacity building in AI-enabled breeding at Roslin and expanding our suite of data-driven breeding resources and tools.
This post is full-time (35 hours per week) on-campus working; however, we are open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.
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View the full job description [https://uoe.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/jobdescriptionlibrary/IQD7OqIKVZn1SbHy9eT2PCN0AWmsZl2EhwCuRAp__qXPeMg](opens in a new browser tab)
How to apply
Please include the following documents in your application:
- CV
- Cover letter
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 (opens in a new tab) 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 a Stonewall Proud Employer, actively promoting LGBTQ+ 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 (opens new browser tab)
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 1 October 2026.
Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.
Interviews will be held shortly after application closing date and short listing.
As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
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The Roslin Institute receives strategic investment from the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and provides national capability to achieve sustainable agriculture, control diseases and enhance health through pioneering animal bioscience.
The Institute is a key part of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework exercise, a joint submission by the School and Scotland’s Rural College placed first in the United Kingdom for agriculture, food and veterinary sciences.
The Institute is home to over 400 staff, students and visitors, including around 65 Group Leaders and Tenure Track Fellows on a path to independence. It has a vibrant programme https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin/work-study/postgraduate (opens in a new browser tab) of postgraduate research and a thriving student community.
Research at the Institute is organised across eight divisions (Quantitative Biology, Genome Biology, Functional Genetics, Translational Bioscience, Bacteriology, Virology, Immunology, and Epidemiology) and two Institute Strategic Programmes funded by the BBSRC from 2023-28 (Genes & Traits for Healthy Animals and Prevention & Control of Infectious Diseases).
Over £380M has been invested in physical infrastructure at Easter Bush since 2008, including for research on key terrestrial and aquatic farmed animals. This includes the National Avian Research Facility, a £24M Large Animal Research & Imaging Facility, Aquaculture facilities for fish and shellfish, and an Innovation Centre that is now fully occupied with commercial tenants. The campus serves as a key innovation hub for the Agri-Tech, Aquaculture and Animal Bioscience (3A) sector and Roslin has extensive partnerships with businesses, including animal breeding and pharmaceutical businesses able to translate its discoveries at global scale.
The Institute has a positive and inclusive culture and holds a prestigious Athena SWAN Gold award in recognition of its commitment to advance the careers of women in science.
Further details of the research conducted at the Institute can be found at The Roslin Institute website https://vet.ed.ac.uk/roslin (opens in a new browser tab).
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