MantaRAI
Research Engineer – AI, Learning & Cognition
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About MantaRAI
MantaRAI is an early-stage education technology company building a new approach to how students use generative AI – helping them benefit from AI without outsourcing the thinking that matters for learning.
We're developing tools that encourage more intentional AI use, while giving educators a better understanding of how AI is used throughout the learning process. Our approach focuses on supporting healthy engagement with AI rather than simply detecting or restricting its use.
The role
We're looking for someone to help develop the scientific and technical foundations behind how Manta identifies patterns of cognitive offloading and responds with appropriate educational interventions.
You'll translate research from cognitive science, behavioural science, education and human-AI interaction into computational approaches and working software that can be implemented, evaluated and iterated with real users.
Responsibilities
- Reviewing, synthesising and applying relevant research across cognitive and behavioural science, learning and human-AI interaction
- Developing computational approaches to model how students engage with AI across different tasks, and designing educational interventions that support more intentional use
- Evaluating what works and using real-world usage data to improve models, methods and interventions over time
- Ensuring privacy, data minimisation and responsible AI principles are considered throughout
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Who we're looking for
We're looking for someone excited by the opportunity to help build at an early-stage startup tackling a new and increasingly important problem.
You'll combine strong software development skills with a research mindset and be comfortable working in a problem space where many of the answers haven't been figured out yet. You might be a PhD student, researcher, postdoc or technical practitioner from AI, computer science, Human-Computer Interaction, cognitive science, behavioural science, learning science, AI in education or a related field.
Ideally, you'll bring:
- Strong Python skills and experience building real-world software or AI systems
- A quantitative background, with experience in areas such as statistical modelling, Bayesian methods, machine learning or NLP
- Knowledge of cognition, learning or behaviour (or the curiosity to pick it up quickly)
- A pragmatic builder mindset: comfortable turning research into working technical implementations, shipping imperfect first versions, testing, and iterating
- A willingness to experiment, challenge assumptions and take ownership in an early-stage environment
- Comfort using AI tools responsibly and critically for coding, research and other tasks to accelerate execution
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You don't need to tick every box. We're particularly interested in people who are excited by applying research to an emerging problem, can quickly get to grips with new concepts, enjoy building from first principles, and want to see their work directly shape an early-stage product.
Details
- Contract type: Contractor (fixed term)
- Commitment: 1.5 to 3 days per week, flexible around studies or other work, with progress organised around agreed milestones
- Rate: £200 per day (about £27 per hour)
- Duration: 36 days total, spread over 3 to 6 months. Possible extension subject to funding
- Location: Remote (UK preferred)
- Start date: November 2026
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