Research Associate (2 posts)

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Research Associates (2 Posts available)

Cardiff University School of Psychology seeks to appoint a Research Associate in the area of human factors psychology to work on a major ongoing project funded by ESRC-JST on Rule of Law in the Age of AI – Principles of Distributive Liability for Multi-Agent Societies. The ESRC funded research team at Cardiff University (led by Prof Phillip Morgan) are working in collaboration with JST funded teams in Japan in the universities of Kyoto (lead by Prof Tatsuhiko Inatani), Osaka, and Doshisha. The key focus area of the project is blame assignment and trust in self driving vehicles in the event of incidents. The teams are using an advanced transport simulator and robots based with the Simulation Laboratory within the School of Psychology to create experimental materials for video elicited experiments as well to run in person experiments. A number of these studies are also run in Japan with cross country comparisons being drawn and legal implications (for the regulation of autonomous vehicles) being developed. The successful candidates will work with the UK team (and also have opportunities to work with the Japan team) to design and develop materials for experiments, collect data in human experiments, and to analyse and interpret that data. The candidates will also be expected to contribute to project reports and other dissemination activities and will have the opportunity to contribute to papers (and related) for publication in journals and at conferences.  

These posts are full time and available from 1st December 2022 for a period of 10 months.

For further informal discussion of these posts and why they have arisen contact morganphil@cardiff.ac.uk  

Salary:  £35,333 – £42,155 per annum (Grade 6). 

Date advert posted: Friday, 21 October 2022

Closing date: Monday, 7 November 2022

Please be aware that Cardiff University reserves the right to close this vacancy early should sufficient applications be received.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world.  In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at:  Responsible research assessment – Research – Cardiff University

Job Description

Main function

To conduct research within the areas of Human Factors and Applied Psychology on a project funded by ESRC (with JST) (UK Principal Investigator – Prof Phil Morgan) examining the rule of law in the age of AI across multi-agent societies. Our specific focus is on trust and blame assignment (and related factors) in the context of incidents involving autonomous vehicles. The post holder will also contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University, carrying out research leading to the publishing of high-quality research and pursue excellence in research and to inspire others to do the same.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Research

• To conduct research within areas of Human Factors and Applied Psychology on a project funded by ESRC (with JST) (UK Principal Investigator – Prof Phil Morgan) examining the rule of law in the age of AI across multi-agent societies. Our specific focus is on trust and blame assignment (and related factors) in the context of incidents involving autonomous vehicles.
• To contribute to the overall research performance of the School and University by the production of measurable outputs including supporting bidding for funding, publishing in national academic journals and conferences, and (where appropriate) the recruitment and supervision of postgraduate research students.
• To develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research including research funding proposals
• To attend and or present at conferences/seminars at a local and national level as required
• To undertake administrative tasks associated with the research project, including the planning and organisation of the project and the implementation of procedures required to ensure accurate and timely reporting
• To prepare research ethics and research governance applications as appropriate
• To review and synthesise existing research literature within the field
• To participate in School research activities.
• To build and create networks both internally and externally to the university, to influence decisions,   explore future research requirements, and share research ideas for the benefit of research projects

Other

• To engage effectively with industrial, commercial and public sector organisations, professional institutions, other academic institutions etc., regionally and nationally  to raise awareness of the School’s profile, to cultivate strategically valuable alliances, and to pursue opportunities for collaboration across a range of activities. These activities are expected to contribute to the School and the enhancement of its regional and national profile.

• To undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate to and which will enhance performance.
• To participate in School administration and activities to promote the School and its work to the wider University and the outside world

• Any other duties not included above, but consistent with the role.

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications and Education

Postgraduate degree (or near completion / submission) at PhD level in Human Factors / Applied Psychology / Experimental Psychology or a highly related subject area, or, equivalent or relevant industrial experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

An established expertise and proven portfolio of research and/or relevant industrial experience within the following research fields (or highly related fields):

Human Factors

Applied Psychology

Experimental Psychology

Human-Computer Interaction

Knowledge of current status of research in specialist field

Experience of using human factors (and related area) tools and methodologies for research

Proven ability to publish in national/international journals / national/international conferences and/or other research outputs

Knowledge and understanding of competitive research funding to be able to develop applications to funding bodies

Communication and Team Working

Proven ability in effective and persuasive communication

Ability to supervise the work of others to focus team efforts and motivate individuals

Other

Proven ability to demonstrate creativity, innovation and team-working within work

Proven ability to work without close supervision

Desirable criteria

Relevant professional qualification(s) – e.g. MSc in Psychology / Human Factors or highly related area

Evidence of collaborations with industry

Research experience involving human aspects of transportation/ transport systems

Programming experience

Proven ability to adapt to the changing requirements of the Higher Education community.

Evidence of ability to participate in and develop both internal and external networks and utilise them to enhance the research activities of the School.

Additional Information

The post(s) involve working with an expert team of academics to conduct research within the areas of Human Factors and Applied Psychology on a project funded by ESRC (with JST) (UK Principal Investigator – Prof Phil Morgan) examining the rule of law in the age of AI across multi-agent societies. Our specific focus is on trust and blame assignment (and related factors) in the context of incidents involving autonomous vehicles. The post(s) will also involve collaborating with our project partners based at Universities in Japan – including cross country experiments and dissemination activities.