Reader in Artificial Intelligence

Salary: £40,000 - 80,000 per year

Requirements:

• PhD, or be close to completing a PhD.
• A strong research agenda and track record, with interests in developing cutting-edge AI methods and models, particularly across perception and action.
• Research interests may include continual, open-ended or self-improving AI; agentic AI, world models or generative models; embodied perception and action; learning from interaction and reinforcement; decision-making under uncertainty; or long-duration autonomy.
• Interest and ability to teach undergraduate and masters-level courses and supervise undergraduate, masters and PhD projects in relevant areas.
• Applicants must provide a cover letter, recent CV, research statement of 2–3 pages excluding references, and teaching statement of 1–2 pages excluding references. The research statement should describe research interests and vision, prior work and future plans. The teaching statement should describe teaching philosophy and experience, courses the candidate could teach, and proposed topics or projects for undergraduate and masters students.
• Before employment begins, candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK. International applicants requiring sponsorship must meet UK Home Office English Language requirements and obtain a Skilled Worker Visa.

Responsibilities:

• Undertake original research, developing AI methods and models in relevant areas.
• Teach undergraduate and masters-level courses.
• Supervise undergraduate, masters and PhD student projects related to the candidates research.

Technologies:

• Agentic AI
• AI
• Support
• Computer Vision
• Robotics

More:

We are recruiting a full-time, permanent researcher in the School of Informatics, within the University of Edinburghs College of Science and Engineering. The role is 35 hours per week, with an annual salary of £63,606–£78,469, and applications close on 20 October 2026. We offer a creative, challenging and rewarding workplace within a diverse international community, alongside generous annual leave, a defined-benefit pension, staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives and flexible work options. Our University is a world-leading research-intensive institution, and our School has broad interdisciplinary collaborations, partnerships including the Alan Turing Institute, and a strong international research profile. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and support staff development through mentoring, training and networking opportunities.

last updated 40 week of 2026