The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI) within the Cambridge Institute for Technology and Humanity invites applications for a part-time Research Assistant to work on the Desirable Digitalisation: Rethinking AI for Just and Sustainable Futures programme. There is flexibility between working 0.2 FTE, up to 0.5 FTE.
This is a fixed-term post where funding is available for 12 months in the first instance.
The position is part of the Desirable Digitalisation programme, a collaboration between the Universities of Cambridge and Bonn, and funded by Stiftung Mercator. The programme investigates how to place questions of social justice and environmental sustainability at the heart of technology development and how to translate theoretical insights about historical injustices and discrimination into new technology design methods and education tools. This is an exciting opportunity to support the development, research, and valorisation of impact-oriented projects at the intersection of AI politics, ethics and governance.
The Research Assistant will support research and dissemination activities within the Desirable Digitalisation programme. They will be working with Drs Jonnie Penn, Aisha Sobey and Apolline Taillandier on key research areas of the project, including work on the sustainability of AI, the politics of lookism in AI, and the political history of AI and computing.
Applicants should have, or be studying for, a postgraduate qualification in a field relevant to the societal impact of AI (politics, sociology, science and technology studies, media studies, or a related field); applicants with work experience relevant to the project that pursue degrees in other academic fields will also be considered. All applicants should be aware of the key AI developments and their political and ethical implications and demonstrate strong motivation in line with the research programme's goals, as well as the capacity to work independently and conduct high-quality research in collaboration with others.
In order for your application to be considered, please upload the following:
* Covering Letter of no more than 700 words, outlining any skills and experience you have that would be relevant to this role.
* Sample of Writing of no more than 5,000 words that demonstrates your suitability for this project; this could be a collection of shorter samples/excerpts that illustrates your ability to write for different audiences.
* Names and contact details of two referees who are familiar with your work.
Please note that if you upload any additional documents which have not been requested, we will not be able to consider these as part of your application.
Informal enquiries about the role are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Jonnie Penn on jnp28@cam.ac.uk. For questions on the application process, please contact the School's HR Team on sahhr@admin.cam.ac.uk .
The closing date for applications is midnight (BST) on Sunday 27 July 2025. Interviews are expected to take place in mid-late August 2025, subject to change.
Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.
Please quote reference GO46574 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.
The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.
The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.
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