Research Fellow in Safe Reinforcement Learning
| Posting date: | 11 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £36,636 to £44,746 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 18 May 2026 |
| Location: | Southampton, Hampshire |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | University of Southampton |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 3410226FP |
Summary
Applications are invited for a Research Fellow position within the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton, working on the EPSRC project of formal verification of reinforcement learning with architecture layer uncertainty. The work will involve mathematical modelling, formal method/reinforcement learning technique investigation and tool development. The results will be written up as project deliverables and publications.
Qualified candidates must:
Have, or be expected to obtain, a PhD in computer science or a related field.
Demonstrate potential for conducting impactful research and publishing in premier outlets.
We seek candidates whose research interests complement and deepen our existing strengths and expand into new and exciting areas. Candidates with a research focus on formal methods, reinforcement learning and optimization are strongly encouraged to apply.
The post will be held in the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) (http://ecs.soton.ac.uk) at University of Southampton, UK. Ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide, we’re progressive and we push the boundaries of what we’re teaching our students – and what we’re learning alongside them. We encourage and support our staff to pursue their research and develop enterprise activities. With major sector centres including Responsible AI UK, centres for Healthcare Technologies, Flexible Electronics and e-Textiles, and Internet of Things, and modern laboratory facilities from the Zepler cleanrooms to the Tony Davies High Voltage lab, our reputation for teaching, research and enterprise is exceptional.
Athena SWAN Silver Award recognised, we’re committed to improving equality for women in science and engineering, so we’ll help you find a good work-life balance with flexible or even part-time working hours, with a workload adjusted accordingly. ECS provides a unique, friendly and supportive environment. We have a range of staff development programmes and a unique mentoring and wellbeing scheme. Please visit https://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/workinghere to find out more about working with us.
The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
Apply by uploading your CV and a cover letter detailing how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role.
For more information, contact:
Prof. Steve Gunn, project PI: srg@soton.ac.uk
Qualified candidates must:
Have, or be expected to obtain, a PhD in computer science or a related field.
Demonstrate potential for conducting impactful research and publishing in premier outlets.
We seek candidates whose research interests complement and deepen our existing strengths and expand into new and exciting areas. Candidates with a research focus on formal methods, reinforcement learning and optimization are strongly encouraged to apply.
The post will be held in the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) (http://ecs.soton.ac.uk) at University of Southampton, UK. Ranked in the top 1% of universities worldwide, we’re progressive and we push the boundaries of what we’re teaching our students – and what we’re learning alongside them. We encourage and support our staff to pursue their research and develop enterprise activities. With major sector centres including Responsible AI UK, centres for Healthcare Technologies, Flexible Electronics and e-Textiles, and Internet of Things, and modern laboratory facilities from the Zepler cleanrooms to the Tony Davies High Voltage lab, our reputation for teaching, research and enterprise is exceptional.
Athena SWAN Silver Award recognised, we’re committed to improving equality for women in science and engineering, so we’ll help you find a good work-life balance with flexible or even part-time working hours, with a workload adjusted accordingly. ECS provides a unique, friendly and supportive environment. We have a range of staff development programmes and a unique mentoring and wellbeing scheme. Please visit https://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/workinghere to find out more about working with us.
The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
Apply by uploading your CV and a cover letter detailing how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role.
For more information, contact:
Prof. Steve Gunn, project PI: srg@soton.ac.uk
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