PROBabLE Futures – Probabilistic Systems in Law Enforcement Futures (Reference: RDF24/BL/LAW/OSWALD)

PROBabLE Futures – Probabilistic Systems in Law Enforcement Futures is a recently funded Responsible AI UK (RAi UK) Keystone Project that brings together academics, Law Enforcement, Government, Third-Sector and Commercial AI Industry partners to explore responsible approaches to Probabilistic AI across the law enforcement landscape. This 4-year project is led by Northumbria University and involves a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from Glasgow, Northampton, Leicester, Cambridge and Aberdeen Universities. The project involves engagement with primary stakeholders to analyse and map the Probabilistic AI ecosystem in law enforcement. We will investigate prior law enforcement technology case studies and explore and anticipate future law enforcement AI. We will design and evaluate novel interfaces and systems for AI-assisted decision-making in law enforcement, and use innovative research techniques such as a mock trial involving AI outputs as evidence, with the overall aim of developing a future-oriented framework for responsible AI in law enforcement and criminal justice.

The project has two stipend opportunities for PhD students to conduct novel and interdisciplinary research that aligns with the PROBabLE Futures project themes. These may include, but are not limited to, research projects that investigate, and propose solutions for, issues of uncertainty arising within law enforcement datasets and in respect of outputs of AI and the relationship with non-technical law enforcement decision-makers, including questions of translation, explainability and understanding. Successful candidates, although likely to have a background in either Law or Computer Science, will submit project proposals that demonstrate interdisciplinarity and alignment with the themes of the PROBabLE Futures project. Project proposals should describe and justify (i) the challenge related to the themes of PROBabLE Futures that the research aims to address (ii) the proposed methodology and/or methods (iii) a brief state-of-the-art literature review (iv) how the proposed research incorporates general interdisciplinarity (v) details of the types of external partners and stakeholders that would be involved and engaged throughout the research and (vi) any equality, diversity, inclusion and ethical implications.

Academic Enquiries

This project is supervised by Professor Marion Oswald and Dr Kyle Montague and/or other staff involved in the project. For informal queries, please contact Professor Oswald (marion.oswald@northumbria.ac.uk) or Dr Montague (kyle.montague@northumbria.ac.uk). For all other enquiries relating to eligibility or application process, please use the email form below to contact Admissions. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities with preference for 1st class honours); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD or Professional Doctorate holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student. 

Applicants must be fully enrolled in the UK before stipend payments can commence.

APPLY HERE:

https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

In your application, please include a research proposal of approximately 1,000 words and the advert reference (e.g. RDF24/…).

Deadline for applications: 31 October 2024

Start date of course: 1 March 2025

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our postgraduate research students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Leader, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.