The AIAL is an independent research lab with a mission to ensure that AI technologies work for the
public, particularly those at the margins of society, who tend to be disproportionately negatively
impacted. We believe rigorous research and empirical evidence are the antidote to most of the
current issues plaguing the AI industry, by holding responsible bodies accountable for the adverse
consequences, and ushering meaningful transformative change.

There exists widespread enthusiasm from big tech companies, AI vendors, and government bodies
alike to integrate AI technologies into decision making processes. This emerges from the belief that
doing so accelerates positive social transformation, societal benefits, and human flourishing in the
long term. Yet, AI systems are integrated hastily into numerous social sectors, most of the time
without rigorous vetting. As a result, AI systems built on social, cultural, and historical data and
operating within such a realm tend to diminish fundamental rights, and keep systems of authority
and power intact. As a result, they benefit a handful of corporations, and exacerbate and widen
inequity, rather than contribute to societal benefits, positive transformation, and human flourishing.
We believe rigorous research and empirical evidence are the antidote to most of the current issues
plaguing the AI industry, by holding responsible bodies accountable for the adverse consequences,
and ushering meaningful transformative change.

The AIAL is an independent research lab with a mission to ensure that AI technologies work for the
public, particularly those at the margins of society, who tend to be disproportionately negatively
impacted. Research and product development in AI currently benefits a few powerful actors,
reinforces systems of power, and exacerbates and widens inequities. The AIAL is dedicated to
ensuring that the wider AI ecology — from research and product development, to regulation —
centres public interest, particularly, the most marginalised and disenfranchised in society.

Research excellence and technical rigour are paramount to us. As is research with practical
implications that serve the disproportionately negatively impacted. Thus, we partner and
collaborate with research centres, civil society, and rights groups across the globe. These
collaborations, active conversations, and allyship will give our work the necessary weight and inertia
to advance the laboratory’s central mission of asserting rights. Driven by concerns that affect the
most marginalised, we strive to uncover, document, and study AI technologies that pervade society
in order to:

● challenge and dismantle harmful technologies;
● inform evidence-driven policies;

● hold responsible bodies accountable; and
● pave the way for a future marked by just and equitable AI.

Research project/Challenge
The AIAL (AI Accountability Lab) is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Researcher to work on
developing a justice-oriented audit framework synthesising computational methods, theories of
justice, and existing regulations to premeditatively focus audits towards meaningful accountability.
The goal of the framework is to provide audit practitioners with practical tools such as guiding
questions and rubrics that shape perspectives towards rigorous justice oriented audits.

The position corresponds to work in one or more of the following areas:

1. Accountability

a. Mapping accountability mechanisms and governance structures and their
alignments with fundamental rights and freedoms and legal frameworks.
b. Challenging existing accountability mechanisms that do not consider or sufficiently
address social inequalities, power and resource asymmetries.
c. Developing new methods for ensuring accountability beyond technical and
organisational considerations that provide empirical evidence for holding
stakeholders accountable for AI development, provision, and deployments.

2. Auditing

a. Developing audit methodologies for specific stages in the AI lifecycle focused on
ensuring justice, accountability, and transparency beyond merely satisfying legal
requirements.
b. Development of verifiable, replicable, and reproducible design methodologies and
frameworks and using these in the execution of audits.
c. Developing audit tools and frameworks to evaluate AI development and
deployments with a specific focus on risk and harm mitigations beyond technical
and organisational issues.

3. Dissemination

a. Actively work with numerous audit practitioners, researchers, and civil society and
rights groups to develop, refine, and disseminate the developed work.
b. Participate in policy-making to shape AI accountability and auditing processes.
c. Publish findings and participate in discussions to promote accountability and
responsibilities concerning AI.

The appointment of the Postdoctoral Researcher will contribute to shaping best practices for AI
systems evaluation and risk mitigation, ensuring compliance with emerging regulations, and
supporting both public sector stakeholders in fostering a culture of accountability.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and conduct the research under the leadership of the Principal Investigator

• Disseminating outcomes of research through project reports as well as peer-reviewed
academic publications, technical reports, industry and public events, and other channels.
● Assist in the further development of research potential by pursuing external funding.
● Where relevant to the research topic, and within the bounds of TCD policies, assist in
supervising students, interns, and other personnel.
● Organising meetings and workshops with civil societies, NGOs, and other stakeholders in
context of the project.
● Administrative and management tasks associated with the project.
● Carry out any other duties within the scope and purpose of the job as requested by the PI.
● Comply with all TCD policies and regulations, including those in relation to Research Ethics
and Health and Safety.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Required
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the appropriate mix of knowledge, experience, skills, talent
and abilities as outlined below:

Knowledge and Experience
● A PhD in a relevant discipline such as Machine Learning; AI; Statistics; Critical data,
information, communication, and/or media studies, or equivalent (essential)
● Strong knowledge and experience regarding AI development, testing, and evaluation
(essential)
● Strong knowledge and experience with developing and implementing AI audits (essential)
● Strong knowledge of the AI auditing landscape (essential)
● In-depth knowledge of theories of structural injustice, inequity, and power asymmetry
(essential)
● Knowledge or awareness of legal frameworks such as AI Act, DSA, and GDPR privacy and
data protection regulations such as GDPR (ideal).
● Experience working with civil society and rights groups involved in auditing and policy-
making (ideal)
● Evidence of a research profile and publication record (essential).
● Knowledge of research techniques and methodologies (essential).

Skills, talents & abilities
● Capability for demonstrable high quality research (essential).
● Experience working on collaborative projects (ideal).
● Experience organising stakeholder discussions and workshops (ideal)
● Experience working on individual and collaborative funding proposals (ideal).
● Experience working in teams with diverse and multi-disciplinary cohorts (ideal).
● Demonstrable leadership and willingness to support others (ideal).

Salary Scale:
Postdoctoral Researcher – Point PD1.1 €45,847 to Point PD2.4 €58,479 as per the IUA payscales.
Appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and in line with current
Government pay policy.

Closing date: 30/04/2025

Application Process
Interested candidates can submit their application by emailing aial@tcd.ie with the subject line:
AIAL Audit Framework Postdoc – Application

Applications must include:
● Cover Letter
● CV

Informal enquiries about the role can also be sent to the email aial@tcd.ie with the subject line “AIAL Policy Translation Postdoc – Enquiry”