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 a Research Fellow to work on Policy translation and AI evaluation under the broad topic of AI accountability. The primary role of the successful candidate in policy translation is to investigate existing policy gaps and produce policy insights both through novel research as well as skillful synthesis and interpretation of existing empirical evidence. The candidate will work on AI evaluation and execute audits to assess a broad range of AI systems. This position will focus on identifying, documenting, and bridging gaps between existing legal frameworks, industry practices, and deficiencies involving harms, discrimination, and other potential impacts on fundamental rights and freedoms.

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

1.Policy translation:

a. Analysis of regulatory frameworks such as the Digital Services Act (DSA), AI Act, GDPR, and other relevant directives and national laws to research regulatory loopholes, particularly those that further disadvantage communities at the margins with the aim of developing empirical investigation and/or developing policy recommendations using original and existing work. 

b. Awareness of relevant standards and certifications, and their role and sufficiency to address legal requirements, as well as identifying deficiencies and how they can be mitigated or reduced.

c.Summarise, contextualise, and synthesise findings from technical work in language that speaks to and is digestible by a variety of stakeholders. This includes policy makers, government stakeholders, the research community, civil society groups, and impacted communities.

d. In addition to (or as well as) academic research, the successful candidate will write policy briefs, opinion pieces, and policy analyses that synthesize and bridge gaps between the latest developments in AI research, regulations, and public debates.

2. Accountability

a. Defining accountability mechanisms and governance structures that align with fundamental rights and legal frameworks.

b. Conducting audits focused on justice, equity, and accountability beyond merely satisfying legal requirements and upholding fundamental rights and freedoms.

c. Supporting the development of audit tools and frameworks to evaluate AI systems with a specific focus on risk and harm identification and mitigations beyond technical and organisational considerations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• • Manage and conduct the research under the leadership of the Principal Investigator
• • Conduct landscape analysis regarding developments concerning AI in academia, industry, and legal domains
• • Support in managing communications, such as through newsletters and social media
• • Developing policy briefs to address emerging issues and challenges
• • 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.
• • 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 Computer Science, Law, or a relevant field (essential).
• • Strong knowledge of legal frameworks such as AI Act, DSA, and GDPR (essential).
• • Knowledge regarding impact assessments and auditing practices (essential).
• • Knowledge of standards and certifications relevant to AI development and auditing (ideal).
• • Excellent writing and communication skills that can target specific stakeholders groups such as policy makers and regulators (essential).
• • Knowledge of research techniques and methodologies (essential).

Skills, talents & abilities

• • Evidence of an excellent research profile and publication record (essential).
• • Experience engaging with policy makers and civil society groups (ideal).
• • Experience working on collaborative projects (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:

Research Fellow  – Point 1 €65,237  to Point 4 €71,085 as per the IUA payscales. Appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and in line with current Government pay policy.

Closing date: 20/04/2025

Application Process

Interested candidates can submit their application by emailing aial@tcd.ie with the subject line: “AIAL Policy Translation 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”