[agents] Fully funded PhD Studentship: Games of Trust and Ethics for the use of AI

[Luck, Michael]

Fully funded PhD Studentship: Games of Trust and Ethics for the use of AI
A fully funded 4-year PhD position is available on a PhD project entitled “Games of Trust and Ethics for the use of AI”. The successful applicant will work with Professor Michael Luck (Director of the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe and Trusted Artificial Intelligence<https://safeandtrustedai.org/>/Department of Informatics, King’s College London) and Dr Detlef Nauck (Head of AI & Data Science Research, BT). The project is supported by an Industrial CASE award and the successful candidate has the benefit of spending at least 3 months working with BT over the duration of the PhD.

Overview
Complex, dynamic ecosystems, in which there are unequal and disruptive forces applied, suggest a class of system or environment that is increasingly relevant and applicable to existing and emerging problems.  However, the conditions and mechanisms that lead to different outcomes in such environments are poorly understood and have not been systematically modelled. For example, given the unequal distribution of data in the modern world, the impact of AI is likely to be disruptive and unequal, yet it represents a broader class of problem in which larger entities (organisations) have real advantages and increased control capabilities over smaller ones. Positive action to ensure fairness (generating advantage for individuals and excluded communities, for example) could change these dynamics and generate positive utility. In this project, a range of novel techniques will be developed to understand interactions within complex and unequal AI-based systems. The aim is to explore the problems of network dynamics and agent interactions by leveraging such methods as game theory, normative reasoning, and/or other modelling and simulation techniques.

At its core, the project will provide new computational tools and techniques to understand complex and unequal ecosystems of the kind described above, and in its application it will seek to address issues arising from the development of AI itself, as referred to in the Industrial Strategy White Paper<https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/industrial-strategy-building-a-britain-fit-for-the-future> and the review on Growing the Artificial Intelligence industry in the UK<https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/growing-the-artificial-intelligence-industry-in-the-uk> as summarised in the call for proposals for CDT activity in AI by the EPSRC<https://epsrc.ukri.org/files/funding/calls/2018/ai-2018-cdt-priority-area-document/>. In this way, as well as providing novel technological developments, the methods and approaches developed may also provide insight into the policy drivers for AI, mechanisms for understanding the impact of AI as a digital technology on organisations, and/or approaches to governance around AI.

Candidate profile
Applicants will normally be expected to have an MSc in computer science or a related discipline, or an outstanding undergraduate qualification, but all applications will be considered on merit as appropriate to the individual case. Applications from individuals with non-standard backgrounds are encouraged, as are applications from women, disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, who are currently under-represented in the sector. All applicants will need to demonstrate enthusiasm and aptitude.

The studentship, starting in the academic year 2020/21, is funded by an EPSRC/BT Industrial CASE award, and will be funded for 4 years. It is open to UK students and EU students who have lived, worked or studied within the UK for 3 years prior to the funding commencing.

Each studentship includes tuition fees, stipend and a Research Training Support Grant:
·         A tax-free stipend of over GBP £17,000 per year for 4 years.
·         Full time (UK/EU) PhD tuition fees for 4 years.
·         A generous allowance for research consumables and additional training, for attending UK and international conferences, and to cover expenses for visits to BT.


Application Information
Applicants are strongly encouraged initially to contact the supervisor, Professor Michael Luck, at michael.luck at kcl.ac.uk<mailto:michael.luck at kcl.ac.uk>, to discuss their interest.

Formal applications for this PhD in Computer Science Research should be made via the application portal<https://apply.kcl.ac.uk/>, specifying Professor Michael Luck as the supervisor and “Games of Trust and Ethics for the use of AI” as the Project Title/Reference. Applications should also include a short (3-4 page) research proposal based on the brief outline above. Anyone making a formal application should also advise Professor Luck that they are doing so.

Applications should be submitted by 22 June 2020; after that date applications will be considered until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is 01 October 2020. Full details of how to apply can be found at https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-courses/computer-science-research-mphil-phd.


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Professor Michael Luck | Department of Informatics | King's College London
Web: http://nms.kcl.ac.uk/michael.luck  | Twitter: @michaelluck<https://twitter.com/michaelluck>
Bush House | 30 Aldwych | London WC2B 4BG | United Kingdom |  +44 20 7848 2562
Director, UKRI CDT in Safe and Trusted AI<https://safeandtrustedai.org/> | Co-Editor-in-Chief, Autonomous Agents and Multi-Agent Systems<https://www.springer.com/computer/ai/journal/10458>

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