Postdoctoral Research Associate

Overview

The University of Reading is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Department of Philosophy within the School of Philosophy Politics and Economics. This full time, fixed-term position lasts for 12 months and is part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council catalyst project titled Large Language Models as Philosophical Inquiry, led by Principal Investigator Dr Jumbly Grindrod. The project operates at the intersection of philosophy and computational linguistics, utilizing analyses of how large language models handle linguistic phenomena to examine the nature of those phenomena. The work involves designing and conducting model-analysis studies in collaboration with the Principal Investigator, publishing and presenting findings, and assisting with the organization of a project conference and a special journal issue of Ratio.

Who can apply

Both external and internal candidates are welcome to apply, and existing staff members may consider the role on a seconded basis. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree, or have their thesis submitted by the start date, in machine learning, computational linguistics, natural language processing, or a cognate discipline. Candidates are also required to have experience analyzing internal representations or computational behaviour of large language models using representational analysis, probing, or feature- and circuit-level interpretability techniques. Additional requirements include experience designing empirical studies with appropriate statistical methods, strong programming skills in Python, familiarity with standard natural language processing and machine learning libraries, and a record of peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals or conference proceedings. Familiarity with philosophy of language is desirable rather than essential, and applications are welcomed from researchers with backgrounds in cognitive science, linguistics, digital humanities, or related fields.

Requirements

Applicants must submit their applications by the specified closing date. Candidates who require a Skilled Worker Visa are advised to check their eligibility on the Home Office website due to the complexity of the visa route, as the university cannot provide application-stage visa advice. Any costs associated with a visa application and the Immigration Health Surcharge are the responsibility of the applicant and cannot be covered or claimed back from the university. Internal candidates should discuss potential secondments with their line manager prior to applying.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 20th November 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place on 10th December 2026 and will include a presentation element.