Research Fellow in Privacy-Preserving Clinical NLP
Quantum Software Lab
Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum
School of Population Health Sciences / Usher Institute / Bioquarter
Full-time: 35 hours per week
Fixed-term contract: available from April 2026 – 31st March 2027
The Opportunity
We are seeking an outstanding Research Fellow in Privacy-Preserving Clinical NLP to join the TransPECT (Transformer Privacy Evaluation and Checking Toolkit) project. This is a rare opportunity to lead cutting-edge research at the intersection of natural language processing, large transformer models, and AI privacy, working with real-world NHS clinical and administrative data within secure Trusted Research Environments. You will play a central role in developing novel methods to understand, evaluate, and mitigate privacy risks in transformer-based NLP systems trained on sensitive health data. Your work will directly shape how advanced language models can be safely developed, evaluated, and disclosed in high-stakes healthcare settings.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for a creative and technically strong NLP researcher with expertise in transformer models and a strong interest in responsible, safe, and privacy-aware AI. You will have a PhD (awarded or near completion) in NLP, Machine Learning, Computer Science, AI, Health Informatics, or a related discipline, alongside hands-on experience developing and evaluating transformer-based language models. You should be comfortable designing rigorous computational experiments, analysing model behaviour, and working with complex datasets.
The ideal candidate will combine technical excellence with curiosity about the broader implications of AI in healthcare. Experience working with sensitive health data, clinical text, or secure research environments is highly desirable, as is knowledge of model robustness, fairness, bias mitigation, explainability, or governance in AI systems.
This role offers the opportunity to help define best practice for trustworthy clinical AI at a national level, contributing to a vibrant, interdisciplinary team spanning NLP, machine learning, health data science, and information governance.
This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week), however, we are open to considering flexible working patterns. We are also open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combines a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.
Click to view a copy of the full job description
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
- A competitive salary.
- An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work.
- To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community.
- Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits.
Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion
The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality.
Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages.
On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK.
Key dates to note
The closing date for applications is 6thApril 2026.
Unless stated otherwise the closing time for applications is 11:59pm UK time. If you are applying outside the UK the closing time on our adverts automatically adjusts to your browsers local time zone.
Work with us | Usher Institute - where inquiring minds work together to improve lives across the world.
Join our growing team of academics and professional services staff and work in a vibrant, multi-disciplinary environment. Our vision is to catalyse the transformation of health in society by working with people, populations and their data.
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As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally.
We are seeking an outstanding Research Fellow in Privacy-Preserving Clinical NLP to join the TransPECT (Transformer Privacy Evaluation and Checking Toolkit) project. This is a rare opportunity to lead cutting-edge research at the intersection of natural language processing, large transformer models, and AI privacy, working with real-world NHS clinical and administrative data within secure Trusted Research Environments. You will play a central role in developing novel methods to understand, evaluate, and mitigate privacy risks in transformer-based NLP systems trained on sensitive health data. Your work will directly shape how advanced language models can be safely developed, evaluated, and disclosed in high-stakes healthcare settings.