We are seeking candidates to join our AI security group at Lancaster University, and  become part of this rapidly growing research field.

This position focuses on AI Agent Security, and specifically Shadow AI. ShadowAI – the deployment and use of Artificial Intelligence within an organisation without knowledge or approval from security teams – is a major issue within companies, given the rapid uptake of agents within organisations. ShadowAI is often hidden or embedded within software applications, and introduces threats spanning model backdoors, coordinated attacks, AI safety issues, and data leakage. This is particularly problematic given the introduction of ShadowAI at the computing edge to the wider organisation. Current tools and methods proposed across both academia and industry are unable to address this issue.

In this project, you will research how to defend AI agents from cyber attack. This research will provide opportunities resources atypical to a postdoctoral post, including a rapidly growing AI security lab, a large-scale GPU datacenter containing state-of-the-art foundation models, as well as direct collaboration with an award-winning AI security company Mindgard (https://mindgard.ai/), where you will work with industry researchers to tackle real-world problems. This project is a rare opportunity to become among the very few researchers in the world specialising in AI system security – an area that is becoming increasingly sought after in both academia and industry.

You will have a PhD in Computer Science, with expertise within cyber security, Artificial Intelligence, or distributed systems. Direct experience within AI security, Adversarial Machine Learning, or workload anomaly detection would be a bonus. Findings of this research are intended to be rapidly disseminated into industry, thus experience with developing prototypes and good software development skills are desirable.

The Edge AI Hub (https://edgeaihub.co.uk) is a £10M EPSRC project dedicated to systematic understanding of Cyber Disturbances in the context of edge AI. Successful candidates are expected to contribute to the research theme by carrying out cutting edge research work in security and privacy of AI applications and processes on the edge. This is a unique opportunity to work with an international team of researchers spanning multiple institutions in academia and industry as part of the flagship UKRI hub in AI. 

The School of Computing and Communications at Lancaster University was ranked 14th in the UK for research power according to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, with 94% of research rated world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*). Lancaster University Cybersecurity represents an area of major strategic importance for Lancaster and we have recently announced a £19m programme of investment in Security and Protection Science. Lancaster University is the only institution in the Northwest recognised as an ACE-CSR, ACE-CSE, and offering a double-certified (NCSC and BCS) MSc in Cyber Security.

Closing Date: 28 Jun 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (Full-Time/Indefinite with End Date)

The Senior Research Associate will play an essential role within a team of researchers who will deliver a programme of innovative participatory research, focused on the co-design of a peer-led intervention for preventing family breakdown in vulnerable groups with unmet mental health needs. The work will take place in Greater Lancashire and South Cumbria. The proposed programme of research speaks directly to growing concerns about mental health and family breakdown, in a context of high rates of children in public care.  The Association of Directors of Children’s Services have identified mental health difficulties as the most common and rising risk factor in children’s social care assessments. While clinical treatment plays an important role in addressing mental health to prevent family breakdown, formal clinical services cannot meet the everyday mental health and wellbeing needs of parents. The proposed programme of research draws on evidence that co-designed peer support, mentoring, and advocacy can fill this gap, by responding to everyday mental distress, creating durable support networks, and often providing a bridge to formal services. The programme of work will include a targeted focus on the Gypsy Roma and Traveller Communities, alongside parents involved with mainstream mental health services.

You will have completed, or be close to completion of, their doctoral studies in a related field. Relevant professional experience is also welcome, given the post will involve extensive external stakeholder engagement. You will need to have a keen interest in participatory research methods, and have strong organisational and interpersonal skills together with a proven ability to establish relationships with service users, statutory services, voluntary organisations, academics and clinicians. You must have robust knowledge of methods of searching and reviewing literature, qualitative data collection, data management and methods of qualitative data analysis. Prior research experience is highly desirable. 

Support, development and mentoring in this role will be provided by the Research theme leads, as well as partner organisations. The postholder will be encouraged to develop their own scholarship within the programme of work, and to be an active member of the wider MHRG.  If you are a self-directed and committed individual with an interest in child welfare, parenting and mental health research, we welcome your application.

Lancaster University has a world-class reputation as a centre for excellence in teaching and research. It is in the top 1 per cent of universities in the world and highly ranked in each of the UKs major university league tables. Our School of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (FHASS), provides a friendly environment that strongly supports the individual needs of each employee and which actively promotes a healthy work-life balance. The Faculty is committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies. You will also have excellent opportunities to collaborate with colleagues within the Faculty of Health and Medicine (FHM).   

You will join Lancaster University on an indefinite contract with a start date of the 1^st of July 2026. Although this is an indefinite contract, the role remains contingent on external funding, which is due to come to an end on 30^th June 2031. The post is available on a full-time basis, but we are open to discussing flexible working arrangements.   The successful applicant will be able to work on a hybrid basis, but will be required to travel across Greater Lancashire and South Cumbria to fulfil their duties.  

Applicants wishing to consider the Skilled Worker Route should ensure they meet the points requirement before applying. Further information can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

For further information on the role and to discuss any aspects of the position, please contact:

Professor Karen Broadhurst:  Email: k.broadhurst@lancaster.ac.uk Dr Joanna Kostka: Email: j.kostka@lancaster.ac.uk

Closing Date: 19 Jun 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (Full time, indefinite with end date)

You will have the opportunity to undertake internationally regarded research and share responsibility for elements of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching programmes. You will be awarded a training contract with Health Education England Northwest in the specialist registrar/specialty trainee grade or equivalent and an honorary contract with a relevant NHS Trust*.

One post is in the NIHR priority theme of digital research. The theme is looking to encourage training and research around the development and delivery of digital health and care interventions, digital research methodology and ‘big data’ analysis Research could include the use of Artificial Intelligence and machine-learning approaches and emerging digital technologies such as non-contact sensors, smartphones, and computer tablets. This theme could also include research in data analytics and predictive analytics, precision medicine (genomics), and virtual & augmented reality. This theme is focused on delivering equitable, cost-effective digital health interventions to deliver patient benefits as well as the wider use of large data sets and how this is used in research, including digital analysis methods.

There may be the potential for opportunities in other GMC registered specialties if research interests align with faculty strengths. 

To be eligible, you must hold (or have submitted) your PhD/MD at the time you apply; and must have been fully awarded your degree by 30 September 2026.  You must hold a current National Training Number (NTN) in the relevant specialty and be more than 12 months prior to CCT at time of appointment* (*not relevant for GP candidate). 

The research element of the post will be based in the Faculty of Health and Medicine at Lancaster University. The clinical component will be centred around clinical settings in Lancashire and the surrounding area. For GP candidates there is some geographical flexibility for exceptional candidates who meet all other criteria.

You must be able to take up the post by 30 September 2026

Application is via our online portal at https://hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk/ and must include the following attachments:

1. A Curriculum Vitae
2. NIHR Supplementary Questions for candidates form (attached): 

*Please refer to appendix 2 of this document*

Interview date will be advertised in due course, but the successful candidate must be in post by 30 September 2026.

Lancaster University is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and offers a range of family-friendly policies. The University is a charter member of Athena SWAN and has held a bronze award since 2008. The Faculty of Health and Medicine gained the silver award in 2013. We are committed to being an inclusive university that values all staff, and we are happy to consider job share applications and requests for flexible working arrangements from our employees.

General enquiries should be made to Dr Amy Gadoud (Academic Training Programme Director and Consultant in Palliative Medicine), email: a.gadoud@lancaster.ac.uk or Beth Whittaker (ICAT Programme Manager), email: b.whittaker@lancaster.ac.uk

Closing Date: 05 Jun 2026

Department: Research

Salary: Clinical Academic Pay Scales

This position is funded by the UKRI Future Leader’s Fellowship scheme. The successful applicant will join a team of researchers based at Lancaster University working on the project ‘A Multi-Dimensional Understanding of the Digital Far Right’. 

The project has three core aims:

1. To systematically identify how far right groups vary (what linguistic features and repertoires they share and how the most high risk content compares).
2. To develop an innovative methodology to allow for (1).
3. To provide training of (1) and (2) to law enforcement.

The applicant should hold an MSc (or BSc with 1^st class honours) in statistics or a relevant field, have a background in multivariate statistical techniques, clustering techniques, sparse data and zero-inflation techniques and a critical academic interest in far right discourse. 

This is a fixed term position at 1.0 FTE for a period of 12 months.  

Lancaster University is highly ranked and research-led and situated near the historic city of Lancaster. The North West of England offers high standards of living, beautiful countryside, including the Lake District, and excellent national and international transport connectivity.  See Jobs - Lancaster University.

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Isobelle Clarke, Lecturer in Security and Protection Science; UKRI Future Leaders Fellow i.clarke@lancaster.ac.uk 

Closing Date: 07 Jun 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £33,002 to £37,694 (Full time, indefinite with end date)

This grant focuses on the interface between symplectic topology and algebraic geometry. Your role would be to work, both independently and collaboratively with the Principal Investigator (Jonny Evans), on research problems in these areas, publishing your results and presenting at conferences.

You should have completed a PhD in symplectic geometry, algebraic geometry, or a closely related discipline. You should have a good record of research, preferably available on the arXiv, and be able to demonstrate that you have a clear research agenda of your own which ties in with that of the grant.

The position is available from September 1^st 2026, and will run until the end of the grant on 31^st August 2027. Interviews will be carried out shortly after the closing date.

Interested candidates are advised to contact Dr Jonny Evans (j.d.evans@lancaster.ac.uk) if they have any queries about the position.

Closing Date: 30 Jun 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 (Full time, indefinite with end date)

Senior Research Associate in Medical Device Cyber Security 

Closing Date: 07 Jun 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (Full-Time/Indefinite with End Date)

This £4M programme is funded by EPSRC and brings together research groups from the Universities of Lancaster, Bristol, Warwick and the London School of Economics together with a committed group of industrial and public sector partners. 

Interaction between the research groups at the universities will be strongly encouraged and resourced; our philosophy is to tackle the methodological, theoretical and computational aspects of these statistical problems together. This integrated approach is essential to achieving the substantive fundamental advances in statistics envisaged, and to ensuring that our new methods are sufficiently robust and efficient to be widely adopted by academics, industry and society more generally.

The programme is led by Idris Eckley (Lancaster University), Haeran Cho (University of Bristol), Paul Fearnhead (Lancaster University), Qiwei Yao (London School of Economics) and Yi Yu (University of Warwick). 

This 2-year position is available at Lancaster University. You should have, or be close to completing, a PhD in Statistics or a closely related discipline. Throughout, you should have demonstrated an ability to develop new statistical theory and methods in one of the relevant areas, including but not limited to: anomaly detection; changepoint analysis; non-stationary time series analysis, high dimensional statistics, statistical-computational tradeoffs, scalable statistical methods. You will also have shown a demonstrable ability to produce academic writing of the highest publishable quality.  

This is a are full-time position, though we will consider applicants requesting part-time or other flexible working arrangements. 

Candidates who are considering making an application are strongly encouraged to contact Idris Eckley (i.eckley@lancaster.ac.uk) or Paul Fearnhead (p.fearnhead@lancaster.ac.uk) to discuss the programme in greater detail.  

Closing Date: 10 Jun 2026

Department: Research

Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (Full-Time/Indefinite with End Date)