Research Assistant

About the role

Do you have expertise in software development and machine learning, with a passion for working on cutting-edge Large Language Models (LLMs)? We are seeking a Research Assistant to join an innovative project Transforming Feedback Consistency and Usefulness with LLMs, based in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London. You will play a central role in developing an LLM-powered tool that enhances the clarity, consistency, and actionability of feedback provided to students across Imperial.

What you would be doing

As part of this project, you will:

• Lead the technical development and fine-tuning of an LLM-based system for educational feedback.
• Build robust NLP pipelines for data preprocessing, tokenisation, and analysis.
• Develop and deploy APIs to integrate the tool with existing platforms such as Canvas, Blackboard, Wiseflow, or Turnitin.
• Optimise model performance for clarity, tone, and alignment with rubrics and learning outcomes.
• Collaborate with colleagues in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Centre for Higher Education Research and Scholarship (CHERS) to pilot and evaluate the tool.
• Contribute to dissemination activities, including publications and conference presentations.

What we are looking for

You will bring:

• A postgraduate degree (MSc/PhD) in Software Development, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in machine learning and natural language processing (NLP).
• Hands-on experience in training and fine-tuning LLMs using frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Hugging Face Transformers.
• Advanced Python programming skills and good software engineering practices (modularity, testing, scalability).
• Familiarity with data preparation pipelines for text data (cleaning, tokenisation, embeddings).
• Experience deploying ML models in cloud/GPU environments (e.g. AWS, Azure, Google Colab Pro, HPC).
• Strong analytical, debugging, and problem-solving skills.

Desirable skills include:

• Knowledge of MLOps tools (Docker, CI/CD, version control with Git).
• Awareness of responsible/ethical AI practices (bias mitigation, fairness, explainability).
• Experience with data visualisation and open-source contributions.

What we can offer you

• The opportunity to lead development on a pioneering AI-in-education project with potential for College-wide impact.
• Access to compute resources, mentoring, and collaboration with experts in AI and pedagogy.
• The opportunity to continue your career at a world-leading institution and be part of our mission to continue science for humanity.
• Grow your career: gain access to Imperial’s sector-leading dedicated career support for researchers as well as opportunities for promotion and progression.
• Sector-leading salary and remuneration package (including 41 days off a year and generous pension schemes).
• Be part of a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work culture with various staff networks and resources to support your personal and professional wellbeing.

Further information

This role is for a fixed-term contract for 12 months.

If you require any further details about the role, please contact: Dr Zohaib Akhtar (z.akhtar@imperial.ac.uk).

Advert information