Research Associate, Privacy Enhancing Technologies

Alan Turing Institute

  • United Kingdom
  • £45,505 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 20 days ago
Named in honour of Alan Turing, the Institute is a place for inspiring, exciting work and we need passionate, sharp, and innovative people who want to use their skills to contribute to our mission to make great leaps in data science and AI research to change the world for the better.Please find more information about us .The successful candidate will work on the programme. They will work closely with the Principal Investigators, the Technical Development Manager, other Research Associates and programme management staff across the team. The programme aims to enhance the privacy and security of national digital identity systems, with the ultimate goal to maximise the value to beneficiaries, whilst limiting known and unknown risks to these constituents and maintaining the integrity of the overall system. This multidisciplinary programme and its efforts focus on the communities within developing economies and their adoption of identity systems.The role sits within the which brings together leading experts in data science, machine learning, finance and the social sciences, from both academia and industry to tackle the most challenging questions by producing world-leading research with significant impact. The programme is led by the Programme Director, Lukasz Szpruch.ROLE PURPOSEThe provision of secure and privacy-preserving digital infrastructure for identity systems and the wider remit of digital public infrastructure (DPI) is becoming an essential requirement in both developed and developing societies. As these systems scale, they offer significant promise for enabling individuals to access digital and physical services more efficiently and cost-effectively. However, with this increased capability comes heightened responsibility to ensure that such systems do not compromise citizens’ rights, privacy, or autonomy.Ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and accountability in these systems requires the incorporation of advanced Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) and cutting-edge cryptographic techniques. Technologies such as Secure Multi-party Computation (MPC), Homomorphic Encryption, and Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) are increasingly critical for enabling secure, private data sharing and verification, without exposing sensitive user information or creating new vectors for surveillance or misuse.The holder of this role will work closely with strategic partners in the digital identity ecosystems, including MOSIP, OpenG2P and national ID authorities, to identify and address high impact use cases, such as eligibility checks for welfare distribution. The candidate will also be responsible for the development of novel, viable privacy-preserving solutions tailored to secure and scalable digital identity systems.We are seeking a researcher or practitioner with deep understanding and practical experience in Privacy Enhancing Technologies, applied cryptography, and the broader socio-technical challenges of digital identity. The ideal candidate will be able to navigate the intersection of cryptographic research, system design, and ethical implementation, ensuring privacy goals are met without unintended harms to users or society at large.DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
  • Publish and disseminate high-quality research papers and publications detailing research outputs and project case-studies.
  • Cultivate strong relationships with internal stakeholders, liaising with teams across the Turing as required.
  • Communicate or present research outputs to diverse stakeholders, through conferences, events, meetings, and press opportunities as appropriate.
  • Participate in internal meetings with relevant groups, stakeholders, as well as external meetings with representatives of industry and potential partner organisations
  • Work collaboratively with academic experts and broader research partners from across the Turing and the wider Turing community.
  • Undertake required administration tasks.
  • Contribute to the life of the Institute and support a diverse and inclusive community through embracing the Turing values.
  • Adhere to and promote principles of reproducible and ethical data science and ensure secure handling of data and health and safety in all aspects of work.
  • A PhD (or equivalent experience and/or qualifications) in a relevant area which will include Mathematics, Computer Science or similar inter-disciplinary subjects.
  • Experience of or aptitude for rigorous computer system and security design, implementation, measurement and evaluation, including experiment design, data capture, and data analysis.
  • Demonstrable experience of Privacy Enhancing Technologies, specifically cryptographic technologies of homomorphic encryption, zero-knowledge proofs and redactable signature schemes.
  • Experience in publishing research papers, code libraries or technical reports and giving presentations or classes on technical subjects.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present complex or technical information, and to communicate effectively with other stakeholders outside the research community
  • Ability to adapt the style of communication to the audience and ensure understanding
  • Ability to collaborate successfully with colleagues in a multidisciplinary environment within the organisation/externally to share knowledge and information in order develop practice or help others learn
APPLICATION PROCEDUREIf you are interested in this opportunity, please click the apply button below. You will need to register on the applicant portal and complete the application form including your CV and covering letter. If you have questions about the role or would like to apply using a different format, please contact us on 020 3862 3536 or email .If you are applying for more than one role at the Turing, please note that only one Cover Letter can be visible on your profile at one time. If you wish to apply for multiple roles and do not want to overwrite your existing Cover Letter, please apply for the role using the button below and forward your additional cover letter directly to quoting the job title.If you are an internal applicant and wish to apply, please send your CV and Cover Letter directly to and your application will be considered.CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: THURSDAY 21 AUGUST 2025 AT 23:59 (LONDON, UK, BST)TERMS AND CONDITIONSThis post is offered on either a full-time or part-time, fixed-term basis until 31 December 2026. The annual salary for this role is £45,505 plus excellent benefits, including flexible working and family friendly policies,Candidates who have not yet been officially awarded their PhD will be appointed as Research Assistant at a salary of £42,593 per annum.The Alan Turing Institute is based at the British Library, in the heart of London’s Knowledge Quarter. We expect staff to come to our office at least 4 days per month. Some roles may require more days in the office; the hiring manager will be able to confirm this during the interview.EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIONThe Alan Turing Institute is committed to creating an environment where diversity is valued and everyone is treated fairly. In accordance with the Equality Act, we welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.We are committed to making sure our recruitment process is accessible and inclusive. This includes making reasonable adjustments for candidates who have a disability or long-term condition. Please contact us at to find out how we can assist you.Please note all offers of employment are subject to obtaining and retaining the right to work in the UK and satisfactory pre-employment security screening which includes a DBS Check.Full details on the pre-employment screening process can be requested from .

Alan Turing Institute