IDAI's Call for Affiliates is Now Open!
Becoming an IDAI Affiliate is an opportunity to lead impactful research in data science and AI, collaborate across disciplines, and grow your academic profile. Join us, and be a part of our vibrant network of interdisciplinary researchers and contribute to meaningful action on the most pressing grand challenges the development and governance of responsible AI.
About IDAI
The Institute for Data and AI (IDAI) at the University of Birmingham is an interdisciplinary hub for excellence in Data Engineering, Data Science, and AI theory and practice. IDAI brings together researchers and educators from across disciplines with a shared ambition to address grand societal challenges through transformative, interdisciplinary, and impactful data-intensive research.
Our mission is to ensure the co-evolution and competent adoption of AI and data science - driving innovation in research, education, and real-world applications.
To achieve this, the Institute is structuring itself into themes that represent strategic research directions for the University and align with our Data and AI priorities. The affiliates will play a key role in the development and emergence of these themes.
Research Themes:
Digital Governance, Economy, and Social Impact
Digital Governance, Economy, and Social Impact
This theme examines how digital transformation is reshaping public institutions and market systems, with a strong focus on the broader effects on society. It aims to develop innovative approaches to modernising state services, enhancing financial systems, and strengthening national security - all while ensuring that the benefits of digital technologies are inclusive and contribute to overall social well‑being.
Health, Environment, and Resilience
Health, Environment, and Resilience
This theme is focused on the use of Data and AI in the relationship between us and our environment, addressing the global challenges of improving healthcare for all and ensuring environmental sustainability.It supports research into personalised medicine, environmental biosciences, proactive public health monitoring, and integrated approaches to ecological management and urban planning, with the goal of building adaptive systems that can effectively respond to both immediate crises and long-term challenges.
Advanced Engineering, Materials Science, and Smart Manufacturing
Advanced Engineering, Materials Science, and Smart Manufacturing
Capitalising on the university’s established expertise, this theme integrates AI with engineering and materials research to transform industrial processes. It focuses on creating innovative design solutions, optimising manufacturing processes, and developing next‑generation materials that drive efficiency, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
Creative and Cultural Digital Futures
Creative and Cultural Digital Futures
At the intersection of technology and human expression, this theme explores how digital tools can invigorate cultural practices and creative industries, and transform humanities research. It supports the use of digital methodologies to generate new forms of storytelling, critical cultural analysis, and artistic innovation - ensuring that creativity informs and enriches technological progress, and that technological progress enhances our understanding of the past.
Foundational Data Science and AI Methodologies
Foundational Data Science and AI Methodologies
As the bedrock for all applied work, this theme is focused on advancing the core techniques that make sophisticated AI possible. It centres on evolving data science practises to keep pace with the data deluge, and developing robust, transparent, and ethical algorithms and tools, ensuring that all downstream applications are built on a secure and principled foundation.
Our Affiliates
At IDAI, collaboration is at our core; we foster an interdisciplinary and inclusive research culture, working across our campus, to create a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives come together.
Affiliates act as supporters and advocates for IDAI while gaining benefits from our exciting research environment, inclusive and diverse culture, and facilities and assets. They reach beyond the University to industry, policymakers, and wider society to drive impactful research that is grounded in Data and AI.
We will be inviting researchers from across the university, to join us at an upcoming IDAI Theme Ideation Workshop, to work with the institute to understand and shape our strategic direction for the coming years. The date for this workshop is currently sent for Tuesday 8th April 2025, 11:30 - 14:30 at Elm House.
Applicants for Affiliate status are welcome to apply with or without a specified theme: following successful appointment, Affiliates will be supported to identify the emerging theme most relevant to their research.
We are seeking a diverse range of Affiliates to provide a mix of experience, expertise, backgrounds, perspectives and ideas, and to embody IDAI’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion values and actions.
Key documents and information
Closing Date: 17:00, 28th April 2025
Application and role information
Read the application information and learn about the benefits and expectations of the Affiliate role.
Enquiries
Informal enquiries
Informal enquiries
- Dr Hazel Wilkinson, Deputy Director IDAI, h.j.wilkinson@bham.ac.uk
- Prof Slava Jankin, Deputy Director IDAI, v.jankin@bham.ac.uk