Postdoctoral Research Associate on Time Series Synthetic Data Generation

3 weeks ago


Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

Contract Type - Fixed Term - 24 Months

Start date: ASAP or by mutual agreeement

We are looking for an exceptional candidate to join the School of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh to conduct research on the use of generative machine learning models and synthetic time series data with applications to Finance.

This post is advertised as full-time (35 hours per week). We are open to considering requests for hybrid working (on a non-contractual basis) that combine a mix of remote and regular on-campus working.

The post is subject to Level 4 pre-employment screening - PES4 Enhanced Check

The Opportunity:

The project falls under a partnership between NatWest Group and the University of Edinburgh and seeks to develop tailor-made synthetic data generation that can be used for solving the following challenges:

  1. Model Risk for ML Systems: Machine learning applications in banking require thorough model risk analysis before being deployed into production. Performance testing and assessing the model's performance at edge cases, considering accuracy, fairness, and explainability metrics, are crucial. However, these assessments are often limited by the availability of historical data. By introducing synthetic data generation, we can enhance the performance analysis and address the limitations imposed by historical data scarcity.
  2. Benchmark Data Sets: The bank currently lacks shareable benchmark data sets that provide appropriate privacy guarantees. This absence of standardized benchmark data sets results in lengthy and costly evaluation processes involving multiple data-sharing agreements when assessing commercial third-party ML solutions. Widely available benchmark data sets for various use cases can also enable the research community to systematically compare and evaluate novel ML solutions.
  3. Data Fluidity: The lack of high-quality private synthetic data hinders collaboration with external organizations, such as academics, as well as internal data science teams. By developing tailor-made synthetic data solutions, we can enable smoother collaboration and knowledge exchange with external stakeholders and internal teams, fostering innovation and advancements in the banking sector.

The objective of this project is to understand the appropriate balance between privacy, fidelity and utility of synthetic data for applications such as Credit Risk and Pricing. This will require the development of novel algorithms and approaches for (conditional) time-series data generation. The candidate will be working with Professor Lukasz Szpruch (University of Edinburgh and The Alan Turing Institute ) and Data Scientists at NatWest Banking.

£39,347 to £46,974 per annum (A revised salary range for this grade of £39,347 to £46,974 pa is planned to take effect from Spring Grade 7)



  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Full time, Fixed term (24 months)We are looking for a postdoctoral research associate for a full-time, fixed term post for 24 months from July 2024 to work as part of the Edinburgh team on the John Templeton Foundation funded project "Functional Communication, Quality of Life, and Human Flourishing," with Principal Investigator: Dr Dan Mirman (Edinburgh).The...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Fixed term – until 30th March 2025Full time - 35 hours per weekWe are looking for an exceptionally talented and motivated experimental scientist to take up a fully-funded 18-months position as postdoctoral research fellow, as part of the UKRI funded project "IDERT: Intelligent Deimmunization for Enzyme Replacement Therapies", led by Prof. Giovanni...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Full-time: 35 hours per weekFixed-term: for 3 years from 1st August, 2024We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in High-Pressure Neutron Diffraction.The Opportunity:Following a recent successful bid for funding from EPSRC we are seeking a PDRA to join the School's programme of neutron scattering studies of simple-molecular systems at megabar...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Contract type: Full time (35 hours per week)Fixed term: available immediately for 24 monthsNumber of posts: 2The School of Chemistry are looking for two postdoctoral research associate (PDRA) positions from the 1st June 2024 (or as soon as possible thereafter) for 24 months. The PDRAs will be supervised by Dr Amanda Jarvis ) and Prof. Dominic Campopiano )...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Contract Type - Fixed Term for 2 years, starting before September 2024Full Time - 35 Hours Per WeekThe Opportunity:We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the field of cometary science. The successful candidate will join the research group led by Prof Colin Snodgrass and Dr Cyrielle Opitom at the Institute for Astronomy (IfA) at the...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Full time - 35 hours per weekFixed term - 12 monthsYour skills and attributes for success: Must hold a PhD in synthetic organic chemistry or will submit PhD thesis before commencement of post.Good publication record.Experience in developing new synthetic methodologies, in particular, radical decarboxylation reactions and C-H dunctionalisations of...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Full time contract (35 hours per week), (28 hours per week is also an option)Fixed term (proposed start date: 1st July 24, end date no later than 31st August 26)We are looking for a postdoctoral research associate to join our team to work in the exciting field of ecoimmunology. This post forms part of a BBSRC-funded project titled "Disease susceptibility and...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Fixed-term: until November 2026The Opportunity:We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Atomistic and Micromagnetic simulations of advanced magnetic compounds for the next generation of information technologies (e.g., hard drives, memories, etc.).The position will be located at the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Edinburgh...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Contract Type - Fixed Term contract (proposed start date: 1st July end date 30 June 2026).Full time - 35 Hours Per WeekA Postdoctoral Research Associate is sought by the Blackburn laboratory at the Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh ) to work on the effect of thymus regeneration on T cell mediated immune responses in vivo. This...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Full time - 35 hours per weekFixed term contract - 12 monthsThe opportunity:A Postdoctoral Research Associate (PDRA) position is available starting from ca. July 1st 2024 for 12 months.The PDRA will be supervised by Dr Jennifer Garden and is based in the School of Chemistry at the University of Edinburgh. This post is full-time (35 hours per week), and is...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Full-Time at 35 hours per week Fixed-Term for 20 months with opportunity to extend (funding permitting)The Opportunity:Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join our team working on microbial keratitis, as part of a UKRI Future Leader Fellowship funded research programme. We use an ecosystem approach spanning in vitro and ex vivo...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Contract type: Full-time (35 hours per week)Fixed-Term: 2 yearsNumber of posts: 2We are looking for a postdoctoral research fellow with experience with in-vivo two-photon microscopy, optogenetics, stereotaxic surgeries and animal behaviour to join the Opazo lab at the UK Dementia Research Institute.The Opportunity:To investigate the synaptic and neuronal...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Fixed Term for four years - 1st September 2024 to 31st August 2028Full time: 35 hours per weekWe are looking for a committed and enthusiastic academic to join Edinburgh Law School as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in EU Law. This is a fixed term post available until the 31st August 2028 and part of an exciting new 4-year research project funded by the...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Contract type - Fixed term - 3 yearsFull time - 35 hours per weekPosts x 4The opportunity:The School of Engineering seeks to appoint four Research Associates in Causal AI. These Research Associate positions will contribute to the EPSRC funded CHAI AI Hub and the VIOS group at the University of Edinburgh.We are looking for enthusiastic postdoctoral...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Contract type - Fixed Term - 3 Years, From October 2024Full time - 35 Hours Per WeekThe Opportunity:The University of Edinburgh is inviting applications for a position of a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Experimental Nuclear Physics. As part of this PDRA opportunity, you will join the group's work at the international research facilities GSI/FAIR,...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Full-time - 35 Hours Per WeekContract Type - Fixed-Term - 2 yearsThe Opportunity:A postdoctoral research fellow position is available in Dr. Kathryn Bowles' lab at the University of Edinburgh UK DRI centre. We are looking for a researcher interested in investigating the functional and transcriptomic effects of astrocytic tau pathology in progressive...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Full-time: 35 hours per weekFixed-term: for 3 yearsVacancies available: 2, based in the Roslin Institute, EdinburghWe are inviting applications for Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow positions (2 in Edinburgh/2 in Nottingham) to join an exciting new research programme (iBreed) funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a novel in vitro...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Full-time: 35 hours per weekFixed-term: for 3 yearsVacancies available: 2, based in the Roslin Institute, EdinburghWe are inviting applications for Postdoctoral Research Associate/Fellow positions (2 in Edinburgh/3 in Nottingham) to join an exciting new research programme (iBreed) funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a novel in vitro...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Postdoctoral researcher sought to work across industry, government and academia on the REDRESS project restoring cold-water coral habitats.The Opportunity:Fixed term until 31st January 2028.This post is full-time (35 hours per week) with work taking place between the Changing Oceans Group (School of GeoSciences) and Conservation Genetics Group (Roslin...


  • Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom The University of Edinburgh Full time

    Fixed term: 3-year positionFull time: 35 hours per weekThe Opportunity: Evaporation of Huge Droplet Arrays on a SurfaceDespite the large body of work investigating single droplets, there is very little research into how large arrays of droplets evaporate collectively. This deficiency is even more surprising given the applications to disease transmission,...