PRISM Research Director

Job details

We're looking for a Research Director to guide PRISM’s work on understanding and governing the potential impacts of conscious AI, leading our research agenda, and shaping the upcoming State of AI Consciousness Report.

  • Location: Remote.

  • Salary: Approx. £75,000 - £125,000.

  • Type: Full-time.

  • Deadline: 31 January 2026

About PRISM

The Partnership for Research Into Sentient Machines (PRISM) is a non-profit research organisation dedicated to exploring the implications of artificial consciousness and preparing humanity for the possibility of conscious AI systems.  Our mission is to mitigate risks associated with the development of conscious or seemingly conscious artificial systems.

We're currently undertaking a strategic development project to build the foundational infrastructure needed for this emerging field. This includes mapping the research and stakeholder landscape, consulting with leading experts across philosophy, cognitive science, AI safety, and policy, and laying the groundwork for a future State of AI Consciousness Report.

The State of AI Consciousness Report will be a comprehensive synthesis of expert knowledge on AI consciousness - covering research progress, development pathways, potential implications, and governance strategies - serving a coordinating role for the field.

Throughout 2025, we've focused on building momentum and establishing PRISM's presence in this space. We've launched our podcast Exploring Machine Consciousness, convened a public workshop at AIUK 2025, and hosted a private workshop bringing together leading AI consciousness researchers to explore governance questions. In early 2026, our priority is finding an excellent Research Director to help shape and lead PRISM's research agenda during this critical formative period.

About the Role

The Research Director will serve as PRISM's intellectual leader, developing and executing our research agenda on AI consciousness. Working closely with the CEO and a team of engaged volunteers, you'll lead the groundwork for our State of AI Consciousness Report while representing the organisation across a range of field-building activities. 

This role offers substantial independence in shaping research priorities and methodologies, balanced with close collaboration in a small, mission-driven team. You'll have the opportunity to influence PRISM's organisational direction during its formative phase, bridging theoretical rigour with policy relevance as you help define how this emerging field develops.

Core Responsibilities

Research Leadership and Strategy

  • Lead PRISM's research agenda and define priority questions related to AI consciousness, digital sentience, moral status, and policy implications

  • Design the structure, scope, and research pathways for PRISM's flagship report

  • Lead on independent and collaborative research projects and publish outcomes

  • Build a case for the report's legitimacy, impact pathways, and stakeholder value proposition

Field-Building and Stakeholder Engagement

  • Represent PRISM at academic conferences, policy workshops, and stakeholder convenings

  • Build and maintain relationships with leading researchers across relevant disciplines

  • Identify collaboration opportunities and potential institutional partnerships

  • Serve as a mentor to junior researchers as part of external research fellowship programs

Team Development and Organisational Growth

  • Help shape PRISM's long-term research strategy and institutional direction

  • Contribute to recruiting researchers, fellows, or collaborators as the organisation scales

  • Advise on expanded advisory board creation and governance structures

  • Mentor junior researchers and contribute to developing a research talent pipeline

  • Foster a culture of intellectual rigour, openness, and epistemic humility 

Required Criteria

Educational Background

  • ​​Postgraduate training (Master's, PhD) or equivalent advanced research training in philosophy of mind, cognitive science, neuroscience, AI safety, or related interdisciplinary area

Research Capabilities

  • Track record of leading research projects, including scoping questions, selecting methods, and coordinating collaborators

  • Published research on AI consciousness, computational theories of mind, AI governance, AI welfare, or closely related topics

  • Experience designing and executing empirical research in cognitive science, neuroscience, social science, or related fields

Domain Knowledge

  • Deep familiarity with current debates on digital sentience, AI consciousness, or moral patienthood discussions

  • Awareness of AI capabilities, development trajectories, and governance landscape

  • Comfort with interdisciplinary work spanning technical and philosophical domains

Core Competencies

  • Intellectual rigour and honesty - comfort with uncertainty and contested conceptual terrain

  • Strong analytical judgment and prioritisation skills

  • Self-direction and the ability to work independently in a small organisation

Preferred Criteria

Experience and Credentials

  • Postdoctoral research experience or equivalent professional research role (3-5+ years)

  • Publications in peer-reviewed venues (consciousness studies, cognitive science, AI governance, ethics, philosophy)

Networks and Context

  • Established networks in consciousness science, AI sentience, AI safety, or AI governance communities
    Prior engagement with policymakers or regulatory discussions on AI/emerging technologies

  • Experience advising or informing policy decisions

Technical Understanding

  • Ability to interpret AI/ML research (large language models, multimodal systems, agent architectures)

  • Familiarity with compute governance, scaling laws, or AI development trajectories

  • Not required to be an AI researcher, but should be comfortable engaging with technical literature

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range

The salary for this role will be dependent on the candidate's experience and is still to be determined. We expect the range to be between £75,000 and £125,000, depending on location and experience. The higher end of this range will be reserved for exceptional cases. 

Benefits Package

  • Pension contribution

  • Flexible working arrangements

  • Equipment and home office support

  • Travel budget for research, conferences, and stakeholder engagement

Deadline and Application Process

Applications open on the 1st of December, 2025. 

  • Stage 1: CV and cover letter by 31st January 2026.

  • Stage 2: Initial screening call. 

  • Stage 3: Testing task.

  • Stage 4: Two interviews. 

For any enquiries about the role, please e-mail: info@prism-global.com. 

Closing Statement

We Welcome Diverse Perspectives

Understanding and governing potentially conscious AI systems will require insights from many disciplines, backgrounds, and perspectives. We're building a new field, and we need people who can think rigorously across boundaries. We particularly encourage applications from individuals currently underrepresented in AI and consciousness research.

If PRISM's mission resonates with you and you believe you can contribute meaningfully to this work, we encourage you to apply - even if your background doesn't match every qualification listed. Novel combinations of expertise, unconventional career paths, and fresh perspectives are valuable to us.

This is a rare opportunity to shape how humanity thinks about and prepares for one of the most profound questions we may face: what moral status and protections should we extend to potentially conscious machines? If you're ready to help us answer that question with intellectual rigour, strategic vision, and genuine care for getting it right, we'd love to hear from you.