Artificial Intelligence Research Centre (CitAI)

The Artificial Intelligence Research Centre, CitAI, is based in the Department of Computer Science at City, University of London. We specialise in the intersection between the development of novel AI techniques, Explainable AI (XAI) and Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), with a keen interest in the legal, ethical and social impact of AI.

We are an interdisciplinary team of 12 academics and researchers with expertise in computational modelling, neuroscience, deep learning, genetic algorithms, verification, logic, game theory, robotics, autonomous driving, machine vision, image processing, bio-medical engineering, and agents and multi-agent systems - with applications in health and wellbeing, cybersecurity, energy, finance and transport.

We offer a full-time MSc in Artificial Intelligence which focuses on nature-based AI, with an emphasis on Deep Learning technology, including training in Convolutional and Recurrent Neural Networks, Deep Reinforcement Learning and interpretable Artificial Intelligence. Our course strikes a balance between fundamental theories and practical skills.

We host the new high-performance Robin Milner Lab, after City’s AI pioneer and Turing Award winner, where the MSc programme is delivered.

In addition, in collaboration with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), we run the EIT-Digital Industrial Artificial Intelligence Doctoral Programme (see Digital Doctoral School). The programme focuses on applied Artificial Intelligence to solve real-life problems with the companies who co-sponsor the scholarships, for instance, Delta Capita, Bosch Automotive Service Solutions Ltd, and Telefonica Alpha. Please contact Dr Eduardo Alonso if you are interested in sponsoring our programme or if you want to apply for a scholarship.

Doctoral training supported by EIT Digital

Supported by the EIT Digital, City, University of London’s Artificial Intelligence Research Centre (CitAI) is offering a Doctoral Training Program (CeitIAI) in Industrial Artificial Intelligence. This program will enable commercial deployment of Artificial Intelligence technology in the UK, Europe and other regions by developing critical interdisciplinary capabilities in AI technology, particularly, though, but not exclusively in deep learning, explainable AI, and Artificial General Intelligence. The Industrial Doctoral Training Program is focused on the application of AI for solving real-life industrial problems in energy, transport, health and well-being, and finance as well as on the study of the legal, ethical and social impact of AI.

The EIT Digital Doctoral School is a leading European digital innovation and entrepreneurial education organisation driving Europe’s digital transformation. It invests in strategic areas to accelerate the market uptake and scaling of research-based digital technologies (deep tech) focusing on Europe’s strategic, societal challenges:

• Digital Tech,
• Digital Cities,
• Digital Industry,
• Digital Wellbeing, and
• Digital Finance.

The program is funded through studentships sponsored by EIT Digital and the industrial partners. The studentships consist of a full fee waiver and a stipend of £18K per year, for four years. Studentships are advertised on City’s job board and jobs.ac.uk.

How it works

As part of their studies and training, the students spend time at City’s School of Science and Technology (SST), EIT-Digital London Co-Location Centre and the premises of the company which co-funds the projects. In addition, over the 4 years of study, the PhD student follows the EIT Digital PhD, which is an enrichment programme to develop skills and competences in innovation and entrepreneurship in digital technologies. The EIT Digital label programme supports:

• between 3 and 6 months abroad to enrich their research experience, for which a supplementary budget is available;
• EIT-Digital European training in innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation leadership, which takes place at other EIT Digital centres across Europe;
• Business Development Experience, which is a series of activities planned together with the industrial supervisor to put in practice the knowledge acquired in the seminars.

Supervision

At City, the PhD students are assigned academic supervisors, and have access to computing facilities, including the new cutting-edge AI Robin Milner Lab, which includes GPU computers and servers, and City’s services. In addition, they are monitored and supported by a Senior Tutor for Research, participate in SST's Doctoral Training Program, and gain teaching experience by supporting our Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses.

Projects on offer

We are aiming to sponsor 10 studentships per year for the next 4 years, starting with the following 3 projects:

• Algorithms for predictive maintenance of vehicles in a connected environment
• Customisable Private Deep Learning
• Efficient Privacy Preserving Scheme for Data Processing

Contact to apply

If you are interested in learning about the Industrial Doctoral Training Program in Artificial Intelligence and/or sponsoring PhDs, please contact the director of Industrial Doctoral Training Program in Artificial intelligence Dr Eduardo Alonso at E.Alonso@city.ac.uk.