Dr Elizabeth Black, STAI CDT Director, and Dr Yali Du, STAI CDT Supervisor, have been appointed Turing Fellows by The Alan Turing Institute – the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence.
Dr Elizabeth Black and Dr Yali Du are amongst the 51 new Turing Fellows appointed. The prestigious two-year fellowships started on Friday 1 March 2024.
The Turing Fellowship Scheme aims to grow the data science and AI ecosystem in the UK by supporting, retaining and developing the careers of the next generation of world leading researchers, whilst contributing to the Institute’s overarching goals.
The new Turing Fellowship model is aimed at established researchers whose research interests align with the Turing’s Science and Innovation priorities outlined in the Institute Strategy.
As well as taking part in the Turing’s interdisciplinary, and collaborative research community, the new fellows will also support work in the areas of skills and public engagement.
Dr Elizabeth Black commented on her appointment and the future of AI skills development:
‘I’m really excited to join the Turing community to help shape national policy around AI skills development under the Turing’s ‘Build Skills for the Future’ priority area. We need a radical shift in our approach to training AI experts, who need a holistic understanding of both the technical AI challenges and the societal implications of AI, and need cross-disciplinary capabilities to ensure AI impacts are positive, safe, sustainable and empowering.’
Dr Yali Du’s research aims to enable machines to exhibit cooperative and responsible behaviour in intelligent decision making tasks. Dr Yali Du said this about her appointment:
‘Being selected as a Turing Fellow is both an immense honour and a profound responsibility. This fellowship represents a unique opportunity to delve into complex AI challenges, collaborate with leading minds in technology and research, and contribute to groundbreaking advancements. I look forward to embracing the collaborative spirit of The Alan Turing Institute, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible through innovation, and driving forward the frontiers of knowledge in our field.’
Congratulations to both Dr Elizabeth Black and Dr Yali Du, and we look forward to hearing more about their fellowships.