AI Research Scientist
Develop new algorithms, models and theories that advance artificial intelligence and machine learning.
A day in the life
Read papers, design experiments, train and evaluate models, write research papers and present findings.
Typical route
Helpful A-levels
Physics + Maths + Further Maths + Computer Science
Typical qualification and training
- Computer Science, Maths or Physics degree
- PhD in machine learning or related field
These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.
Indicative UK salary
- Starter
- £35,000-£45,000
- Experienced
- £55,000-£85,000
- Senior
- £110,000+
Top AI labs and universities may offer significantly more.
Salary range checked against Prospects.ac.uk: Machine Learning Engineer.
UK employers
- Google DeepMind
- The Alan Turing Institute
- University of Oxford
- Faculty
Worldwide employers
- OpenAI
- Microsoft Research
- Meta AI
- Anthropic
Useful route links
These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.
Key skills
Explore related careers
Sources and further reading
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