AI & Computer Vision Associate (KTP Associate)

Artificial Intelligence & Computer Vision

The University of Surrey, in collaboration with Marwell Wildlife – a leading conservation charity and the owner-operator of Marwell Zoo – is recruiting a forward-thinking AI and Computer Vision Associate to lead a transformative Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Project.

This pioneering project will develop an AI-powered nocturnal behaviour observation system, transforming how animal welfare is monitored and understood. By uncovering night-time behavioural changes, you will help enable earlier detection and proactive prevention of health and welfare issues before these become serious. This cutting-edge work will help redefine how animal health and wellbeing are protected and improved.

This growing partnership between the University and Marwell Wildlife aims to connect people with nature, lead the charge in caring for the natural world, and support a thriving future for wildlife.

The Role

Based at Marwell Zoo (near Winchester, Hampshire), you will lead the design and delivery of an end-to-end, 24/7 animal welfare monitoring system. Your work will advance welfare science and support innovative, data-driven revenue streams that support Marwell’s long-term sustainability.

You will work at the intersection of:

• Artificial Intelligence & Computer Vision
• Animal Behaviour & Welfare Science
• Data Analytics, Visualisation & Business Insight

You will be embedded within Marwell’s Animal Science team and supported by University of Surrey academics:

• Professor Kevin Wells, Professor of AI in Human and Veterinary Healthcare.
• Dr Marco Volino, Lecturer in Computer Vision and Graphics.

KTPs offer a unique springboard for your career, combining academic rigour, industry experience, and leadership responsibility to support your development as a future leader in this field.

About You

You are ambitious, curious, and impact-driven, with an interest in animal welfare, animal behaviour, or conservation. You will hold a postgraduate degree in AI, Data Science, Computer Vision or a closely related discipline with strong technical component, or equivalent industrial experience.

You will bring experience in:

• Computer vision and machine learning: developing, training, evaluating, and deploying computer vision models.
• Data visualisation and analytics: turning complex data into actionable insights.
• Programming: strong skills in languages such as Python and C#.
• Applied data science: solving real-world challenges using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence techniques.
• Business Intelligence and Data Visualisation: using tools like Power BI, SQL (ideally PostGIS), and cloud-based databases.
• Documentation and communication: clearly documenting processes, data models, and reporting structures.
• Project management and business acumen: mapping business processes, presenting insights, and translating technical concepts for diverse audiences.

You thrive in collaborative environments, are keen to learn new technologies and are motivated by driving innovation through AI and data-driven solutions.

This 36-month KTP Associate role offers:

• Hands-on, industry-based experience leading a high-impact AI project in a live conservation-focused setting, working closely with animal science experts
• Mentorship from leading academics, industry experts, and a dedicated KTP support team.
• A Generous personal development budget and dedicated time for training and development.
• Potential for a permanent role at Marwell Wildlife upon successful completion of the KTP (subject to performance and business needs).

This is a rare opportunity to build a cutting-edge technology solution from the ground up while directly contributing to animal welfare and the future resilience of conservation-focused organisations.

This pioneering project will develop an AI-powered nocturnal behaviour observation system, transforming how animal welfare is monitored and understood. By uncovering night-time behavioural changes, you will help enable earlier detection and proactive prevention of health and welfare issues before these become serious.

About the business

Marwell Wildlife – a leading conservation charity and the owner-operator of Marwell Zoo.

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