Research Associate – Decentralised Systems, Control and Mechanism Design

Research Associate – Decentralised Systems, Control and Mechanism Design

Imperial College London

Location:

South Kensington Campus, London, United Kingdom (Hybrid working)

Imperial College London’s Faculty of Engineering – Dyson School of Design Engineering invites applications for a full-time Research Associate to contribute to cutting‑edge research in decentralised systems, control, and mechanism design. This role is situated within the I3‑Lab, an interdisciplinary hub exploring foundational challenges at the intersection of decentralised architectures, distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), and systemic coordination without centralised control. The research aims to advance both theoretical understanding and practical applications in areas such as trusted autonomous coordination, governance mechanisms, dynamic consensus, and trust propagation in large‑scale decentralised environments.

The successful candidate will work closely with academic colleagues and external collaborators, including industry partners, to conceive, analyse, and evaluate novel mechanisms shaping the future of decentralised systems. Dissemination of research outcomes through high‑impact publications and participation in academic and industrial fora is expected.

Candidates should hold (or be close to completing) a PhD in one of the following or closely related disciplines:
Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Systems Theory, or equivalent. Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and a strong research orientation in decentralised systems, distributed technologies, control systems, mechanism design, or game theory are essential. Evidence of high‑quality academic outputs and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment are expected.

• Strong theoretical foundation in one or more of: network theory, control systems, artificial intelligence, mechanism design, game theory, or distributed ledger technologies.
• Proven analytical and problem‑solving skills with capacity to model, design, and evaluate mechanisms for decentralised coordination.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to prepare scientific publications and engage with research communities.
• Capability to contribute to mentoring of junior researchers and to engage with external collaborators (e.g., research institutes or industry partners).

£49,017 to £50,893 per annum (SP17‑18) – this reflects the competitive remuneration package offered for the post.

Closing date for applications: 23 March 2026.