KTP Associate - Predictive Modelling and Causal Inference Data Scientist

Job Description Grade UE07: £41,064 - £48,822 per annum, with an additional market pay supplement bringing the total salary to up to £60,000 per annum CAHSS / Business School / Kodamai Limited Full-time: 35 hours per week Fixed-term: 27 months Location: Primarily based at Kodamai Limited's office in central Glasgow The University of Edinburgh and Kodamai Limited have been awarded a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by Innovate UK to embed advanced predictive modelling and causal inference capabilities into Kodamai’s secure-by-design AI agent platform. This innovative project will combine the expertise of Prof Gbenga Ibikunle (Finance) and Dr Zexun Chen (Predictive Analytics) at the University of Edinburgh Business School with Kodamai’s rapidly growing AI platform to develop scalable, trustworthy forecasting solutions for the financial services sector. Kodamai Ltd is an early-stage start-up founded in Glasgow, U.K. We are pioneering a new era in the digital economy by building collaborative communities of AI agents. Our mission is to deliver a transformative wave of business automation, driving significant improvements in productivity, cost efficiency, and operational excellence. We aspire to become the future operating system for AI-driven enterprises. We are passionate about cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace, where unconventional thinking and scientific rigor are core to our approach. Kodamai leads with innovation, conducting original AI research and applying rigorous mathematical foundations to deliver unique solutions for our clients. We believe our employees are our greatest asset. We foster a supportive, unified team that values open communication, humility, honesty, and teamwork. We actively encourage diverse perspectives and problem- solving, with a commitment to continuous learning and excellence The Opportunity We are seeking an independent and motivated KTP Associate with expertise in predictive modelling, causal inference, applied mathematics, and statistics to drive the forecasting and decision science workstream of this ambitious project. Over 27 months, you will develop causal inference and probabilistic forecasting models for high-volume, heterogeneous data, build counterfactual “what-if” analysis capabilities for marketing, pricing, and operations, and integrate these into Kodamai’s production platform. Your work will span six stages: from data landscape assessment and foundation building, through data engineering and baseline models, causal inference and counterfactual analysis, probabilistic forecasting and deep reinforcement learning, to pilot implementation with finance-sector customers, and finally evaluation, handover, and future roadmap planning. You will collaborate closely with a second KTP Associate focused on cybersecurity (Associate 1) to ensure the combined platform is both analytically powerful and secure. As part of this role, you will have the opportunity to publish research in top-tier venues, develop production-grade AI systems, and gain significant commercial exposure in the rapidly growing AI and fintech sectors. This post is full-time (35 hours per week), primarily based at Kodamai Limited’s offices in central Glasgow, with regular visits to the University of Edinburgh as required. The post will be jointly supervised by Dr Toby Smithe (CTO, Kodamai Limited) and the academic leads at the University of Edinburgh Business School (Dr Zexun Chen and Prof Gbenga Ibikunle). Whilst you will be employed by UoE, the details of your terms and conditions will be discussed further at interview. How To Apply View the full job description . Please Include The Following Documents In Your Application • CV • Cover letter explaining your suitability for the role, and your interest in the KTP project As a valued member of our team, you can expect: • A competitive salary. • An exciting, positive, creative, challenging and rewarding place to work. • To be part of a diverse and vibrant international community. • Comprehensive Staff Benefits, including generous annual leave entitlement, a defined benefits pension scheme, a wide range of staff discounts, family-friendly initiatives, and flexible work options. Check out the full list on our staff benefits page and use our reward calculator to discover the value of your pay and benefits. As a KTP Associate, you will be mpart of the national Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (iuk-ktp.org.uk) scheme and entitled to specialist management training (two one-week residential programmes) and a professional development budget. Championing equality, diversity, and inclusion The University of Edinburgh holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. We are members of the Race Equality Charter, and we are also Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champions, actively promoting LGBT equality. Prior to any employment commencing with the University, you will be required to evidence your right to work in the UK. Further information is available on our right to work webpages . On this occasion the University will not consider applicants requiring sponsorship for this role. International workers will therefore only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right to work in the UK. Key dates to note The closing date for applications is 20 th July 2026. Unless stated otherwise, the closing time for applications is 11:59 pm (UK time). If you are applying from outside the UK, the closing time shown on our adverts will automatically adjust to your browser’s local time zone . About Us As a world-leading research-intensive University, we are here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Between now and 2030 we will do that with a values-led approach to teaching, research and innovation, and through the strength of our relationships, both locally and globally. About The Team The aim of University of Edinburgh Business School is to be a world-class Business School within a world-class University. We are distinctive, fostering a unique coaching culture, where all students have access to coaching and much of this is facilitated by peer support leaders from the student cohorts. The Business School is focused on sustainability, aiming to anchor the UN Sustainable Development goals into our strategic planning and developing our activities in line with the University’s target to be carbon-neutral by 2040. Furthermore we are actively participating in data-driven innovation which envisages Edinburgh becoming the Data Capital of Europe. Based in the heart of Edinburgh, staff at the Business School are immersed in the vibrant life of the city. The Business School has excellent transport links including buses and a location that is only a 20 minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley station. In the summer we find ourselves with easy access to the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. For a breath of fresh air all year round, green spaces such as George Square and the Meadows are right outside our front door. The culture of the Business School is people orientated and diverse; we have a strong Equality and Diversity committee made up of both academic and professional services staff and we are committed to the principles of Athena SWAN https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/equality-charters/athena-swan-charter . We also support staff in a hybrid working environment and offer the possibility for most roles to work in a combination of on-campus and at-home working where suits both them and the organisation. Academically, we are an interdisciplinary School with particular strengths in management science, leadership organisations and society, interdisciplinary accounting, corporate finance, climate change and sustainability, and entrepreneurship. The School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the EFMD Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and the Association of MBAs (AMBA). This triple accreditation highlights the quality of teaching and excellence of research at the School. Detailed information can be found at the School website at www.business-school.ed.ac.uk