KTP Associate in AI- Powered Optometric Decision Support

As the key driver of this Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) the successful applicant will design, develop and validate a new sector leading AI decision support system – embedded within real-world optometric workflows at Boots Opticians. The system will redistribute routine triage, documentation, and administrative tasks from clinicians to validated AI-assisted workflows.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant contribution to Boots Opticians by improving the accuracy and consistency of triage, enabling patients to spend the appropriate amount of time with their Optometrist based on their clinical requirements.

What you will gain:

- The opportunity to lead a strategically important business project, gain hands-on experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team, work at the interface between world-leading academic research and commercial innovation, and deliver real impact.
- Work closely with world-leading researchers in Clinical Vision Science and Artificial Intelligence at Aston University to transfer state-of-the-art research knowledge into a leading UK business.
- Professional mentoring from both academic and business supervisors as well as Innovate UK experts.
- Access a personal development budget of £2,000 a year to build further skills relevant to your future career.

You will work closely with senior University academics and company leaders on a commercial project, applying the latest research to achieve both commercial impact and positive healthcare outcomes.

Essential skills and experience:

- Postgraduate degree (MSc) in computer science, AI, or similar.
- Demonstrable competence in machine learning, medical image or signal analysis, data engineering, and healthcare data governance.
- Adept at developing/validating AI algorithms, and adhering to regulatory and privacy standards.

Desirable skills and experience:

- PhD in Computer Science, AI or similar.
- Prior work on explainable AI solutions, human-computer interface design (healthcare), or integrating automated systems into clinical workflows.
- Knowledge of Electronic Health Records and their regulatory governance.
- Usability testing, bias auditing, and familiarity with data protection requirements in healthcare (such as DPIA processes).
- Experience in applying machine learning or AI to at least two different data modalities (e.g., medical imaging, clinical text, structured/tabular healthcare data, or time-series data), with an interest in developing multimodal AI systems for clinical decision support.

Attributes:

- Project management aptitude, effective communication with multi-disciplinary stakeholders, creative problem-solving, and ability to adapt to evolving project needs.
- A collaborative mindset is key, given the need for translational thinking and co-development with both academic and business partners.
- Able to articulate business problems, logical solutions and impactful outcomes.
- Team player who works productively across locations and disciplines.
- Proactive learner who makes the most of development opportunities.

Additional benefits:

- £2,000 per annum (total £5k for the duration of the project) for personal and professional development.
- 25 days annual leave per annum.
- Professional support and mentorship.
- Mental health and wellbeing support.

Career prospects:

KTP Associates lead strategic projects, bridging the academic and business worlds, which can enhance and fast-track their career. You will benefit from expert coaching and mentoring and over 60% of KTP associates are offered employment by their host companies at the end of the KTP.

This is a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) funded by Boots Opticians Professional Services Ltd and Innovate UK. You will work in a project team with Prof Leon Davies (Optometry) and Dr Hassan Aqeel Khan (Computer Science) from Aston University and Senior Team members at Boots Opticians Professional Services, with further support from an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Adviser.

You will be based predominantly at Boots in Nottingham with regular visits to other Boots sites. You will also have access to facilities at Aston University in central Birmingham. The nature of the project requires regular face-to-face engagement; therefore, applicants should be based within a commutable distance of the work location.

This role is likely to qualify for endorsement under the Endorsed Funder route of the Global Talent visa.