Research Assistant with Large Language Models for Computer Game Dialogue at University of Surrey
Job Description
Fixed Term up to August 2025
The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research.
We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve – shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee.
Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.
The role
Current mainstream computer games do not exploit the abilities of large language models (LLMs) for dialogues. Instead they offer pre-scripted and limited options for what players and NPCs (non-player characters) can say. This limits the creativity that players can bring through their actions, and makes the game world feel flat and artificial, instead of real and immersive. LLMs could potentially offer an open-ended and more natural dialogue.
The challenge here is to integrate with the constraints of the game world: we cannot allow an LLM to freely say anything, it must be constrained to the NPC’s knowledge and personality. The research assistant on this project will initially review the latest techniques to constrain language model output to 1. Match knowledge available to a character; 2. Model a character’s personality.
The research assistant will then experiment with the latest techniques for prompting and post-editing, to determine strategies that produce effectively constrained responses. We expect to run extensive experiments in order to find good strategies.
About you
You will be able to run open source large language models (LLMs) locally (on University of Surrey machines), to do inference, in order to rapidly run multiple experiments and gather results.
You will need a strong programming ability, with previous experience.
You will also need to be able to research recent published papers in control of LLM outputs in order to make use of latest techniques.
How to apply
Please see the Job Description for further details of what the role entails. Applications should be completed and a CV uploaded.
Further details
For more information and to apply online, please download the further details and click on the ‘apply’ button above.
In return we offer a generous pension, relocation assistance where appropriate , flexible working options including job share and blended home/campus working locations (dependent on work duties), access to world-class leisure facilities on campus, a range of travel schemes and supportive family friendly benefits including an excellent on-site nursery.
Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.
The University of Surrey is committed to providing an inclusive environment that offers equal opportunities for all. We place great value on diversity and are seeking to increase the diversity within our community. Therefore we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups, such as people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities.
