Responsible Technology Institute team
Professor Marina Jirotka
Institute DirectorMarina Jirotka is Professor of Human Centred Computing in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford and Governing Body Fellow of St Cross College. Her expertise involves co-producing user and community requirements and human computer interaction, particularly for collaborative systems. She has been at the forefront of recent work in Responsible Innovation (RI) in the UK and the European Union. Her recently concluded projects involve a range of topics in RI: she led the Responsible Innovation work for the Networked Quantum Information Technologies Hub (NQIT); she was PI on ESRCs Digital Wildfires project; and she was Co-PI on EPSRC Digital Economy TIPS project, Emancipating Users Against Algorithmic Biases for a Trusted Digital Economy (UnBias). From her work on analysing the spread of hate speech and misinformation on social media (Digital Wildfires), she was appointed specialist advisor to the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications for their inquiry into Children and the Internet.
Dr Lars Kunze
Technical LeadLars Kunze is a Departmental Lecturer in Robotics in the Oxford Robotics Institute (ORI) and the Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford, and a Stipendiary Lecturer in Computer Science at Keble College. He is a Programme Fellow of the Assuring Autonomy International Programme (AAIP) and a Co-Editor of the German Journal of Artificial Intelligence (KI Journal, Springer). At ORI, Lars leads the Cognitive Robotics Group (CRG).
Dr Pericle Salvini
Research leadPericle Salvini is senior researcher on the RoboTIPS project. His expertise is in ethical and legal implications of human-robot interaction. His current research interests centre on responsible research and innovation in robotics research and applications. He was manager of the EU FP7 funded project RoboLaw (2012-2014), which is now considered to be a milestone in raising awareness about the legal, ethical and societal implications of robotics research and applications.
Email: pericle.salvini@cs.ox.ac.uk
Dr Carolyn Ten Holter
POLICY LEADCarolyn is Policy Lead at the RTI. She specialises in responsible innovation approaches in a variety of novel technology domains, including autonomous vehicles, ICT sustainability, and quantum computing. She has a particular interest in policymaking and governance for novel technologies, and expertise in participatory and stakeholder-inclusive methods. As part of the RTI she leads the work on ResQCCom, a workpackage in the RAILS project on autonomous systems, consults on the PARIS-DE and AMHDM projects, and also liaises with the RTI’s networks of civil society organisations, projects, and other organisations that work on similar themes. She has degrees in law, librarianship & information science, marketing communications, and her DPhil focused on responsible innovation in quantum computing. Previous projects include RoAD and ORBIT.
Dr Lucas Somavilla
Research AssociateLucas Somavilla is a researcher on the EPSRC project Design Principles and Responsible Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Economy (PARIS-DE) in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. He is an interdisciplinary researcher applying a variety of lenses to the understanding of the role of responsible science, technology, and engineering innovation in decision-making, particularly on the application of knowledge systems and sustainability governance. Previously, Lucas has been involved in international development programmes (UCL, FCDO, UN) and the ORA/ESRC project Deltas’ Dealings with Uncertainty (DoUbT). He is an Honorary Research Fellow at UCL’s Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP), a member of the UCL Digital Technologies Policy Lab and the Earth System Governance (ESG) community (Future Earth). Relevant themes in his work include uncertainty, sustainability transformations, and anticipatory science and technology governance. He holds an MSc in Anthropology, Environment and Development (UCL) and a PhD in Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (UCL).
E-mail:lucas.somavilla@cs.ox.ac.uk
Dr Daniel Omeiza
Research associateDaniel is a postdoctoral researcher at the Oxford Robotics Institute. He works with Lars Kunze on the RAILS project. Daniel specialises in Explainable AI in Autonomous Systems. During his PhD at the University of Oxford, he leveraged XAI and behavioural science theories to develop transparent techniques for generating intelligible explanations in autonomous driving. Some of the explanation techniques have been tested within large projects like SAX and RAILS. He obtained a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Ilorin.
Dr Keri Grieman
Research associateKeri is Research Associate on the RoboTIPS project. She obtained her PhD in law at the Alan Turing Institute and the Centre for Commercial Law Studies at Queen Mary University of London. She is also a qualified lawyer in Ontario, Canada, and was previously the Google Policy Fellow for the Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic. Her LLM on liability for self-driving vehicles sparked her interest in responsible innovation and governance of AI, and her research focuses on bridging the technical and legal gap in the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI).
Keri joined RoboTIPS in autumn 2021, and works alongside Marina Jirotka and Pericle Salvini on human-centred responsibility for robotics, adaptive regulation and governance, and the reconciliation of robotics and autonomy.
Zsofia Lazar
Project managerZsofia is the RTI’s project manager and looks after the day-to-day administrative and practical matters arising from its projects and ongoing activities, as well as communication, collaboration and outreach strategies. She manages the Institute’s relationships with a large number of current and potential partners and sponsors across its networks, and supports the RTI team in developing the overall strategy for the Institute, its funding priorities and future directions.
Email:zsofia.lazar@cs.ox.ac.uk
Ross Gales
DPhil StudentRoss Gales is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford where he uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance the value of open-source intelligence (OSINT) during natural disasters. His main research interests include using emerging AI techniques to improve the quality of life of those in need, and improving access to computer science education for underrepresented demographics. Ross received Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Information Systems and a Bachelor’s in Commerce from the University of Melbourne.
Tyler Reinmund
DPhil studentTyler is a doctoral student in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford and co-leads the Responsible Technology Institute Student Network. His research focuses on stakeholder engagement in software development, particularly in the context of adult social care. Tyler has a master’s degree in science and technology studies from University College London and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oxford.
Towera Moyo
DPhil studentTowera has a bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems. Her current research involves investigating the impact of technologies on human trafficking, and designing technologies to disrupt human trafficking online.
Lize Alberts
DPhil studentLize has an honours and masters degree in philosophy from Stellenbosch university, and a bachelors in philosophy and social anthropology from North-West University. Her research focuses on interactive/collaborative relationships between humans and (social) robots, particularly regarding issues of autonomy, privacy, control, and accountability distribution.
Email:lize.alberts@cs.ox.ac.uk
Ben Hardin
DPhil studentBen has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Honors from Purdue University. His research focuses on the psychological safety of autonomous vehicles and specifically over-trust, under-trust, regulation, and acceptance.
Jumana Baghabrah
DPhil studentJumana is a DPhil student in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Oxford. Her work revolves around responsible research and innovation for robotics with a focus on cross-cultural acceptance of social robots. Jumana obtained her Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Computer Science from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and Effat University, respectively.