Senior Research Data Scientist

University College London (UCL) is one of the world's top universities. Based in the heart of London, it is a dynamic, outward-looking institution. At its establishment in 1826, UCL was radical and responsive to the needs of society, and this ethos – that excellence should go hand-in-hand with enriching society – continues today.

This Senior Research Data Scientist position is funded as part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)-funded Geographic Data Service (GeoDS) which is part of the ESRC Smart Data Research UK initiative delivered through the UCL Department of Geography. Smart Data Research UK (SDR UK) is an investment of £22 million in new data services, enabling researchers across the UK to access new forms of smart data. These services include the first national smart data donation service, a pioneering satellite imagery service, and services that provide new insights into our economy, environment, health, and wellbeing.

You will be a core part of an interdisciplinary team, charged with developing and maintaining a national data service that provides ‘smart data’ to researchers. This is a varied role that both entails primary research into new forms of data as well as support to the GeoDS user base, which will require delivering shared capabilities and following professional best practice. You will therefore be delivering the services and systems which make data intensive social science research possible, and discovering and innovating new tools, practices, and systems in this field, with a particular focus on geographically referenced data.

We are seeking a highly motivated individual with a PhD Degree in computer science, data science / AI, geographic information science, or allied discipline with a strong programming component, with awareness of quantitative methods and social science datasets OR equivalent professional expertise appropriate to the role. You should be able to demonstrate writing research publications of quality acceptable to international journals and authoring technical documents to a high standard.

You must have experience with the core tools of data science and analytics, in a programmatic framework such as R or Python, as well as have experience with at least one specialist technique or tool in data analytics / machine learning, such as natural language processing, deep learning / neural networks, Bayesian inference, Gaussian processes, multiprocessing, or techniques associated with spatial data analysis.

This is a full time, fixed term post at Grade 8, spine point 40, with funding available to March 2029.

The advert will close on Thursday 12th December 2024 at 23:59 GMT.

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