Senior Data Scientist

Shape the future of research funding with cutting-edge data science.

Do you want to lead transformative data science initiatives? Are you passionate about applying machine learning to solve complex problems and drive impactful decisions? Join us as a Senior Data Scientist at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Coordinating Centre in Southampton.

This is your chance to innovate and position us as a sector leader in leveraging data science to advance research funding processes, evidence impact, and communicate research outcomes effectively.

Who are we?

The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. We are also a major funder of applied health research in low and middle-income countries.

Further information can be found at: www.nihr.ac.uk. You are encouraged to review our operational priorities and to watch this introductory video.

What will you be doing?

As a Senior Data Scientist, you’ll lead high-impact projects and play a key role in shaping the future of data-driven research funding. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing and deploying machine learning models: Solve complex business problems using structured and unstructured data, including projects involving natural language processing (NLP)
• Building robust data infrastructure: Lead the creation of data pipelines to ensure data quality, accessibility, and integrity for model training and analysis.
• Enhancing model usability: Develop APIs, web applications, and visualisations to make insights accessible to stakeholders.
• Engaging with stakeholders: Collaborate with internal and external partners, communicating results clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Driving innovation: Advise on emerging AI technologies, including large language models (LLMs), and their application to research funding challenges.

Who are we looking for?

We’re seeking a driven and experienced data scientist who excels in leadership, innovation, and collaboration. Essential qualities include:

• Expertise in Python (preferred) or R, including libraries such as NumPy, pandas, scikit-learn, PyTorch, and TensorFlow.
• Strong experience in machine learning development, particularly NLP applications, and MLOps best practices.
• Proficiency in data engineering, using SQL, and deploying models securely in production environments.
• Proven ability to lead end-to-end data science projects and translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences.
• A collaborative mindset, with strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to continuous learning.

Desirable qualifications include experience with cloud platforms (GCP preferred), data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Qlikview, or Tableau), and contributing to open-source projects.

What can we offer you?

We recognise that our staff are at the heart of what we do so we make sure we look after you! As well as a generous benefits package (full details - here!), we prioritise your wellbeing as reflected in  the Mind Workplace Wellbeing awards, where we have achieved Gold for the fifth year in a row!

Our hybrid working approach helps you with your work life balance and offers you the chance to split your time between office and home working. We strive for cohesive and collaborative teams so our expectation is you spend around 20% of your time in the office. We also know that personal development is important and have a range of ways to support you.

For further information/an informal discussion- contact hei-peopleservices@soton.ac.uk 

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