Senior Research Data Scientist

Job title:

Senior Research Data Scientist

Company

UCL

Job description

About usUniversity 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.The UCL Department of Geography is a leading UK and global department, with a heritage of excellence in research across a broad range of research themes. The Department has a long and distinguished tradition of top-quality cross and interdisciplinary research with social scientists, climate modellers, data scientists, urbanists, environmental scientists and geoscientists all working on a huge variety of projects across the domains of Environment, Resources, Heritage and Social Science.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 ( www.sdruk.ukri.org/ ), 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.Smart data is data generated through everyday interactions with the digital world, including via mobile apps, navigation systems, social media, and shopping. It offers a powerful opportunity to understand society and improve lives.The Geographic Data Service (GeoDS) seeks to integrate a wide range of data sources to generate new insights into equitable and sustainable growth – bringing focus to geographic disparities, barriers to opportunity and the circumstances of vulnerable populations. Building on the strong foundation of the Consumer Data Research Centre (data.cdrc.ac.uk), the GeoDS team develop partnerships with data providers and coordinate a national master’s dissertation programme to engage a new generation of smart data researchers.About the roleYou will be a core part of an interdisciplinary team that spans both UCL and the University of Liverpool. It is 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.The role requires working with Personal and Sensitive Personal Data (as defined under GDPR) and so you will be required to attain BPSS security clearance to use and manage secure data using facilities at UCL and the University of Liverpool. You will be expected to understand legal liability issues related to the handling of GeoDS research data and emulate best practice in this area.You will work with your management to define a portfolio of responsibilities, a mixture of service delivery, research, and innovation appropriate to your level of seniority.The appointee will be a member of the Geospatial Analytics and Computing (GSAC) Group, which researches and develops best practice through assembling, linking, visualising and analysing diverse data sources, cognisant of relevant underpinning technologies and social processes; and developing substantive research applications in social and spatial mobility, housing market analysis, demography, disaster recovery, urban design, retailing and health.This is a full time, fixed term post at Grade 8, spine point 40, with funding available to March 2029. The appointment is available from 1 January 2025, to start as soon as possible. A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page.This role meets the eligibility requirements for a skilled worker certificate of sponsorship or a global talent visa under UK Visas and Immigration legislation. Therefore, UCL welcomes applications from international applicants who require a visa. This appointment is subject to UCL Terms and Conditions of Service for Research and Professional Services Staff. Please visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/human-resources/conditions-service-research-teaching-and-professional-services-staff for more information.Further details of the department are at https://www.geog.ucl.ac.uk/Informal enquiries may be made to Prof. Paul Longley via Mr Richard Arnold ( richard.arnold@ucl.ac.uk ).If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the department’s research administration team: geog.research@ucl.ac.ukThe advert will close on Thursday 12th December 2024 at 23:59 GMT.Provisional dates for interview are 18, 19 and 20 December, or early January if candidates are unable to attend a December date.About youWe 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.Please see the job description and person specification available at the bottom of this page for more information.What we offerAs well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:

• 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
• Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
• Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan
• Relocation scheme for certain posts
• On-Site nursery
• On-site gym
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
• Discounted medical insurance

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/reward-and-benefits to find out more.Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and InclusionAs London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.The Department of Geography has an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and networks for BME,”LGBTQ, and disabled/neurodiverse”staff and students. The Department recognises the importance of family-friendly working, and we try, as far as possible, to organise meetings and events with staff responsibilities as parents and carers in mind. The Department currently holds an Athena Swan Silver award and is working towards a Gold award. Above all the Department aims to be a supportive environment for both its staff and students. “More information can be found here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/geography/about-ucl-department-geography/equality-diversity-and-inclusion

Expected salary

Location

United Kingdom

Job date

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 23:30:01 GMT

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