Principal Data Scientist

Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges.

We are looking for a highly motivated, inquisitive and experienced Principal Data Scientist to join the Cellular Informatics Team in Pipeline Solutions at the Sanger Institute on a Permanent basis.

About the Role:

You will be leading the data science and machine learning/AI tasks within the Cellular Infromatics Team, Pipeline Solutions – reporting to the Head of Cellular Operations who has accountability. You will be the primary expert in Data Science, Machine Learning and Artifical Intelligence in the IDS Cellular Informatics team.

You will lead the exploration and identification of innovative applications of generative AI within cell-based studies, focusing on Cellular Operations. You will expand these advancements to broader Scientific Operations and contribute to cutting-edge initiatives across the entire Institute.

You will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic leadership and expert guidance to the Head of Cellular Informatics in IDS on all aspects of data science technology application, driving innovation and ensuring alignment with the priorities of Cellular Informatics and broader wet laboratory teams.
• Overseeing and mentor the Senior Data Engineer within Cellular Informatics, implementing a matrix management approach that fosters collaboration with managers and scientists across Cellular Operations and other IDS teams to deliver high-impact solutions.
• Collaborating closely with the Scientific Operations Cellular Research team to lead advanced data analysis initiatives and establish best practices in data management, tailored to the needs of bespoke cellular projects.
• Partnering with the database team in IDS to strategically facilitate and supervise updates to on-premise systems, providing expert advice on the optimisation of ELN and other data tracking systems to meet evolving research demands.

About You:

You will have significant experience of data science, preferably in an operational biological science context. You will be a leader aspiring to excellence in best practice and able to communicate through written and verbal media. People skills are important in our leadership roles and will be required to fit the ethos of the team.

You will be inquisitive, creative and questioning, while accepting of our strategic decisions, once they are made.

Essential Technical Skills:

• PhD or MSc in a data science (e.g. Computer Science, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics related discipline) or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline
• Advanced understanding of AI and ML technologies, with a strategic vision for their implementation within the fields of genomics and cellular science
• Experience in a data science role in a scientific environment
• Proficiency in a scripting language (e.g., Python, R)
• Evidence of advanced proficiency in SQL
• Experience of working with relational databases, administration and superuser access (e.g., in PostgreSQL)
• Experience of modern high performance scientific and cloud-native computing technologies
• Ability to translate the language of data science and data engineering to the language of science
• Ability to work with formal software development processes (including unit and user acceptance testing, Agile Scrum)

Competencies and Behaviours

• Open and transparent approach to communication
• Excellent communication skills to allow efficient interactions with team members and collaborators
• Self-motivation and the ability to seek feedback and reflect contructively
• Engage and respond flexibly and positively in diverse group
• Be sensitive and seek to reduce bias to individuals and cultural differences
• Network with peers from other teams/functions to identify innovative ideas
• Appropriate challenge of tasks / objectives to ensure best practice is applied at all time
• Highly developed problem-solving skills
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels

About Us:
The Cellular Informatics team is part of our core Informatics and Digital Solutions (IDS) department. We work very closely with our wet-lab and bioinformatics colleagues both in Scientific Operation and across our faculty teams as the need arises. The team is organised into three areas of specialty with a scrum team of developers and bioinformaticians, project support team of developers and the data science and engineering team.

Application Process:

Please apply with your CV and a Cover letter outlining how you meet the essential skills set out above, why you want to apply to this role and what value/experience you can bring.

Other Information:

Salary range: £53,717 - £63,000 (dependant on skills and experience)

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 15th September 2024

Timelines: Shortlisting w/c 16th Sept, Zoom Interviews w/c 23rd Sept, Face to Face interviews with assessment w/c 30th Sept

Role Profile: Prinicpal Data Scientist Grade 1

Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger:

We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others.

We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive.

Our Benefits:

We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute.

Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018.  The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines.

Every year the Wellcome Sanger Institute supports the visits of dozens of overseas researchers from across the globe to the Genome campus to collaborate, share insights and to undertake ground-breaking scientific research. Our reliable in-house service provides expert advice and guidance to support current and prospective staff, and visitors at various points of their journey. We are able to provide guidance through your entire journey, from initial visa application through to extensions and applications of Indefinite Leave to Remain, the service is proud to support your personal applications and those of your dependants and family members. 

For more information about our immigration service visit: https://www.sanger.ac.uk/about/careers/global-mobility-and-immigration-service/