Senior Data Scientist

The Natural and Environmental Research Council (NERC) is a partner organisation within UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). UKRI is a new entitythat brings together nine partnersto create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, and a vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. 

The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) is part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and is the UK's Centre of Excellence for integrated research in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and their interaction with the atmosphere.

About the role

We are offering a unique opportunity to join a new, cross-disciplinary programme of data science projects, developing and deploying new data methods and tools to address grand challenges in natural environment research. The research will be varied and exciting, with the potential to shape an emerging field of real importance. Whilst based within CEH, you will be working closely with four new senior research assistant appointments in the Lancaster University Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science associated with major Data Science of the Natural Environment projects.

Main Duties:

• to lead the research into and development of environmental data science methods and tools within the Environmental Data Science group at CEH Lancaster and in collaboration across CEH and the Lancaster University Data Science Institute
• to deliver novel data science methods for  environmental challenges within the Data Science of the Natural Environment project and other projects: e.g. in land use management, air quality modelling and ice sheet melt prediction
• to identify collaborative opportunities across UKRI and elsewhere and win projects that contribute to the development of the new Lancaster Centre of Excellence in Environmental Data Science
• to lead the research and development of  Environmental Informatics tools and techniques for data interoperability and integrated analysis of environmental sensor network data
• design and development of analytical tools and facilities for environmental scientists within the virtual data labs (e.g. using cluster-computing frameworks such as Python DASK or Apache Spark with Jupyter or Apache Zeppelin notebooks).
  

About you

You should have degree level qualification in a computational, numerical and/or environmental science and either a relevant PhD, an MSc or post-degree experience in managing, analysing or synthesising data. 

You must have previous experience of leading multi-disciplinary data science projects with proven ability in project management and appropriate project management methods.

You should have proven ability and track record in statistical analysis of environmental data: background in quantitative analytical methods for large-scale data, including using modelling data, ideally in an environmental context.

What we offer

NERC offer a public sector pension scheme, 30 days’ annual leave and 10½ days’ public and privilege holidays per annum. NERC has an equal opportunities policy and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. People with disabilities and those from ethnic minorities are currently under represented and their applications are particularly welcomed. Guaranteed interview scheme for applicants with disabilities.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to include a cover letter outlining their suitability for this role.

Applications are handled by UK SBS; to apply please click here. Applicants who are unable to apply online should contact us by telephone on +44 (0)1793 867000.

The closing date for applications is 15^th May 2018.

The interview date is 14^th June 2018.