Location
10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London, E14 4PU

Hours
Full Time - 37 hours per week

Salary
£46,160 - £51,666 per annum plus benefits

About the Role
We are seeking two Data Scientists to join the Scientific Data & Insight Function within the Safety & Surveillance group at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). One position is a full-time permanent role and the other a full-time 12-month fixed term contract, suitable for internal move, loan, or temporary promotion. The MHRA plays a vital role in enhancing and improving the health of millions by regulating medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research.

The Safety & Surveillance Group integrates expertise on the safety of medical products with enforcement capabilities, supported by data and evidence generation through the SafetyConnect platform. The Scientific Data & Insight function develops in-house expertise to deliver evidence that supports regulatory decision making, applying advanced analytical methodologies including AI, machine learning, natural language processing, large language models, and computer modelling.

The post holder will use data science techniques to design and develop innovative analytical approaches to interrogate large and complex datasets, generating evidence relevant for regulatory decisions on the safety of medicines, vaccines, and medical devices. They will ensure timely access to real-world data, improve business effectiveness through analytics, and collaborate across the Agency and with external partners.

Key responsibilities include applying machine learning and data science methods using programming languages such as Python, R, or Julia; communicating results to diverse stakeholders; producing robust, reproducible, and scalable data science solutions; supporting vigilance systems and AI tool refinement; evaluating and optimizing data quality; and contributing to grant proposals and operational research.

The role requires adaptability to evolving challenges in medical product safety and the ability to propose new research ideas based on emerging technologies.

Experience
- Strong experience in machine learning or data science applied to large datasets
- Proven ability to develop clear, effective, and reproducible code following data science best practices
- Experience with data visualisation and presenting complex information
- Collaborative experience within multidisciplinary data science teams delivering timely results
- Effective communication of complex data science concepts to a wide range of stakeholders
- Interest in applying advanced analytical methods to support the safety of medicines, vaccines, and medical devices

About you
- Ability to work effectively in a fast-evolving environment with complex data
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Commitment to quality and reproducibility in data science solutions
- Willingness to engage with diverse stakeholders and contribute to cross-functional teams
- Proactive in identifying and proposing innovative research ideas

Qualifications
- A PhD in Data Science, Statistics, Machine Learning, Computer Science, or a similar quantitative discipline, or demonstrable equivalent professional experience
- Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, R, or Julia
- Understanding of data science best practices
- Experience with scalable data analysis, including high performance computing
- Technical expertise in at least one of the following: mathematical modelling and simulations, machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, Bayesian inference
- Membership or eligibility for membership of the Government Operational Research profession or equivalent quantitative analysis experience