Shape the Future of AIJoin one of the UK's fastest-growing companies and become a Professional Development Expert in Artificial Intelligence.

View Roles

Lead Data Scientist - Drug Discovery

Hays
Bristol
1 week ago
Create job alert

Your new company This cutting-edge data science firm is driving transformation in life sciences through methodological excellence and innovation. Its research division is a hub for scientific exploration, where novel statistical techniques are developed to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in genomics and drug discovery. The organisation values intellectual curiosity, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and the pursuit of rigorous, reproducible science.They are looking for a Lead Data Scientist with a strong statistical methodology background to join their expanding team.


Your new role
As Lead Data Scientist, you will be a driving force behind the creation of new statistical methodologies. You will:

  • Lead the development of original statistical models tailored to complex genomic data
  • Guide the integration of novel methods into pipelines
  • Ensure methodological transparency and reproducibility across all research outputs
  • Communicate the rationale and impact of new techniques to stakeholders and collaborators both internally and at clients
  • Align scientific innovation with engineering and product development goals
  • Work on projects to support drug discovery & development projects for a variety of clients within the pharmaceutical and biotech space
  • Represent the organisation in academic and industry forums, showcasing methodological breakthroughs


This is a permanent role that can be fully home based from anywhere in the UK.


What you'll need to succeed

  • A PhD (or equivalent experience) in statistics, maths, physics, data science, computing, statistical genetics or a related field with a strong methodological focus
  • A track record of developing statistical models for genomic / biological research, preferably within a target identification or target validation setting
  • Proven track record of innovation in statistical methodology, evidenced by publications, tools or project delivery
  • Advanced coding skills in a language such as R or python and experience with statistical computing environments
  • Deep expertise in methods such as GWAS, causal inference, polygenic risk scores, pathway analysis, Mendelian randomisation, etc
  • Experience deploying methods in cloud-based infrastructures (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • The ability to communicate complex statistical ideas clearly



What you'll get in return
You'll be joining a highly experienced team doing cutting-edge work to support drug discovery & development efforts at a wide range of pharmaceutical and biotech companies. As well as lots of opportunities to develop your skills and career, this role offers a good package and the chance to make a significant impact.

What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion on your career.

Keywords: Statistical, Genetics, Bioinformatics, Genomics, Data, Scientist, Lead, Senior, GWAS, Polygenic, Risk, Score, Mendelian, Randomisation, Causal, Inference, Computational, Biology, Genetic, Epidemiology, Variant, Annotation, Pathway, Enrichment, Protein, Interaction, Networks, Biobank, Research, Modelling, Development, Method

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Lead Data Scientist - Remote

Lead Data Scientist

Lead Data Scientist

Lead Data Scientist

Lead Data Scientist

Lead Data Scientist

Subscribe to Future Tech Insights for the latest jobs & insights, direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

Industry Insights

Discover insightful articles, industry insights, expert tips, and curated resources.

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Launch Your Career in Machine Learning: The UK's Intelligence Revolution

The United Kingdom stands at the epicentre of a machine learning revolution that's fundamentally transforming how we solve problems, deliver services, and unlock insights from data at unprecedented scale. From the AI-powered diagnostic systems revolutionising healthcare in Manchester to the algorithmic trading platforms driving London's financial markets, Britain's embrace of intelligent systems has created an extraordinary demand for skilled machine learning professionals that dramatically exceeds the current talent supply. If you've been seeking a career at the forefront of technological innovation or looking to position yourself in one of the most impactful sectors of the digital economy, machine learning represents an exceptional opportunity. The convergence of abundant data availability, computational power accessibility, advanced algorithmic development, and enterprise AI adoption has created perfect conditions for machine learning career success.

Automate Your Machine Learning Jobs Search: Using ChatGPT, RSS & Alerts to Save Hours Each Week

ML jobs are everywhere—product companies, labs, consultancies, fintech, healthtech, robotics—often hidden in ATS portals or duplicated across boards. The fastest way to stay on top of them isn’t more scrolling; it’s automation. With keyword-rich alerts, RSS feeds, and a reusable ChatGPT workflow, you can bring relevant roles to you, triage them in minutes, and tailor strong applications without burning your evenings. This is a copy-paste playbook for www.machinelearningjobs.co.uk readers. It’s UK-centric, practical, and designed to save you hours each week. What You’ll Have Working In 30 Minutes A role & keyword map spanning LLM/NLP, Vision, Core ML, Recommenders, MLOps/Platform, Research/Applied Science, and Edge/Inference optimisation. Shareable Boolean searches you can paste into Google & job boards to cut noise. Always-on alerts & RSS feeds delivering fresh roles to your inbox/reader. A ChatGPT “ML Job Scout” prompt that deduplicates, scores fit, and outputs tailored actions. A lightweight pipeline tracker so deadlines and follow-ups never slip.

10 Machine‑Learning Recruitment Agencies in the UK You Should Know (2025 Job‑Seeker Guide)

With deep‑learning projects now integral across healthcare, finance and tech, UK demand for machine‑learning talent is booming. Lightcast shows +50 % YoY growth in UK adverts referencing “machine learning,” “deep learning,” “computer vision” or “reinforcement learning” in Q1 2025. Monthly vacancies sit around 1,800–2,100, but certified ML specialists number fewer than 15,000. Specialist recruiters help candidates access hidden roles, competitive packages, and structured interview prep. How we screened: Only UK‑registered agencies with clear ML/AI or Data practices Agencies that posted ≥ 5 UK ML roles between March and June 2025