National AI Awards 2025Discover AI's trailblazers! Join us to celebrate innovation and nominate industry leaders.

Nominate & Attend

Data Scientist

UKCEH
Wallingford
4 weeks ago
Applications closed

Related Jobs

View all jobs

Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Data Scientist

Data Science Placement Programme

Data Science Placement Programme

Salary - £37,405 to £39,694
Hybrid working (50/50)
Permanent, Full-time
Wallingford (Oxfordshire) based
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we find the right candidate, so we encourage you to apply early. 

Are you a versatile and enthusiastic data scientist with a passion for biodiversity and the environment? Do you thrive at the intersection of applied ecological research and data science? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our dynamic team and help shape the future of biodiversity monitoring and data-driven conservation as a Data Scientist.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to high-impact environmental science by supporting a range of research programmes using data science methods to support conservation. You will play a key role in building and maintaining analytical pipelines that underpin long-term biodiversity monitoring, working with leading scientists across UKCEH. Your work will ensure that complex ecological data — from digital sensors to ad hoc citizen science observations — are transformed into actionable insight for conservation practitioners, land managers, researchers and policy makers.

You'll contribute to diverse projects, from routine monitoring to innovative research, including national biodiversity schemes and new technologies like in-situ cameras and acoustic sensors. Using advanced data science methods—such as machine learning and occupancy models—you'll analyse complex ecological data and support the development of biodiversity indicators. Most work is collaborative, involving NGOs, government bodies, and academic partners, offering broad networking opportunities across the UK and internationally. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential.

We offer a supportive environment for career development, with extensive training and mentoring available to help you grow your career as a data scientist.

Your main responsibilities will include:

Develop, maintain and improve analytical pipelines for long-term biodiversity monitoring datasets 

Contribute to the analysis and interpretation of complex ecological data using statistical and machine learning methods

Support the curation and documentation of reproducible code and workflows using R or Python 

Apply cutting-edge AI techniques to analyse data from novel biodiversity sensors such as cameras and acoustic devices 

Work across multiple projects, balancing priorities and maintaining high-quality outputs to deadlines

Collaborate with internal and external partners to support co-design of solutions
Participate in national and international research networks, contributing to open science and shared methods 

We’re looking for someone who has: 

Strong programming skills in R or Python, with experience in writing clean, reproducible code (e.g. functions, packages, RMarkdown, etc.) 

Experience working with large datasets and/or complex ecological models 

Ability to build analysis workflows and pipelines from defined steps and support their documentation and curation 

Good communication skills, with the ability to explain analyses, and develop ideas with teammates and project partners 

Well organised with good time management skills, with the ability to work across multiple concurrent projects 

A collaborative mindset and enthusiasm for working in interdisciplinary teams

Desirable but non-essential experience includes: 

Working with APIs and integrating external data sources 

Familiarity with other programming languages (e.g. JavaScript, HTML) 

Experience using high-performance computing (HPC) environments 

Knowledge of occupancy modelling methods 

Experience manipulating and visualising very large datasets 

Familiarity with machine learning and AI methods for environmental data

Experience in citizen science, either as a researcher or participant 

Qualifications and experience: 

A postgraduate scientific qualification or equivalent experience in a quantitative discipline, e.g. ecology, biological sciences, engineering, physics, computer science, etc 

Demonstrated experience handling, analysing and communicating environmental or ecological data 

A track record of working collaboratively on scientific or applied research projects

You’ll be joining a leading independent, not-for-profit research institute that’s committed to recruiting talented people like you, progressing your career and giving you the support you need to thrive at UKCEH. 

Our science makes a real difference, enabling people and the environment to prosper, and enriching society. We are the custodians of a wealth of environmental data, collected by UKCEH and its predecessors over the course of more than 60 years. 

Working for UKCEH is rewarding

We appreciate the continuous dedication and contributions of our staff, which is why we provide a comprehensive benefits package that includes financial incentives and wellbeing-oriented perks, such as: 

Peer reward and recognition scheme

Dental insurance, gym/fitness discounts, retail discount portal 

Apply today!

If this opportunity resonates with you and aligns with your personal career goals, the team would love to receive your application. Please apply by submitting your CV along with a covering letter that highlights any qualifications, skills or experience you believe are relevant to this role.

At UKCEH, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone—regardless of background, identity, ability, or circumstance—has the opportunity to thrive. As a Disability Confident employer, we actively encourage applications from neurodivergent candidates and those with disabilities. We are happy to provide any adjustments or support you may need throughout the application process—please don’t hesitate to reach out. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we’d love to hear from you anyway. You may be just the right fit for this role or another within our wider team. 

We welcome applications from international candidates; however, at present, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. 

National AI Awards 2025

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.

AI Jobs UK 2025: 50 Companies Hiring Now

Bookmark this guide – we refresh it every quarter so you always know who’s really scaling their artificial‑intelligence teams. Artificial intelligence hiring has roared back in 2025. The UK’s boosted National AI Strategy funding, record‑breaking private investment (£18.1 billion so far) & a fresh wave of generative‑AI product launches mean employers are jockeying for data scientists, ML engineers, MLOps specialists, AI product managers, prompt engineers & applied researchers. Below are 50 organisations that have advertised UK‑based AI vacancies in the past eight weeks or formally announced growth plans. They’re grouped into five easy‑scan categories so you can jump straight to the kind of employer – & culture – that suits you. For each company you’ll find: Main UK hub Example live or recent vacancy Why it’s worth a look (tech stack, culture, mission) Use the internal links to browse current vacancies on ArtificialIntelligenceJobs.co.uk – or set up a free job alert so fresh roles land in your inbox.

Return-to-Work Pathways: Relaunch Your AI Career with Returnships, Flexible & Hybrid Roles

Stepping back into the workplace after a career break can feel like embarking on a whole new journey—especially in a cutting-edge field such as artificial intelligence (AI). For parents and carers, the challenge isn’t just refreshing your technical know-how but also securing a role that respects your family commitments. Fortunately, the UK’s tech sector now boasts a wealth of return-to-work programmes—from formal returnships to flexible and hybrid opportunities. These pathways are designed to bridge the gap, equipping you with refreshed skills, confidence and a supportive network. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover how to: Understand the booming demand for AI talent in the UK Leverage transferable skills honed during your break Overcome common re-entry challenges Build your AI skillset with targeted training Tap into returnship and re-entry programmes Find flexible, hybrid and full-time AI roles that suit your lifestyle Balance professional growth with caring responsibilities Master applications, interviews and networking Whether you’re returning after maternity leave, eldercare duties or another life chapter, this article will equip you with practical steps, resources and insider tips.

LinkedIn Profile Checklist for AI Jobs: 10 Tweaks That Triple Recruiter Views

In today’s fiercely competitive AI job market, simply having a LinkedIn profile isn’t enough. Recruiters and hiring managers routinely scout for top talent in machine learning, data science, natural language processing, computer vision and beyond—sometimes before roles are even posted. With hundreds of applicants vying for each role, you need a profile that’s optimised for search, speaks directly to AI-specific skills, and showcases measurable impact. By following this step-by-step LinkedIn for AI jobs checklist, you’ll make ten strategic tweaks that can triple recruiter views and position you as a leading AI professional. Whether you’re a fresh graduate aiming for your first AI position or a seasoned expert targeting a senior role, these actionable changes will ensure your profile stands out in feeds, search results and recruiter queues. Let’s dive in.