Data Scientist Genomic Epidemiology - Pathogen

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford seeks a Data Scientist in Genomic Epidemiology to support the scientific development and implementation of the Pathogen Programme. Reporting to the Head of Population Data Science, the role collaborates with internal teams and external partners to assess, develop, and implement computational and statistical methods for analysing genomic, phenotypic and epidemiological data of various pathogens to inform public health applications, including AMR monitoring, outbreak detection and vaccine deployment.

The postholder will carry out research, develop and evaluate software for integration into the EIT Pathogen platform, present findings in peer‑reviewed publications and at international forums, contribute to large-scale data resources, and explore innovative uses of data to evaluate and improve public health policy and interventions. Ideal candidates will have expertise in high-throughput WGS applications within infectious disease epidemiology, a strong academic background, strong research software development skills, and experience collaborating with global partners to embed new data‑driven capabilities for public health.

Terms of Appointment: You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with willingness to travel as necessary. You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford. Some longer hours and cross-time-zone work may be required during peak periods due to the global nature of the programme.

• In partnership with the EIT Data and AI team, establish and optimise best practices for managing population-scale genomic and phenotypic data with appropriate metadata for downstream analysis.
• In partnership with the Product and Medical Teams, define use cases for data products and services that generate insights from population-level data on pathogen genotypic and phenotypic diversity for public health applications.
• Carry out research and development to establish best-in-class analytics for population-scale data science to characterise, analyse and evaluate the potential impact of interventions (e.g., AMR monitoring, outbreak detection, vaccine deployment, community intervention, and clinical trials).
• Deliver high-quality software to perform these applications, with integration into the EIT Pathogen Platform by the Technology Team.
• Present work at international meetings and publish in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Collaborate with external partners to enable knowledge transfer and establish best practices for genomic data analysis using EIT products and services.

• A strong track record of scientific and computational innovation in population-scale infectious disease genomic epidemiology with emphasis on public health applications.
• Up-to-date working knowledge of best practices in research software development and testing.
• Experience working with genomic data at a population scale, including tools and technologies to manage sophisticated analyses.
• Experience of statistical and/or machine learning methods to make epidemiological inferences from genomic data.
• Experience working with partner organisations, including academics, public health workers, and counterparts in partner organisations.

• Direct experience of working with Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology.

• Scientific and Technical Expertise
• Proven capability for delivering innovation within public health applications relating to genomic analysis of infectious disease
• Experience in developing computational tools and technologies to support high-volume genomic data analysis for a wide range of users
• Strategic Vision and Leadership
• Ability to identify opportunities for innovation aligning public health needs with commercial objectives and feasibility
• Comfortable working within multidisciplinary teams, bridging scientific, computational and product expertise
• Collaborative Partnership Builder
• Experience working with scientific and public health partners in endemic countries to establish and disseminate best practices
• Program Development and Execution
• Experience developing new ideas and proposals to develop and validate new tools and technologies; ability to deliver projects on time and within budget in a delivery-focused setting
• Thought Leadership and Communication
• Strong academic profile with peer‑reviewed publications and a developing network within the genomics community; ability to present complex ideas at international conferences

• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electrical Car Scheme

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!