Research Data Scientist - Dashboards & Applications in Cambridge

Description

RAND Europe is an independent, not-for-profit research organisation whose mission is to help improve policy and decision-making through rigorous and independent research and analysis.

We benefit the public interest through the impact and wide dissemination of over 200 projects per year.

Our work at its most impactful changes policy, practice and process to the benefit of the public good.

That is also our organisational mission.

RAND Europe has approximately 200 staff across offices in Cambridge, Brussels, and the Hague.

Our staff represents 22 nationalities, speaks over 20 languages and covers 31 academic disciplines.

Our multi- and inter-disciplinary approaches to research generate unique perspectives and insights for our wide-ranging government, foundation and other NGO clients.

The Data Science Lab is RAND Europe’s centre of excellence for data science and quantitative methods.

Its remit spans applied AI, applied statistics and machine learning, applications and dashboards, modelling and econometrics, as well as training and best practices.

We are looking for an individual with a passion for data visualisation, interactive dashboards and data‑driven applications to join the team.

As a Research Data Scientist, you will help make RAND Europe’s research insights more accessible and actionable through well‑designed dashboards, data storytelling and API‑based data products.

You will work across several technical themes, from gathering and engineering data through analysis and modelling, to designing and building interactive visualisations and tools for a range of audiences, including policymakers, practitioners and internal teams.

You will operate as part of a wider cross-disciplinary team, combining your skills to deliver against challenging technical problems.

This role has a particular focus on designing and implementing interactive dashboards and visual analytics, building data-driven web applications, developing API-based data products, and applying visual principles and data storytelling to communicate complex evidence clearly.

To be considered you will need to be a sole UK national and will need to successfully complete SC clearance before commencing the role and willing and eligible to apply for DV clearance upon joining.

Responsibilities

Delivery of quantitative research and data science

The Data Science Lab delivers and supports wider organisational use of quantitative research and data science.

The primary role of Research Data Scientists is to support data science and quantitative analysis in both research and organisational functions such as finance and HR.

You will operate as part of a team to primarily deliver data visualisation and dashboard development, while also covering other core functions of a data scientist.

In your role you’ll be expected to

• Collect, process and clean data for analysis and visualisation.
• Conduct data analysis using appropriate quantitative methods.
• Design and build interactive visualisations and dashboards to communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences, using tools such as Shiny, Streamlit or similar.
• Apply visual design principles (e. g. layout, colour, typography) to ensure clarity, accessibility and impact.
• Use a range of tools, including programming languages (R or Python) and business intelligence tools, to conduct your work.

You will have the opportunity to develop your skills on more advanced projects featuring the development of data products such as interactive dashboards and APIs, including bringing into production machine learning models, statistical models and LLM capabilities, depending on project requirements.

In addition to conducting data science activities, you will have a supporting role in ensuring data science, quantitative research and AI are integrated into research proposals, identifying opportunities to enhance RAND Europe’s research through better data visualisation, dashboarding and interactive tools.

Supporting the organisation and your colleagues

The Data Science Lab has the role of a centre of excellence for quantitative research, data science and applied AI. As a Research Data Scientist, you will:

• Support colleagues in applying quantitative techniques to their research and internal projects.
• Guide teams in using dashboards and visual analytics to explore data and communicate findings.
• Ensure RAND Europe’s research is underpinned by robust analysis, appropriately designed visuals and accessible tools.
• Contribute to larger data science projects as part of a multi-disciplinary team, including the development of shared dashboards, visualisation frameworks and APIs.
• Support innovation

As a Research Data Scientist, you will be responsible for using data science techniques—including interactive data visualisation and dashboarding, API development and data collection—to overcome a range of challenges faced by the organisation.

You’ll participate in a range of innovative development projects to

• Create solutions to complex research problems through interactive tools and visual analytics.
• Develop and maintain reusable dashboards and data products, using platforms such as Shiny, Streamlit, Power BI, Tableau or custom web applications.
• Build and document APIs and data services, using libraries such as Plumber or Fast API, to support internal and external consumption of research data.
• Create new data and AI products that support policy analysis and decision-making.
• Improve business processes and drive efficiency through better monitoring and reporting dashboards.
• Improve accessibility of research and policy design by applying good visual storytelling practices.
• Embed data science and visual analytics into wider policy research activities.
• Driving standards

The Data Science Lab sets best practices and standards across the organisation. As a Research Data Scientist, you will follow and help refine these practices, including:

• Compliance with organisational best practices and ways of working, including:
• Data handling processes.
• Writing reproducible, well-documented code.
• Working within version-controlled repositories,
• Producing outputs suitable for peer review or client delivery.
• Following design and accessibility principles for dashboards and visualisations.

Work with researchers across the organisation to help them identify areas where they can improve their own research using statistics, AI and wider data science techniques.

Requirements

Essential Skills

• Experience conducting quantitative research, from designing an approach to a problem through to delivering analysis.
• Enthusiasm to learn and solve complex problems.
• Proficiency in writing clean, reproducible code for data processing, analysis and visualisation in Python or R.
• Experience handling data, including cleaning, manipulation and linking.
• Ability to visually represent data, including experience designing interactive dashboards or visual analytics for different audiences.
• Experience building data-driven web applications or dashboards using tools such as Shiny, Streamlit, Tableau or Power BI.
• Understanding of basic visual design principles (e. g. chart selection, colour use, information hierarchy) and their application to data visualisation.
• Ability to communicate findings and approaches to research, both written and verbal, tailored to different audiences.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• An analytical mindset and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft tools such as Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word and Power Point.

Desirable (not essential) Skills

• Experience using Git or other version control systems.
• Proficiency in other languages and tools such as HTML, Java Script, CSS, Tableau, Power BI, SQL and others is advantageous.
• Experience developing RESTful APIs or data services using frameworks such as Plumber (R) or Fast API.
• Experience with data storytelling and UX considerations in dashboard design, including user journeys, interaction patterns and accessibility.
• Experience with LLMs, prompt engineering or AI evaluation frameworks.
• Familiarity with cloud environments (e. g. AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerisation tools such as Docker or Podman.
• Experience in Linux/Unix environments.
• Working understanding of the end-to-end ML development process.
• Published works in data science, statistics or other numerical disciplines.

Qualifications

• Degree level qualification in a quantitative field or equivalent practical experience.
• Salary

Starting from £33,000 per anum.

Benefits

• Pension - 8% Employer contribution;
• 33 days holiday allowance, including the Bank Holidays;
• Annual salary review;
• BUPA medical insurance;
• Generous company sick pay;
• Enhanced family friendly policies;
• Group income protection scheme;
• Group life assurance;
• Compassionate leave;
• Flexible working arrangements;
• Learning and development opportunities;
• Employee wellbeing training and support;
• Fresh fruit every day;
• Free on-site parking;
• Cycle to work scheme;
• Access to company bikes;
• Service awards.
• Application

If you believe you are suited to the above role, please submit an application comprising of a CV and covering letter. The closing date for applications is Sunday 4 October.

If you have not been contacted within 30 days of application deadline, please assume your application has not been successful.