Senior Bioinformatics Scientist in Princes Risborough

We are looking for a scientifically curious, data-driven, and inventive Senior Bioinformatics Scientist to join our Data Science and Analytics department, advancing the discovery and development of therapies through the analysis and interpretation of complex biological data. The role is based in Slough, UK.

As Senior Bioinformatics Scientist, you will make a substantial contribution to therapeutic programs across research and clinical development. By integrating, analysing, and interpreting large-scale molecular and patient-level datasets, you will generate insights that support target identification, biomarker discovery, indication selection, patient stratification, and translational research efforts.

You will combine strong biological expertise with advanced computational approaches to help uncover disease mechanisms and inform decision-making across UCB's portfolio. Working at the intersection of data science, biology and drug discovery, you will contribute to the development of precision medicine and innovative therapeutic approaches.

You will collaborate with scientists across biology, translational medicine, pharmacology, and data sciences, translating complex biomedical datasets into mechanistic insights that support therapeutic project progression. You will work alongside and with guidance from senior colleagues within the bioinformatics group.

Responsibilities include:

• Contributing to target hypotheses, indication prioritization, asset differentiation, and patient stratification using multi-omics data.
• Working confidently across data types, from bulk and single-cell transcriptomics to genetics and proteomics, drawing biological meaning from each.
• Applying and developing analytical methods for functional interpretation of biological data, including pathway and systems level analyses.
• Working with combinations of diverse data types, including gene expression, genetic, VDJ repertoire, spatial, and proteomic datasets, to generate biological insights.
• Applying statistical, machine learning, and systems biology approaches to answer key scientific questions.
• Communicating complex findings clearly to scientific and non-scientific audiences.
• Supporting the continuous evolution of bioinformatics approaches and workflows, data integration strategies, and analytical best practices.

For this role we're looking for:

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Computational Genetics, Life Sciences or MSc with significant industry experience.
• Industry or academic experience in a bioinformatics role, ideally within a pharmaceutical or biotechnology setting.
• Solid expertise in the analysis and biological interpretation of omics data, ideally including bulk, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. Experience with other omics modalities and familiarity with immunology are a significant plus.
• Strong programming skills in Python and R, with hands-on experience developing reproducible bioinformatics pipelines using Nextflow/Snakemake, containerisation with Docker, version control via Git/Azure DevOps, and deployment on cloud-based (e.g. AWS/DNAnexus) and HPC environments.
• Scientific rigor and excellent communication and collaboration skills.

UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are over 9,000 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science. At UCB, we don’t just complete tasks, we create value. We aren’t afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We ‘go beyond’ to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that’s on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential. At UCB, we’ve embraced a hybrid-first approach to work, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity. Unless expressly stated in the description or precluded by the nature of the position, roles are hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws. Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on EMEA-Reasonable_Accommodation@ucb.com.