Role: Assistant Professor in Actuarial Data Science
Directorate: School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Open Ended
Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff (Part time workers should pro rata this by their FTE). Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
Overview
The Department of Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, is seeking to enhance and expand its strengths in research and teaching in actuarial science and statistics by appointing an Assistant Professor in Actuarial Data Science, or a related actuarial statistics area. This is an open-ended position.
Applicants are invited from all areas of actuarial data science. Those working in statistical learning, actuarial statistics or relevant areas are particularly welcome to apply. Candidates who would like to work with the University’s multi-disciplinary Global Research Institutes in the areas of either climate change and sustainability, or healthcare are also welcomed.
As a successful candidate, you will lead, carry out and publish internationally excellent research in your field. You will have a strong track record of research in actuarial data science which includes fields such as statistical learning, actuarial statistics, computational statistics and related statistical methodology.
You will either be established or have the potential to establish yourself as an international research leader, with strong postdoctoral research experience and the ambition to build a world-class academic group.
You will have the relevant experience to engage and innovate in our specialised actuarial, statistical, data science and financial teaching programmes.
The School strongly encourages and supports the generation of industry impact from research, and we welcome candidates with experience of statistical work with industrial partners or working with the actuarial/insurance/financial industry.
About our Team
The Department of Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics has a warm, supportive environment with staff from all over the world. The Department is internationally renowned in actuarial science, statistics and statistical data science, applied probability and financial risk, through its world-leading research activities. It offers several high-quality degree programmes in actuarial science and actuarial management, all of which are accredited by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries. As part of the Maxwell Institute, we are ranked 3rd in the UK for the excellence and breadth of our research, in the 2021 UK government’s 5-yearly assessment of university research.
The Department is looking to further strengthen its actuarial science and statistics group, to support its ambitions to enhance and expand its expertise in these areas. Our staff work in various fields, such actuarial statistics, Bayesian statistics, statistical learning, and epidemiology. We have close ties and collaborations with researchers at the School of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, through the Maxwell Institute, under the “Data and decisions” research theme.
In line with this, the Department is seeking to further its research contributions to the University’s Global Research Institutes (GRIs), particularly the two GRIs concerning climate change and sustainability, and healthcare. The GRIs are a means to address the multi-disciplinary research challenges in these fields, to connect and focus the research efforts of academics across the University.
In the University structure, the Department sits within the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, along with the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Computer Science. The School is a partner in the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences, an institute that brings together the mathematical research activities at Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh. The Maxwell Institute is an internationally pre-eminent, collaborative centre for research and for postgraduate training in the mathematical sciences. It offers an environment that can attract and foster the very best mathematical talent from around the world.
The International Centre for Mathematical Sciences (ICMS), located in the centre of Edinburgh, is another physical and networking resource for our staff. ICMS attracts top international mathematical visitors all year round through its extensive programme of international workshops, meetings, and other research and outreach activities. Many of our staff spend a couple of days a week there, to meet with collaborators at the University of Edinburgh.
The School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences has an Athena SWAN Silver Award and is committed to its equality charter, which includes having a diverse and inclusive workforce, and to offering equality of opportunity to all.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
The post-holder will be required to:
- Lead, carry out and publish internationally excellent research in actuarial data science, actuarial statistics or a related field;
- Apply for research funding through either the submission of high-quality grant proposals or funding from industry, with the goal of building a research group;
- Undertake knowledge exchange activities to promote and disseminate your research;
- Carry out such administrative and recruitment activities as may be required to achieve these aims;
- Develop and deliver innovative teaching in statistics, actuarial science and related fields at undergraduate and postgraduate level;
- Be responsible to the Head of Department for performing the activities listed above in a way that will maintain and enhance the School’s reputation for excellence.
The successful candidate will be based at our Edinburgh campus in the UK.
Education, Qualifications and Experience
As a successful candidate, you will lead, carry out and publish internationally excellent research in your field. You will have a strong track record of research in actuarial data science - which may also include machine learning, financial risk and climate change risk - as demonstrated through publications, citations, external invitations and research funding. You will be established as an international research leader, with the ambition to build a world-class academic group and have the experience or potential to supervise PhD students and post-doctoral researchers.
You will have the relevant experience to engage in and innovate our specialised actuarial, statistical, data science and financial degree programmes. You will have the drive and commitment to contribute to the expansion of our successful postgraduate programmes.
E1. PhD in actuarial science, statistics, or a related field.
E2. Track-record of high-quality research in the areas of actuarial data science with internationally excellent publications.
E3. Demonstrable teaching experience related to courses in the Department, as well as skills to supervise undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.
E4. Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
E5. Potential, ambition and plans to obtain research funding.
E6. Ability to supervise successfully PhD students.
D1. Track record of obtaining research funding.
D2. Track record of successful supervision of PhD students and/or post-doctoral researchers.
D3. Potential to provide leadership in the development and implementation of research strategy and in the planning, organisation and development of learning and teaching activities in the Department.
How to Apply
Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt University on-line recruitment system: (1) a cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) a full CV, including a list of publications ; (3) an outline of their research plans for the next few years; and (4) a one-page summary of their teaching philosophy or approach to teaching.
Applications can be submitted until midnight on Monday 9th February 2026.
If you have any questions, or would like to explore whether this opportunity is right for you, you are welcome to contact the Head of Department, Professor George Streftaris
