Role: Assistant Professor in Statistical Data Science
Directorate: School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences
Salary: Grade 8 (£47,389 - £58,225)
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.
Detailed Description
The Department of Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, is seeking to enhance and expand its strengths in research and teaching by appointing an Assistant Professor in Statistical Data Science, or related area. This is an open-ended position.
The successful candidate will lead, carry out and publish internationally excellent research, contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, and play a key role in our joint BSc Data Science programme with Xidian University in Xi’an, China. Teaching in China is delivered in short blocks, offering a distinctive opportunity to gain international teaching experience and contribute to one of our most dynamic global programmes.
Applicants are invited from any area of statistical data science. Those working in statistical learning, actuarial statistics, financial mathematics 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 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 statistics, actuarial and financial mathematics group, to support its ambitions to enhance and expand its expertise in these areas. 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
- Lead, carry out and publish internationally excellent research in statistical data science, 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, financial mathematics or related fields at undergraduate and postgraduate level;
- Teach on the Data Science joint programme with Xidian University;
- 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.
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 statistical, data science, actuarial and financial degree programmes. You will have the drive and commitment to contribute to the expansion of our teaching programmes.
Essential Criteria
E1. PhD in statistics, or related field.
E2. Track‑record of high‑quality research in areas of statistical 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 in Statistical Data Science.
E4. Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
Desirable Criteria
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 untilmidnight on Monday 2nd February 2026.
We expect to complete shortlisting in the week commencing 9 February, with interviews in late February or early March.
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 .
At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well‑being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
Heriot‑Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot‑Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award‑winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.
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.
