Assistant Professor in Applied Statistics or Actuarial Data Science

Directorate:School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences

Salary:Grade

Contract Type:Full Time 1FTE) Open Ended

Rewards and Benefits:33 days annual leave plus 9 buildings closed days for all fulltime staff (Part time workers should pro rata this by their FTE). Use our total rewards calculator: to see the value of benefits provided by HeriotWatt University.

Detailed Description

The Department of Actuarial Mathematics and Statistics at HeriotWatt University Edinburgh is seeking to enhance and expand its strengths in research and teaching in statistics by appointing two Assistant Professors in Applied Statistics or Actuarial Data Science. These are both openended positions.

Applicants are invited from any area of applied statistics including statistical or actuarial data science. Those working in actuarial science Bayesian statistics statistical learning and/or actuarial statistics are particularly welcome to apply. Candidates who would like to work with the Universitys multidisciplinary 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 applied statistics actuarial or statistical data science which includes fields such as Bayesian statistics statistical learning actuarial statistics computational statistics and 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 worldclass 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 Department is internationally renowned in actuarial science statistics and statistical data science applied probability and financial risk through its worldleading research activities. 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 governments 5yearly 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 staff work in various fields such Bayesian statistics applied statistics statistical learning actuarial statistics 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 Universitys Global Research Institutes (GRIs) particularly the two GRIs concerning climate change and sustainability and healthcare. The GRIs are a means to address the multidisciplinary 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 School is a partner in the Maxwell Institute for Mathematical Sciences an institute that brings together the mathematical research activities at HeriotWatt University and the University of Edinburgh. The Maxwell Institute is an internationally preeminent 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.

With an exciting programme of research events the Maxwell Institute is the heart of mathematical sciences research in Edinburgh. It also coordinates the Maxwell Institute Graduate School (MIGS) to which all our mathematical sciences PhD students belong. The Maxwell Institute was awarded funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council for a centre for doctoral training in Mathematical Modelling Analysis and Computation (MACMIGS) and more recently for a new centre for doctoral training inAlgebra Geometry and quantum fields (AGQ) in collaboration with the University of of the doctoral students work on topics in statistics

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 postholder will be required to:

• Lead carry out and publish internationally excellent research in applied statistics actuarial data science or statistical data science or a related field;
• Apply for research funding through either the submission of highquality 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 Schools reputation for excellence.

ThesuccessfulcandidatewillbebasedatourEdinburghcampus in the encourage applications from underrepresented groups. We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements and normally accommodate them.

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 applied statistics or 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 worldclass academic group and have the experience or potential to supervise PhD students and postdoctoral 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.

Essential Criteria

• PhD instatistics or statistical data science or actuarial science or a related field.
• Trackrecord of internationallyleading research in the areas of applied statistics or actuarial data sciencewith internationally excellent publications.
• Demonstrable teaching experience related to courses in the Department as well as skills to supervise undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Potential ambition and plans to obtain research funding.
• Ability to supervise successfully PhD students.

Desirable Criteria

• Track record of obtaining research funding.
• Track record of successful supervision of PhD students and/or postdoctoral researchers.
• Experienceof statistical or actuarial work with industrial partners.
• 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 HeriotWatt University online recruitment system: 1 a cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; 2 a full CV; 3 An outline of their research plans for the next few years; 4 A onepage summary of their teaching philosophy or approach to teaching; and 5 a list of publications.

Applications can be submitted until midnight (UK Time) on Sunday 4th May 2025.

Interviews expected to commence end of May 2025.

If you have any queries then please do not hesitate to contact either Professor Catherine Donnelly Head of Department or Professor George Streftaris Deputy Head of Department .

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 wellbeing and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

HeriotWattUniversity 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 and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

HeriotWattUniversity values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information please see our websitehttps:// also our awardwinning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careershttps:// welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. parttime working and job share options.

Use our total rewards calculator: see the value of benefits provided by HeriotWatt University.