About us

We are working to create a world-class Data Science Institute at Lancaster (DSI@Lancaster) that sets the global standard for a truly interdisciplinary approach to contemporary data-driven research challenges. DSI@Lancaster aims to have an internationally recognised and distinctive strength in being able to provide an end-to-end interdisciplinary research capability - from infrastructure and fundamentals through to globally relevant problem domains and the social, legal and ethical issues raised by the use of Data Science.

The Institute is initially focusing on the fundamentals of Data Science including security and privacy together with cross-cutting theme areas consisting of environment, resilience and sustainability;health and ageing, data and society and creating a world-leading institute with over 300 affiliated academics, researchers, and students.

Our data science, health data science and business analytics programmes have launched the careers of hundreds of data professionals over the last 10 years. Students from our programmes have progressed to data science roles at Amazon, PWC, Ernst & Young, Hawaiian Airlines, eBay, Zurich Insurance, the Co-operative Group, N Brown, the NHS and many others - please look at our Education pages for further details of the courses on offer.

Join Our New Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Group at the Data Science Institute! 

Are you passionate about promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in data science and AI? Do you want to help create a more inclusive and equitable environment at the Data Science Institute (DSI)? We’re launching a new ED&I group to address these vital issues—and we’d love for you to be a part of it.

Research by the Alan Turing Institute has highlighted the under-representation of women in data science and AI as a significant barrier to innovation and a contributor to biased outcomes. Their research indicates that women make up only 22% of AI and data science professionals in the UK, compared to 26% globally. This gender disparity can hinder innovation and lead to biased outcomes in these rapidly growing fields. As data science and AI continue to shape our world, it is essential to build an inclusive community where all voices contribute to the ethical, responsible, and impactful development of these technologies.

Our new ED&I group aims to address these challenges by:

• Raising awareness of gender and diversity issues within data science and AI
• Developing new funding opportunities to support ED&I within DSI.
• Organising events, discussions, and initiatives inspired by the Turing Institute’s work to promote equitable representation

If you are interested in getting involved then please email dsi@lancaster.ac.uk to express your interest in joining this group.

Opening for New Foundations Theme Lead 

We are seeking applicants to lead the Foundations of Data Science and AI theme. This theme sits at the interface of methods and applications with a goal to develop new methodology that is inspired by real-world data challenges. We are looking to appoint someone with a track record of developing innovative techniques that address key challenges in data science and AI. Candidates should be comfortable working at the intersection of theory and practice, able to derive rigorous, principled solutions, and translate them into impactful applications. To grow and strengthen the Foundations Theme, we are keen to appoint an academic with experience in one of DSI’s core foundational research areas: Operational Research (e.g. vehicle routing and scheduling, applied optimisation, forecasting, sequential control of stochastic systems), Statistics (e.g. streaming and time series data, sequential decision making, modelling of real-world systems, machine learning), Computer Science (e.g. deep, learning, natural language processing, data mining, data visualisation, multi-agent systems). Given the breadth of the foundations theme, we may consider appointing two candidates to cover this theme.

We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated leadership in their field, with experience in managing or guiding research teams and projects. The role will require the ability to foster collaborations across disciplines and industries, engage with external stakeholders, and contribute to shaping the future direction of data science and AI at Lancaster. Strong communication skills are essential, as theme leaders will play a pivotal role in promoting the theme both within and beyond the institution, attracting new talent, and driving forward ambitious research agendas.

Working with the support of the Directors, theme leads play a significant role in shaping the mission of the institute. Major duties of these roles are to provide research leadership and mentoring in the areas for which they are responsible, to participate in the overall management of DSI and to organise events and activities to catalyse new research. Theme leads form a key part of DSI’s management team and have a significant role in defining both strategic and operational activities. Start dates are flexible but no later than January 2025. Theme leaders would normally be appointed for a period of three years, and may be renewed. The post is open to suitably qualified academic staff who have a track record of, and commitment to, data science research in the identified areas. Prospective candidates are invited to discuss their applications informally with the DSI’s Directors Nigel Davies: n.a.davies@lancaster.ac.uk and Chris Nemeth: c.nemeth@lancaster.ac.uk

Candidates should submit a one-page statement of their interest in the role outlining their relevant experience and their vision of the topics that could form the focus of the theme area, together with an accompanying CV. We would expect theme leadership to be a significant commitment (e.g. 1 day a week) and before submitting an application, candidates should discuss it with their Head of Department and obtain consent in principle. Expressions of interest should be received no later than Friday 6th December and sent to dsi@lancaster.ac.uk with the Subject Title: Foundations of Data Science and AI Theme Leader Application.