University of Leeds
LIDA Director of Research and Innovation

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This job is only available to University of Leeds staff. It may be released externally should we not appoint internally.
Leeds Institute for Data Analytics
20% Full-time equivalent, fixed term for 2 years in the first instance
This role is only open to internal applicants employed at the University of Leeds holding at grade 9 or 10.
Do you have a vision for the future direction of interdisciplinary data science and artificial intelligence research at the University of Leeds? Do you have senior leadership experience to develop and implement this vision?
We are particularly encouraging female and Global Majority candidates to apply for this post as part of LIDA’s strategic commitment to addressing underrepresentation of these groups in senior leadership roles in LIDA and in STEM leadership more broadly.
Background to LIDA
LIDA’s vision is to generate societal impact and improve global wellbeing and prosperity through internationally outstanding research, education and training, in interdisciplinary data science and artificial intelligence (AI). To achieve this, LIDA aims to build upon existing strengths across the University so that:
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
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No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
- UoL’s Data Science and AI ecosystem is more than the sum of its parts
- UoL offers a coherent and distinct proposition in data science and AI to compete nationally and internationally.
- UoL provides a home for capacity building and the development of future leaders in the field.
LIDA’s strategic research priorities, as detailed in our latest 5-year strategy https://lida.leeds.ac.uk/our-strategy-2024-29/, are to:
- Produce world-class cross disciplinary research
- Diversify & increase data science & AI research income
- Deliver impactful research & innovation
- Develop, support & retain an inclusive research community.
To date, in the current Research Excellence Framework (REF2029) period, LIDA’s research portfolio comprises 131 projects supported by £127 million of external awards from 43 funders. Our projects involve 340 PIs/COIs from 69 schools/institutes across all seven Faculties at the University of Leeds. Two thirds of the projects are interdisciplinary.


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Our current live portfolio of data analytics research and innovation project portfolio is worth over £90 million, driven by LIDA’s research Communities focused on Health; Food; Artificial Intelligence; Data Visualisation; Immersive Technologies; and Data Science Infrastructures. You can find more about them here: https://lida.leeds.ac.uk/communities-programmes/
Contact information
To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact:
Professor Chris P Gale
Email: c.p.gale@leeds.ac.uk
Professor Susan Grant Muller
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
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