Research Scientist II

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Secondments are Welcome

About Western

Withan international reputation for success, Western ranks as one of Canada's top research-intensive universities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western also provides an exceptional employment experience, offering competitive salaries, a wide range of employment opportunities and one of Canada's most beautiful campuses.

About Us

The mission of the Department of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences is to advance the statistical and actuarial sciences through high-quality research, contribute to research conducted University-wide by collaborating with other researchers in developing methods of modelling and analysis appropriate to the applications, offer leading undergraduate and graduate programs in statistical and actuarial science, offer high-quality introductory statistical and actuarial science courses appropriate for students in a wide range of disciplines, and explore innovative methods for teaching statistical and actuarial science.

The mission of the Banking Analytics Lab is to transform the future of banking through rigorous, applied data science and artificial intelligence.

Responsibilities

The Research Scientist will provide guidance and consultation related to various research functions in the areas of banking analytics, deep learning in banking, and applied data-driven research in this field. The role will facilitate research by participating in all stages of research design and implementation, and by providing expert guidance on analytical tools, computational methods, and appropriate technical infrastructure, as well as best practices for project development, implementation, and evaluation. The Research Scientist will oversee the scientific and operational aspects of research activities within the Banking Analytics Lab, supporting the strategic execution of the Lab’s research portfolio. This includes coordinating and managing research deliverables for industry partners, ensuring alignment with project objectives, timelines, and quality standards, and supporting the scaling of the Lab’s research operations. The role will foster internal and external research collaborations and provide guidance and mentorship to staff, undergraduate and graduate students to address complex research problems and technical challenges as they arise.

The Research Scientist will support faculty members and graduate students of the lab by contributing to high-level research activities, advising on methodological approaches, and supporting the preparation, review, and dissemination of research outputs. The Research Scientist will set research goals and objectives for their area of responsibility, carry out and oversee original and independent research, and contribute to the development of new research initiatives. The role will support grant development and funding applications, including contributing technical and methodological expertise, and will assist in advancing the publication process through collaboration with faculty and trainees. The Research Scientist will select, develop, and apply appropriate methods for data collection and analysis, contribute to the preparation of manuscripts, reports, and presentations, and support the publication and presentation of research findings. The role will also contribute to the development of new and innovative research approaches to advance the Lab’s research agenda and achieve desired research outcomes.

Qualifications

Education:

• PhD in Computer Science, Statistics, Operations Research and Analytics or other relevant disciplines

Experience:

• 5 years of progressively responsible research experience in banking analytics, data science, deep learning, and AI, gained in an academic or applied research environment (PhD experience considered)
• Substantial work completed on postdoctoral research portfolio in a directly related field; a strong publication record, including first author publications in top venues is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated expertise of scientific/research principles in their area of specialty
• Familiarity with project management methodologies with an ability to manage projects from conception to completion within tightly prescribed timelines
• In-depth knowledge of the regulations and guidelines governing research in an academic environment
• In-depth knowledge of best practices for reviewing and writing grant proposals
• In-depth knowledge of techniques for updating, managing and extracting data from a research database
• In-depth knowledge of methods for research design, implementation, and analysis including selecting and applying advanced statistical, machine learning, or computatio