Global Biotechnology Company (Cambridgeshire)

Sourcing a Data Scientist to Support Genomic Research at a Site-Based Cambridgeshire Facility

The Challenge

Our client was a global biotechnology company with a research facility in Cambridgeshire, specialising in genomic research and advanced biotechnology solutions. Their internal talent acquisition team was experienced and capable, but the volume of open roles across the business meant they could not give every search the focused attention it needed. This vacancy was one of them.

The role required a Data Scientist with strong technical capability across Python, R, and machine learning, combined with genuine familiarity with genomic datasets and the analytical frameworks used in life sciences research. That combination is specific. Candidates with data science fundamentals are not hard to find in Cambridge. Candidates who can also work meaningfully with complex biological data are considerably rarer.

The site-based requirement made it harder still. In Cambridgeshire, where hybrid and remote options have become the default expectation for technical roles, asking a senior data professional to commit to full site presence narrows the pool and raises the bar on how the opportunity needs to be positioned. The role had to be presented in a way that made the on-site requirement feel like part of the value, not an obstacle.

The Solution

Xist4 ran a focused search on behalf of the internal TA team, taking full ownership of this vacancy so their resource could remain focused on the wider pipeline.

• Mapped the candidate landscape across data science, bioinformatics, and computational biology, targeting professionals with the right combination of technical depth and life sciences domain knowledge.
• Focused outreach on candidates with direct experience in genomic data analysis, prioritising people who had worked with the kind of complex biological datasets the role would involve rather than those who would be learning on the job.
• Positioned the site-based requirement around the quality of the research environment and the collaborative nature of the team, making it a credible and attractive proposition for candidates who valued being embedded in the science rather than working remotely from it.
• Conducted detailed technical and behavioural interviews assessing Python and R proficiency, machine learning capability, genomic data familiarity, and the communication skills needed to work effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.

The Result

Within four weeks, Xist4 presented a shortlist of qualified candidates. The client appointed their first choice, a Data Scientist with extensive experience in genomic data analysis and a strong machine learning background.

The hire integrated quickly and contributed to the company’s data-driven research work from an early stage. Twelve months later they were still in the role. In a Cambridge market where strong data scientists are regularly approached by competitors, that kind of retention does not happen by accident. It starts with placing the right person in the first place.