Research Data Scientist Jobs
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King Abdullah University of Science and Technology: Postdoc Positions: Physical Science and Engineering Division (postdoc): Earth Science and Engineering (postdoc)
Location
Open Date
Apr 21, 2025
Description
Professor Max Frenzel is currently recruiting for a 2-year Post-doc position (extendable) to join the new Mineral Exploration and Exploitation Group at KAUST. The focus of the position will be on the development of new methods integrating a variety of data types (remote sensing, geology, geophysics, geochemistry) for geological modelling and advanced exploration targeting of mineral deposits. These workflows will then be applied in relevant Saudi Arabian contexts to help discover new ore deposits.
The position will combine techniques from geological modelling, geostatistics, machine learning, and potentially geophysics (inversion) to develop new exploration targeting methods. These will be designed to make the most of the excellent outcrop conditions in Saudi Arabia, which means that a particular focus will be placed on the use of remote sensing data. Other relevant data types are geological maps, geophysical surveys (gravity, electromagnetic, seismic), and soil or stream sediment geochemistry. In terms of the application to specific regions in Saudi Arabia, the candidate will be free to choose their own case study(s). However, the willingness to collaborate closely with local exploration companies is expected.
Saudi Arabia is a fast-developing country offering unparalleled opportunities in mineral resources and other geoscience-related fields. In particular, the recent opening of Saudi Arabia for international exploration companies has led to a substantial increase of activity in the mineral exploration sector. Given the great geological potential of Saudi Arabia for different types of mineral deposits, it is probably the country with the most exciting mineral exploration opportunities right now.
Conditions and life at KAUST
Applications are sought for a two-year Postdoc position (extendable). The position will include a competitive salary based on the candidate’s qualifications and experience; benefits include medical and dental insurance, free housing on the KAUST campus, an annual travel allowance, 30 paid vacation days, and other generous benefits. KAUST is a vibrant and international community, with many opportunities for social, sporting, and learning activities outside of work.
The successful applicant will be associated with the new Mineral Exploration and Exploitation Group at KAUST. The group will commence work in August 2025. Its main aim is to contribute to the development of mineral resources in Saudi Arabia by developing innovative approaches to mineral exploration, mining, and mineral processing. The working group will initially consist of 1 PhD student and 2 MSc students, but is projected to grow to 2 postdocs (incl. this positions), 3 PhD students, and a variable number of MSc students. KAUST provides a highly collaborative research environment, and active engagement of the holder of the position in collaborative activities within and outside of the research group will be strongly encouraged and supported.
Qualifications
Qualified applicants will hold a PhD in geophysics, geosciences, geoengineering, or another relevant discipline. Excellent coding skills in python, R, or another relevant language are expected, as demonstrated by previously completed projects. Strong candidates will also have a firm background in geostatistics, geospatial modelling, and data science, and will show excellent oral and written communication skills in English, as evidenced by a strong publication and conference presentation record. In addition, candidates should hold a driver’s licence or be willing to acquire one, and should be willing to undertake fieldwork. Experience in the mineral resource sector is desirable but not essential.
Application Instructions
Applications must be submitted through PlutoEdu (https://www.plutoedu.com/form/792303138 )
Review of applications will begin June 1, 2025. Applications will be accepted until position is filled.
Starting date
As soon as possible, ideally within Q4 2025.
Application Process
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Find Research Data Scientist JobsResearch Data Scientist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Google10
- HARVEY3
- TikTok3
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology3K
- AIG2
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Insurance
- Technology & Software
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in research data scientist jobs.
- PhD or Master's degree in statistics, computer science, machine learning, or a related quantitative field
- Proficiency in Python and experience with ML frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
- Strong background in statistical modeling, experimental design, and causal inference
- Experience publishing or presenting research findings internally or at academic conferences
- Familiarity with large-scale data processing tools such as Spark or distributed computing environments
- Ability to translate ambiguous research questions into structured, testable hypotheses
Tips for Your Research Data Scientist Job Search
Tailor your resume to research depth
Hiring managers for research roles scan for publications, conference papers, or internal research reports before they look at job titles. List any peer-reviewed work, preprints, or technical blog posts in a dedicated section so reviewers can gauge your independent contribution.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists research data scientist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Quantify model impact, not just accuracy
Research teams care less about hitting a benchmark and more about downstream business or scientific impact. Replace accuracy scores on your resume with outcomes: latency reduction, revenue attribution, or reduction in manual review time driven by a model you built.
Filter openings by methodology keywords
Search using terms like causal inference, Bayesian methods, or reinforcement learning rather than the generic job title alone. Research-oriented postings almost always include the technique in the description, and matching that language signals you read the spec closely.
Prepare a research presentation for the interview
Most research data scientist loops include a 20-to-30-minute deep dive where you walk through a past project. Prepare a slide deck that covers your problem framing, methodology choice, failure modes you encountered, and what you'd do differently, not just the final result.
Negotiate scope before negotiating compensation
Research roles vary widely in publishing freedom, compute budget, and collaboration with product teams. Before discussing compensation in the offer stage, ask directly what percentage of your time goes to long-horizon research versus production deliverables so you're evaluating the full offer.
Research Data Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most research data scientists?
The companies hiring the most research data scientists right now include Google, HARVEY, and TikTok, with the largest share of openings in California, New York, and North Carolina, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially concentrated in technology platforms, healthcare analytics firms, and financial services companies with dedicated research divisions.
How many research data scientist jobs are remote?
About 70% of research data scientist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting a strong shift toward flexible arrangements in knowledge-work roles. Sub-areas focused on NLP, applied machine learning research, and statistical consulting tend to have the highest share of fully remote postings compared to roles tied to proprietary data infrastructure or lab environments.
How do you become a research data scientist?
Most research data scientists start with a graduate degree in a quantitative field such as statistics, computer science, or applied mathematics, then build a portfolio of independent research through thesis work, open-source projects, or published papers. Gaining hands-on experience with production ML systems through internships or industry roles strengthens your application, and demonstrating the ability to frame novel problems, not just solve defined ones, is what distinguishes research candidates from applied data scientists.
Can you get a research data scientist job with little experience?
You can enter research data science with limited industry experience if your academic or independent work demonstrates strong research fundamentals. Hiring teams for junior research roles prioritize evidence of rigorous methodology, whether from a thesis, a Kaggle competition writeup with solid experimental design, or a contribution to an open-source research project, over years of job experience. Targeting companies with formal research residency or associate researcher programs gives you a structured path in.
What does the research data scientist interview process look like?
The process typically runs four to six stages: an initial recruiter screen, a technical phone screen covering probability and statistics or coding, a take-home research problem or case study, a research presentation where you walk through past work, a system design or methodology deep-dive with senior researchers, and a cross-functional interview assessing collaboration and communication. Some organizations compress these into a single onsite day while others spread them across multiple weeks.
Where can I find and apply to research data scientist jobs?
You can find and apply to research data scientist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the listings to find roles that match your background and specialization, then apply directly to each one that fits.
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