Many within the health data science technical community have long felt that the term “technician” does not fully reflect the breadth and depth of their roles and expertise. Under its Technician Commitment Action Plan, Health Data Research UK (HDR UK) pledged to listen and better understand how members of this community see their roles and contributions.
Many thought that the term “technician” implies task-based work rather than the intellectual, creative and highly-skilled input they bring into research. It also tends to channel them into career pathways that don’t always reflect the unique expertise and leadership that these roles entail.
As enthusiastic signatories to The Technician Commitment (a sector wide initiative to improve the visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability of technical staff in science and education) HDR UK felt it was essential to consult the community and ensure that the language used to describe technical roles is truly representative of their contributions to health data science.
How the term “technician” is perceived
HDR UK invited members of its technical community to share their perspectives through a survey. The responses, including research software engineers, software developers and others, found clear and consistent themes: the majority said they did not feel positively about the term “technician” and believed that the terminology used to describe their roles has a direct influence on their career progression.
When asked which alternative term they most identified with, the most popular option (33%) was “technical specialist”, closely followed by “technical professional” (27%), “engineer” (27%), and “developer” (21%). The term “technologist” – which HDR UK has been using informally to date – was less preferred than “technical specialist”.
Just 9% of respondents felt positive or very positive about the term “technician”, while 48.5% felt negatively or very negatively about it. Their comments reflected a shared sense that the term does not capture the skill, innovation, and academic depth of their work.
Some felt it sounded passive or implied being instructed, while others highlighted that the label suggested a lack of academic training or felt it didn’t represent analytical or developmental roles. Others noted that “technician” carries historic associations with junior positions and does not reflect the intellectual contributions or evolving professional identity of those in technical roles.
The survey was organised by HDR UK’s Technician Commitment Working Group as part of its wider commitments to the initiative.
Rosie Wakeham, HDR UK Head of Training, emphasised that:
“While no single term will resonate with everyone, the idea behind this survey was to listen to the community, understand their perspectives, and find an overarching term that as many people as possible identify with. This work is about supporting the technical community towards greater recognition as a distinctive and valuable professional group within health data science.”
Peter Harrison, HDR UK Deputy CTO, said:
“The technical community is of paramount importance to the advancement of health data science and there is a rapidly growing diversity and sophistication of the roles it embraces.
Strengthening the recognition of this community as a distinct professional group will make it to build clear career development pathways and attract talented new people into these roles.”
Adopting “technical specialist” at HDR UK
The new term is not intended to replace any specific job titles, nor to diminish the value of those who proudly identify as technicians. Rather, HDR UK sought to listen to the community, understand how people see themselves, and respond thoughtfully to any call for change.
We are now beginning to implement this change across the organisation, gradually adopting the term “technical specialist” in relevant communications, initiatives, and documentation to ensure consistency and recognition.
The survey results will be shared with the Technician Commitment office, based within The UK Institute for Technical Skills and Strategy, providing e a snapshot of the community’s views.
The HDR UK Technician Commitment Working Group will continue to advocate for those working in technical roles in health data science – supporting their recognition, career development, and celebrating the vital contribution they make to the future of health data science.
Find out more about the Technician Commitment and how we’re supporting it
