The Technician Commitment, a sector-wide initiative led by the Science Council and supported by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation’s Technicians Make It Happen campaign, looks to address key challenges facing technical staff.

Find out more about the Technician Commitment

Read HDR UK’s Technician Commitment Action Plan

Technologists in health data research

Technologists are an indispensable community in the field of health data research. Their unique skill set combines deep understanding of software development with domain specific health data research knowledge to bridge the gap between complex data analysis and impactful discoveries, impowering researchers to unlock the full potential of health data.

Technologists contribute to innovation in health data science, improving patient outcomes, and ultimately shaping the future of healthcare. They champion best practice in reproducibility, reliability and scalability of research workflows while understanding the unique challenges of trustworthy health data analysis, such as data privacy, security, and ethics.

Health Data Research UK is a proud signatory of the Technician Commitment. Read our 24-month action plan to find out what initiatives we are planning to support technologists in our central team and wider community.

The commitment includes four key areas:

  • Visibility Ensure that all technicians within the organisation are identifiable and that the contribution of technicians is visible within and beyond the institution
  • Recognition Support technicians to gain recognition through professional registration and external awards schemes
  • Career development Enable career progression opportunities for technicians through the provision of clear, documented career pathways
  • Sustainability Ensure the future sustainability of technical skills across the organisation and that technical expertise is fully utilised.

Find out about our commitment

If you have any questions about HDR UK’s Technician Commitment action plan, contact rosie.wakeham@hdruk.ac.uk. Also sign up to our regular talent and training E-bulletin

Keep informed
Technical Career Case Studies

HEALTH INFORMATICS: Hon. Professor Phil Quinlan – the reluctant academic

As someone with a senior university post, and who is closely involved with HDR UK, it may seem surprising that Phil Quinlan is a reluctant academic. More broadly he argues that research, and the institutions that carry it out, need to become far more diverse and inclusive. This doesn’t just mean bringing more people, from different backgrounds, into the existing system but also...
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Gerry Reilly

Gerry Reilly Technician Career Case Study

Gerry Reilly So how did I get here?  What went well, what didn’t go so well and a few reflections. My first job was as a plasters’ mate working school holidays on the renovation of a Tudor yeoman farmers house. This was an interesting way to start working, learning how to work as part of a team and developing a lifelong skill in plastering! At 18, I headed off to Queen Mary...
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INTERN: Jake Barrett – internship opportunities

After achieving an MSc in Big Data from Queen Mary University of London, Jake Barrett was selected for a one-year internship with HDR UK. Jake Barrett It was not the direction he originally anticipated that life would take him. After a BSc in Maths at Keele University Jake went to work for a TV production company facilities department. He then realised that he wanted to be doing...
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COVID-19 health data research

INTERN: Shahriar Kabir Khan – a future researcher

The health data research sector is in search of promising young people with the talent and vision needed to tackle the major challenges facing healthcare. Shahriar Kabir Khan Kabir joined HDR UK on a one-year data engineering internship aimed at giving him practical experience in the field after he completed an MSc in AI at the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science at...
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