Technical career case studies
Explore real-world career journeys in health data and technology. These case studies showcase the people behind the platforms, data, and tools that enable health research and innovation, sharing practical insights into career paths, skills development, and day-to-day experiences across a range of technical disciplines. Whether you’re just starting out, considering a transition, or looking to grow in your role, these stories highlight the diverse routes, challenges, and opportunities within technical careers.
Finding purpose in health, data, and people: Meet Stephen Lavenberg
For Stephen, the path to his current role as a Senior Business Analyst within the Technology Team at Health Data Research UK was full of twists, new countries, unexpected lessons, and a growing belief that good data can help make health systems fairer for everyone.
Clara Fennessy: Technical Programme Manager
Clara Fennessy speaks multiple foreign languages and studied and worked in Austria and Russia before taking on a role with one of Europe’s largest retailers. But her mother’s many years of treatment for a serious illness made her aware of how patient data can transform healthcare. She is now a Senior Technical Programme Manager at Health Data Research UK – helping to make that...
Branwen Snelling: Research Software Engineer
Senior Research Software Engineer Branwen Snelling is part of the technology team at Health Data Research UK. She moved into the health sector after developing her skills by modelling extreme events such as earthquakes and tsunamis.
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...
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...
