User Experience

We are seeking a proactive and creative User Experience (UX) Designer to join our dynamic team. This role is ideal for a designer with experience in data-heavy environments who can craft intuitive, user-centric interfaces and workflows for complex scientific applications. If you are passionate about bridging the gap between scientific innovation and user needs, we invite you to be part of shaping the future of scientific discovery.

About EMBL-EBI
The European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) is a global leader in bioinformatics, advancing research and collaboration in life sciences. Our mission is to empower worldwide scientific communities by making life science data freely available and fostering innovation through data analysis and technology.

At EMBL-EBI, we cultivate a culture of inclusivity, creativity, and growth, where diverse talents come together to solve complex problems and make an impact. We are enthusiastic about leveraging cutting-edge technologies and creating solutions that enhance the user experience for scientists, researchers, and collaborators worldwide.

What you'll do;

Understand users deeply

• Conduct user interviews, usability tests, and feedback sessions to understand user needs, priorities, and pain points
• Develop user personas, journey maps, and research-backed insights that guide strategic design decisions
• Analyse usage data and user behaviour to identify opportunities for improvement

Design exceptional experiences

• Create wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity user interfaces for data-intensive life science tools and platforms
• Design accessible, WCAG-compliant solutions that serve diverse user needs and abilities
• Iterate rapidly based on user feedback, analytics, and testing to continuously enhance usability

Collaborate and influence

• Partner with software developers, project managers, scientists, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle to align goals and incorporate feedback
• Contribute to the maintenance and evolution of design systems to ensure cohesion across diverse interfaces
• Use visual communication tools to effectively present design concepts to technical and non-technical audiences
• Champion user-centered design thinking across the organisation

You have (Requirements)

To Succeed In This Role, You Should Demonstrate

• Proven UX design experience, ideally in data-intensive, scientific or technical domains
• Proficiency in using modern design tools such as Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, Axure, or similar
• Strong ability to conduct and synthesise user research and usability testing into actionable insights
• Accessibility championship with practical experience designing to WCAG standards
• Design systems knowledge and experience with component libraries and maintaining interface consistency at scale
• Complex problem-solving skills with the ability to simplify intricate workflows and data-rich interfaces
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationales and collaborate effectively
• Self-starter mindset and ability to quickly grasp scientific and technical concepts, adapting designs to suit the needs of diverse stakeholders
• Evidence of staying ahead of UX trends by actively exploring emerging tools and methodologies

You might also have (Desirable)

• A bachelor's degree or higher in UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, Computer Science, or relevant fields
• Familiarity with life sciences, genomics, or bioinformatics tools and their user bases
• Basic understanding of front-end development (HTML, CSS) to bridge design and development
• Demonstrable experience in using AI-driven solutions and designing data-rich interfaces
• Understanding of Agile or Lean UX processes within interdisciplinary teams

Other helpful information

Hybrid Working: At EMBL-EBI we are pleased to offer hybrid working options for all our employees. A dedicated desk will be available everyday, but most of our team choose to work two days on site and three from home.

Interviews: We plan to hold introductory meetings with selected candidates remotely starting on week commencing 19 January 2026, following this we plan to hold panel interviews remotely on week commencing 26 January 2026.

Contract length: 3 years (renewable up to 9 years)

Salary: Grade 5 - Grade 6 monthly salary starting at £3,303 - £3,695 per month after tax but excluding pension and insurance contributions. Plus generous benefits.

Why join us

Do something meaningful

At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.

Join a culture of innovation

We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential. Watch this video to see how EMBL-EBI makes an impact.

Enjoy Lots Of Benefits

• Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
• Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays
• Relocation package including installation grant (if required)
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
• Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
• Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here.

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information.
• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ & individuals from all nationalities.
• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date

11/01/2026