In the ongoing drive to close the gender gap in STEM, health tech stands out as one of the most vital sectors for female leadership. At the centre of this movement is the UK Biobank, a world-leading biomedical research resource holding one of the world’s richest health datasets. Built on the contributions of 500,000 participants and accessed by over 22,000 approved researchers across 110 countries, its data directly powers breakthroughs in cancer, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and mental health.
For women working in or considering a career in technology, cybersecurity, and data engineering, UK Biobank offers something rare: the chance to work with cutting-edge cloud and AI infrastructure while driving meaningful, life-saving representation at the highest levels of health data innovation.
Historically, clinical research and health data have suffered from significant gender biases, from underrepresenting women in clinical trials to overlooking female-specific health outcomes. Having women actively designing, securing, and analysing major health datasets is critical to ensuring the future of medicine is equitable. Working in tech at an institution like the UK Biobank allows female engineers, data scientists, and security leaders to:
UK Biobank is embarking on a major technological evolution backed by £127.6 million in new investment. The organisation is moving into a state-of-the-art, purpose-built headquarters at Manchester Science Park, positioning itself as a major anchor in Greater Manchester’s growing tech ecosystem.
This expansion creates a thriving hub for women in technology outside of London, offering high- impact roles across:
Historically, cybersecurity has been dominated by rigid, top-down cultures that often create friction. UK Biobank is intentionally reframing security as an open, enabling function, an approach that aligns closely with modern, collaborative leadership styles.
“We’re looking for a more collaborative approach to information security, one that works with the organisation rather than against it. For the person joining us, that means the opportunity to shape how security is understood, influence decisions at the highest level and build a function that enables innovation as well as protecting the organisation.” – Mark Conway, Chief Technology Officer at UK Biobank
Whether you are an established leader in cybersecurity or a mid-level developer looking to transition into the purpose-driven health sector, UK Biobank provides a strong foundation for female career progression:
As health research becomes increasingly data-driven, the tech sector needs diverse voices to build secure, fair, and innovative systems. UK Biobank offers a unique space where women in tech can claim ownership of world-class infrastructure, step into influential leadership roles, and contribute to medical science on a global scale.
