The University of Basel is the oldest university in Switzerland and is ranked among the best in the world due to its research achievements. It counts over 12,000 students and 5,000 scientists in 7 faculties active in domains from humanities and social sciences to natural sciences. Research at university is increasingly data-driven and thus requires state-of-the-art services to support data-science applications, often with transdisciplinary approaches. sciCORE is the center for scientific computing offering the infrastructure and expertise to facilitate data-driven research.
As part of its support activities, sciCORE is maintaining various data management systems, offered as a service to streamline the data life cycle in research projects. We are in particular consolidating an environment, based on the data management system LabKey, to integrate data and metadata from several technology platforms at the university (sequencing, proteomics, biobanks, imaging, etc.) with other structured data generated in research projects. Although sciCORE is rooted in life sciences, we are opening our data management service to other domains working with structured data. To ensure efficient use of the platform, projects often need support to structure data and need to be trained with the usage of the platform.
To maintain and extend support to projects using the LabKey environment, we are seeking a dedicated Data engineer (Application Specialist) (80% - 100%) to strengthen our team.
Our new collaborator will work in a small team of data management and IT specialists, and will be the service owner of the data management platform. The Application Specialist will consult on data models with projects using the platform and support their implementation, will develop an internal training program, and will ensure level-1 support. The software and associated processes will enable and maintain best practices in scientific data management, such as FAIR principles, thus contributing to the high quality of research at University of Basel.
Your position
- Maintain an in-depth knowledge of the user-facing aspects of the data management platform LabKey (built-in modules and functionalities, automation, use of API with data analysis tools, SQL-query framework)
- Conduct technical onboarding of new research projects on the platform
- Handle user management, such as assigning roles and giving access rights
- Provide level 1 support to users and channel support requests to the vendor
- Contribute to the configuration and operation of data management for projects of strategic importance for the University of Basel
- Train users and local experts (e.g. data stewards, data managers in research groups and platforms)
- Establish, update and maintain user-facing documentation for the tool, document internal processes related to the platform
- Consult and implement group-specific work spaces (definition of data model, setup of user interfaces, etc.), support research projects that are preparing data-sets for publication
- Maintain a good link with and contribute to support for other data management systems and DB solutions offered in sciCORE (e.g. REDCap), as needed
- Maintain an continuous understanding of the data management solutions market (technology watch)
As the service owner of the data management platform, this role will be:
- the point of contact for the users of the service
- the point of contact with the software vendor
- looking for synergies with other data management services (internally and externally)
- ensuring smooth evolution of the service (change management)
Your profile
Essential:
- Masters in computational sciences, with 3 or more years of work in academic research (with data science as a focus)
- Proven experience of conducting data management (including data modeling) in projects with a variety of data types
- Proven experience of work with research data management systems (e.g. LabKey, ELN wiki, OMERO, OpenSpecimen, OpenBIS)
- Experience in programming with scripting languages (e.g. Python, javascript, APIs) in Linux environment
- Hands-on experience with relational database technologies (SQL)
- Agile, proactive, self-starter, service-oriented and collaborative spirit of mind, motivated to work in a research-support role (close to researchers)
- Fluent in English (oral and written) as working language
Desirable:
- Experience working with data types and processes used in life sciences (*omics, imaging, wetlab data, clinical data, sample management, etc.)
- Experience with semantic data management frameworks (RDF, GraphDB, OBO foundry, biomedical ontologies)
- German (oral and/or written)
We offer you
At sciCORE, you will be part of a highly efficient and motivated team of IT specialists. You will have the opportunity to experiment with novel IT technologies and transform the relevant ones into robust productive services. Our interdisciplinary team of 20+ staff includes IT experts, scientific software engineers, data infrastructure managers, and data analysts, with opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary projects. We support our team members in their own training, networking, and career development. The initial contract is for 2 years, with the possibility to extend to a long-term contract subject to successful performance evaluations.
The University of Basel is an equal-opportunity and family-friendly employer committed to excellence through diversity.
Application / ContactWe look forward to receiving your complete application via the university's online application portal (see button below). Applications should include a curriculum vitae, a letter of motivation, and the names of three potential referees. Applications by email cannot be considered.
For further information, please contact
scicore@unibas.ch.
The position will remain open until filled.
Universität Basel
4000 Basel