Ecoinformatics Software Engineer (1 position)
Graduate Student Researchers: Ecoinformatics Research (3+ position))
Undergraduate Research Assistant: Web-Based Data Gathering and Analysis (1 position)
Ecoinformatics Software Engineer
[Techno III, Computer and Network]
Job Number: 20080181
Salary: $4,538 - $7,080/mo.
Job opens: 04-25-2008
Job closes: Open until filled
The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS; http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/ecoinformatics/) at UC Santa Barbara seeks a motivated, knowledgeable, and skilled software developer to help create a national software infrastructure for management and analysis of ecological and environmental data. Principal duties include: systems analysis, design, and development for web-based and desktop scientific data management and analysis applications; web-design and development for ecological informatics web sites; creation of end-user documentation and training materials; community outreach and training. Contributes to research projects that are part of the UCSB Ecoinformatics Center such as the Kepler project (http://kepler-project.org).
Bachelor's degree required, preferably in science or computer science. Expertise in software design and development using modern programming languages (e.g., Java, C) and web design and development (e.g., HTML, XML), including computer graphics, stylesheet languages (e.g., CSS, XSLT), and scripting (e.g., Python, Ruby, Javascript, AJAX). Experience with software application development for science, including familiarity with statistical, modeling, and geospatial data programming tools and techniques. Thorough understanding of network, Internet, and web programming. Expertise with using software development lifecycle systems, including build systems (e.g., ant, make, Eclipse), software source code control systems (CVS), and bug tracking systems. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write end-user documentation about highly technical systems in a manner understandable to ecological and environmental scientists.
Experience in or exposure to ecological and environmental science research is desirable, as is background and understanding of statistical analysis, scientific modeling, and approaches to manipulate geospatial data.
Apply online at http://jobs.ucsb.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=182967 for job number 20080181. UCSB HR office 805-893-3166. AA/EOE. Learn more about NCEAS online: http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/ecoinformatics.
Graduate Student Researchers: Ecoinformatics Research (3+ positions)
The National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis seeks to fill multiple positions for graduate student research assistants to participate in research within the field of ecoinformatics, at the interface of ecological science and information technology. The graduate assistants will participate in developing and testing new tools for accessing and analyzing a broad range of ecological and conservation science data, based on the analytical foci of NCEAS' Working Groups, and collaborations with organizations like Kruger National Park in South Africa, and The Nature Conservancy.
Candidates should demonstrate exceptional motivation, responsibility, and enthusiasm for working with emerging software that facilitates ecological and environmental research. The ideal candidates will have training or strong interest in some combination of quantitative/statistical analysis, data/information management, and general programming; as well as in ecology, evolution, and conservation science, or related fields. Experience is desirable with databases and statistical software such as MySQL, R, Matlab, or SAS, or programming languages such as Basic, C, Java, PERL or Python.
Responsibilities of the positions will variously include:
- Working with ecological researchers and software programmers to implement statistical analyses of ecological data in scientific workflows, in support of conservation and resource management research;
- Working with ecological researchers to document and archive ecological and environmental data;
- Working with software programmers to create customized databases for scientific researchers.
The graduate assistants will work closely with resident and visiting scientists as well as the scientific computing staff at NCEAS, to test and refine new approaches to ecological and conservation analyses, using emerging paradigms for information management and analysis-including formalized metadata, advanced semantics, and the application of scientific workflows. The graduate assistants will achieve proficiency with emerging open-source software such as Kepler and Morpho, through application of software solutions to diverse research questions in ecology and conservation science at NCEAS. These activities will have strong potential for collaborative publication of results, and presentation at various professional and scientific symposia.
We seek assistance for ten or more hours per week for fall, winter and spring quarters. Salary dependent on experience, and may be comparable to a teaching assistantship; includes benefits and offset of registration fees. Please send a cover letter explaining your interest and qualifications, a CV or resume, and complete contact information for two references to Dr. Stephanie Hampton, NCEAS Deputy Director (Hampton@nceas.ucsb.edu ).
Undergraduate Research Assistant: Web-based Data Gathering and Analysis
We seek a research assistant to participate in a web-based project following the citation fate of articles published by UCSB's NCEAS (National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/). Familiarity with programming (ideally in Python) and the Linux environment is desired. Some experience with database management and html scripting is preferred. The project is particularly well suited for students majoring or with interest in computer science or a related field. Responsibilities include running an existing Python script to extract citation information from online reference databases, managing the resultant database, and manually searching for some citation information when automation fails. The project will be based at NCEAS, which is located at 735 State Street in downtown Santa Barbara, but some remote work is also possible. The schedule is flexible and will entail approximately 5-10 hours weekly (at $10/hr) for the fall quarter. NCEAS is easy to reach via an express bus from campus. If you are interested in applying, email a CV and brief letter describing your interest and experience to Stefano Allesina (allesina@nceas.ucsb.edu ) and Lauren Buckley (buckley@nceas.ucsb.edu ).
