Training Coordinator and Bioinformatics Project Manager U.S. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center
A unique position is available for a training coordinator and bioinformatics project manager at the U.S. National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, North Carolina (NESCent). NESCent is a National Science Foundation funded research center managed by Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University on behalf of the international evolutionary biology community. NESCent facilitates synthetic research by bringing together diverse expertise, data, tools and concepts [1]. In addition to a resident population of 20-30 scientists, the Center hosts over 800 visitors a year. An informatics staff is on-site to support resident and visiting scientists’ needs in high-performance computing, electronic collaboration, scientific software and databases; this includes custom software development for a limited number of high-impact projects. NESCent’s training program includes a rotating series of open-application summer courses, a! d-hoc short courses for resident scientists, and remote internships (including past participation in the Google Summer of Code). The training coordinator and bioinformatics project manager will provide oversight to the Center’s training activities. The incumbent will also serve as the interface between scientists and software developers at NESCent. The position provides extensive opportunities for collaboration and intellectual engagement with both NESCent-sponsored scientists and informatics staff; however, this is not an independent research position. The incumbent will report to the Director, while coordinating the work of a small informatics team and activities among the Center’s science, education and informatics programs. Responsibilities: 50% - Consult with sponsored scientists (including scientists in residence and working group participants) about informatics resources and needs. Manage software product development by gathering requirements from scientists, participating in conceptual design, monitoring implementation progress and product quality, facilitating communication between software developers and scientists, and researching software solutions. 25% - Oversee NESCent’s course curriculum by identifying opportunities for onsite or online informatics courses that satisfy demand for advanced training of resident and visiting scientists, recruiting instructors, providing guidance to instructors in developing course syllabi, coordinating logistical and technical support requirements, conducting assessments, and serving as a liaison to course organizers at other institutions. 25% - Assisting in the management of NESCent’s summer informatics intern program, by coordinating the recruitment, application & review process for students, communicating expectations to students and mentors, monitoring student progress, documenting student outcomes, and performing assessments. Education: Required: M.S. in Biology, Bioinformatics, or a related field. Preferred: Ph.D. and two years postdoctoral experience in evolutionary biology, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience. Experience: Required: Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Experience with computationally oriented scientific research. Preferred: At least two years in development of databases and open source software. Organization, coordination, development and delivery of courses and workshops appropriate for graduate-level participants. Terms of Employment: Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience. As a full-time employee, the incumbent will receive Duke University’s benefits package (http://hr.duke.edu/benefits/main.html). The position is available immediately and will remain open until filled. The position is currently funded through November 2014, contingent on annual renewal of the Center by the NSF. How to Apply: Please send a C.V., including contact information for three references, and a brief statement of interest to Allen Rodrigo, Director, NESCent, at [email protected]. Inquiries about suitability for the position are welcome. Duke University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Additional information about NESCent: http://www.nescent.org [1] Sidlauskas B, Ganapathy G, Hazkani-Covo E, Jenkins KP, Lapp H, McCall LW, Price S, Scherle R, Spaeth PA, Kidd DM (2009) Linking Big: The Continuing Promise of Evolutionary Synthesis. Evolution. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00892.x
