Visiting Senior Scientific Specialist, Geoscience Data R&D; - Illinois State Geological Survey

Visiting Senior Scientific Specialist, Geoscience Data R&D Illinois State Geological Survey Prairie Research Institute University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) is a premier state geological survey serving the needs of the public, government, and industry with earth science information and research relevant to natural resources, environmental quality, economic vitality, and public safety.
ISGS is part of the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, which is centrally located between Chicago, St.
Louis, and Indianapolis.
Learn more at https://prairie.
illinois.
edu/about/jobs/ ISGS is seeking to hire a Visiting Senior Scientific Specialist, Geoscience Data R&D to assist and collaborate to 1) develop an information management strategy for geologic and engineering research data, 2) facilitate data transmission among interdisciplinary project teams, 3) translate data across different data structures, and 4) develop applications and workflow procedures with a goal of data preservation and analysis.
Position is based in Champaign, Illinois.
Duties & Responsibilities: Analyze and develop information management strategies for geologic and engineering research data.
Apply geologic insights to the classification and management of data.
Investigate new and developing technologies for data preservation, access, and distribution.
Design and develop solutions to import, store, retrieve, analyze, and format data to meet project needs.
Solutions include custom, user-friendly interfaces to provide staff flexible ways to use data.
Assist in the design and construction of relational databases that enforce data uniqueness, consistency, and completeness and queries to format and analyze scientific data for a diverse array of needs.
Use modern scripting/programming languages and command-line functions to manipulate datasets, perform analyses, and develop analytical solutions to scientific or engineering problems in coordination with staff to complete project objectives in a minimum amount of time while maintaining high performance.
Solutions may require creating custom functions, queries, and programs.
Coordinate with staff to streamline data management from its source to its destination to reduce the time required to meet project objectives and maintain quality.
Assist in developing and improving workflows related to research data in a team environment where communication is critical, which includes developing standard operating procedures, defining data formats, naming conventions, and data archiving procedures.
Format and distribute data and documentation to staff or project sponsors.
Prepare and compile comprehensive and detailed metadata for data and documentation for data application, including description of their use in workflows.
Contribute to grant proposals for funding to support scientific information management including data preservation, maintenance, and enhancement including innovative methods and software.
Assist and consult with management, researchers, and staff on information and data management.
Train and mentor students.
Scan and digitize data.
Use statistics, historical records, and other methods to perform quality control on datasets.
Research and acquire open-source data related to project needs.
Translate tabular databases into geospatial formats.
Respond to requests for information and provided technical expertise to PRI staff, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia, industry, and the public.
Attend, participate in, and contribute to meetings, conferences, and workshops.
Contribute to the areas of education, outreach, and/or other service to the Survey, PRI, the University of Illinois, and the state of Illinois.
Enhance the reputation of the Survey and PRI at the state, national, and international level.
Keep abreast of developments in this discipline.
Perform other duties as needed to further the mission and goals of the Survey, PRI, and University.
Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in geology.
Alternate degree fields in the sciences (e.
g.
, geographic information systems, natural resources, environmental science, agricultural science, engineering, computer science, data science, information science) will be considered/accepted depending on the nature and depth of the experience as it relates to this position.
At least 2 years’ related industry or research experience with a bachelor’s degree.
Valid driver's license.
Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in geology.
Alternate degree fields the sciences (e.
g.
, geographic information systems, natural resources, environmental science, agricultural science, engineering, computer science, data science, information science) will be considered/accepted depending on the nature and depth of the experience as it relates to this position.
Experience with mixed-platform databases in a distributed computing environment supporting scientific computation, geographic information systems, and modeling in scientific applications.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Required: Conceptual understanding of relational databases and query development.
Ability to follow written workflows.
Ability to assist in providing detailed written documentation including program reports, standards-compliant metadata, software instructions, standards, and specifications in a clear, concise, and well-structured manner.
Effective communication, personal relations, collaboration, organizational, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Aptitude to perform effectively in a diverse and fast-paced work environment consisting of multiple and changing priorities with stringent deadlines, under minimal supervision.
Attention to detail, sound judgment, and strong conflict resolution skills.
Affinity for cooperative and interdisciplinary research with scientists at the Survey, professionals at other Surveys or other academic units, as well as governmental and other academic institutions.
Proficiency in commonly employed software and databases (e.
g.
, MS Excel and Access, SQL Server, Oracle).
Preferred: Knowledge or familiarity with geographic information systems (e.
g.
, ArcGIS Pro, and/or ArcGIS Online), modern scripting/programming languages commonly used in analytical research (e.
g.
, Python, R), geology, engineering, natural resources, statistical methods.
Familiarity with innovative methods of data manipulation and analyses (machine learning, AI, etc.
) and their applications in applied research.
Work Environment: This position will take place in an office setting.
Occasional travel to meetings, conferences, and workshops with rare field visits will also be required, some of which may require overnight stays.
Field visits may include less than ideal conditions (inclement weather, biting insects, remoteness, sites with security concerns, heavy traffic).
Travel time is up to 5% of the job with almost all domestic travel and primarily in Illinois and surrounding states.
Appointment Information: This is a full-time visiting academic professional appointment renewable annually based on satisfactory progress in the position and continued funding.
Position may become a regular, non-visiting position at a later date depending on funding and programmatic need.
The starting date is negotiable and the salary is commensurate with experience.
This position is funded by the United States Department of Energy (DOE).
DOE requires foreign national reporting for any person who is not a US citizen by birth or naturalization and the current ruling by DOE is that no foreign national personnel can begin work on projects until approved.
Benefits: The University of Illinois offers a wide variety of benefits https://www.
hr.
uillinois.
edu/benefits, including paid leave https://www.
hr.
uillinois.
edu/leave and holidays https://www.
hr.
uillinois.
edu/leave/holidays Application Procedure and Deadline Information: Applications must be received by 6:00 p.
m.
Central on January 19, 2024.
Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after this date.
To apply, please use the Apply Now button.
Applications not submitted through https://jobs.
illinois.
edu will not be considered.
Application materials must include a 1) a cover letter that clearly articulates how your qualifications and experience make you a viable candidate for this position and should address the qualifications listed above, 2) a CV or resume, and 3) the names and contact information including e-mail addresses of three professional (not personal) references.
All requested information and documentation must be submitted for applications to be considered.
Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
For further information please contact Lori Walston-Vonderharr, Human Resources, Prairie Research Institute, at lwalston@illinois.
edu or 217-244-2401.
For questions regarding the application process, including technical issues, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates.
Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process.
Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.
edu.
Requisition ID: 1021914 Job Category: Research Apply at: https://jobs.
illinois.
edu