Available Title(s): 306-YN_FACULTY - Postdoctoral Research Associate
Business Title: Research Data Curator and Outreach Specialist
Employee Type: Faculty (+) (Fixed Term)
Time Type: Full time
Position Term: 12 Month
Position Details:
Summary of Duties:
The Mainlab Bioinformaticis laboratory in the Department of Horticulture is seeking a curator/outreach specialist to support the research activities of a recently funded USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative Program award to Washington State University, Clemson University, University of Florida, Auburn University, University of Queensland, and USDA ARS. This highly collaborative project includes a diverse team of researchers working on specialty crop breeding, genomics, genetics, curation, and bioinformatics.
The project will expand the Rosaceae, Citrus, Vaccinium and Pulse Crop Databases to meet community demand for resources with usable big data aggregated, analyzed, integrated, and visualized, as well as data management and analysis tools. Our objectives are to: (1) Collect, curate, and integrate all types of genomics, genetics, and breeding big data in easy-to-use and robust crop-specific databases, (2) Develop and integrate tools to promote the collection, integration, and utilization of big data by scientists and breeders, (3) Provide scientists/breeders with personalized training for field data collection software, big data management and analysis, and use of database resources, quantify impact of databases on genomics-assisted breeding, and broadly disseminate project activities and outcomes.
The curator and outreach specialist will support the activities (1) and (3) of the proposal for citrus and pulse crops. The ideal candidate for this position will have research and/or scientific data management experience in an agricultural or related field such as plant biology or crop breeding. The specialist, in collaboration with the project team, will be responsible for helping manage the databases, organizing and managing large datasets, ensuring that they're properly annotated, and easily accessible to researchers; creating outreach and training materials; providing webinars and on-site training on how to use their crop community databases, the breeding information management system (BIMS), breeding data management tools; and be responsible for mass communications to database users. The curator will also have the chance to engage in research and publish papers, which may involve conducting case studies to uncover new insights from the integrated data. The publication can be on a diverse range of topics such as database tools and contents, data standardization principles, FAIR data training.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Curate genomic, genetic, and breeding data (check the necessary metadata, standardize the names, associate with ontologies, enter into data template, and upload to the citrus and pulse crop databases)
Help create outreach and training materials for specialty crop breeders and researchers
Provide webinars and on-site training on how to use the pulse crop and citrus crop community database(s) and the Breeding Information Management System (BIMS)
Help manage the citrus and pulse crop databases
Manage mass communication to database users including newsletters and social media
Help organize and participate in workshops at conferences
Participate in preparation of scholarly publications
Required Qualifications:
PhD in an agricultural or related field such as plant biology, plant breeding or plant bioinformatics.
Knowledge in genomics, genetics, and breeding in plant research and attention to detail.
This position requires the ability to scan scientific literature to extract necessary information for uploading data into databases.
Outstanding interpersonal and teamwork skills.
This position requires interacting with researchers and collaborating with the project team.
Excellent oral and written scientific presentation skills. This position requires preparation of webinars, in-person training, communications, and help developing manuals and instructional videos.
Demonstrated ability for time management and use of informed judgment to make independent decisions. This position requires extensive curation of scientific literature as well as outreach duties.
Ability to frequently travel by air and driving is required.
Eligible for employment in the United States.
Possession of, or ability to obtain by time of hire, a valid driver's license.
Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with collaborative communication tools.
Experience with large scale data/data analysis, data curation, familiarity with FAIR data management concepts.
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination.
WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts.
This is a temporary position expected to end on December 31, 2024. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.
Posting Close Date:
Applicants must submit their completed application by December 17, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.
Background Check:
This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.
Application Instructions:
Applicants must upload the following required documents to their online application. External candidates, please upload all documents in the 'Resume/CV' section of your application. Internal candidates, please upload all documents in the 'Resume/Cover Letter' section of your application.
Required Documents:
1) Resume/CV 2) Cover Letter 3) Contact Information for four (4) Professional References
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.
WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.
Washington State University is a public research university committed to its land-grant heritage and tradition of service to society. Washington State College was established in 1890 as a land-grant institution. It has become a distinguished public research university, but its mission remains rooted in accessibility and public service.For more than 130 years, we have strived to unlock possibilities by empowering students, faculty, and others to create a world where all people can thrive.In that spirit, our community welcomes scholars from around the globe and prioritizes equitable opportunities for all.