Jobs

NEESinc seeks an outstanding and innovative individual with solid database experience who is willing to assume a technology-leadership position for management of NEES' public archive of experimental/simulation data.

Summary
The incumbent will contribute substantially to the development and implementation of emerging policies and procedures for establishment and management of NEES' data archive. The incumbent will work closely with the subawardees at the 15 NEES Experimental Sites, the earthquake-engineering researchers using these experimental resources, and the IT staff at the NEES Cyberinfrastructure Center (NEESit) to assure solid planning and steady maturation of the data sets from raw data acquired at a research experiment to fully curated data that is readily accessed through the permanent data archive. The Data Curator will prepare and deliver on-site and remote training sessions on use of the archive, and will prepare periodic reports tracking the status and usage of the archive.

Reports to: Chief IT Engineer
Salary: $75,000 to $105,000

Position Description:
Under the general supervision of the Chief IT Engineer, the NEESinc Data Curator is responsible for management of and assurance of convenient access to, NEES' permanent public archive of experimental and simulation data stored in a digital library. The individual works closely with the subawardees at the 15 NEES Experimental Sites, the earthquake-engineering researchers using these experimental resources, and the IT staff at the NEES Cyberinfrastructure Center (NEESit) to assure solid planning and steady maturation of the data sets from the raw data acquired during a research experiment to the fully curated data that is readily accessed through the permanent data archive.

The Data Curator will join the NEES interdisciplinary team and work closely with management, earthquake engineers and IT staff to develop a new Earthquake Engineering Simulation data library for the geographically distributed NEES network of earthquake researchers. The ultimate goal is to provide a state-or-the art data portal with a broad spectrum of functionality ranging from data search and discovery to catalogs and metadata browsing. The Data Curator will provide a community database from which researchers and practitioners can archive and query a wide class of earthquake engineering models, simulations, experiments, model components, and model output data and results. Researchers and practitioners will subsequently be able to either analyze model output from pre-existing runs, or access a model and modify and run it themselves, either on a local computer or on the virtualized resources of the NEESit cyber infrastructure. Specific responsibilities of this technology-leadership position include substantial contributions to the development and implementation of emerging policies and procedures to establish and manage NEES' data archive. The Data Curator also prepares and delivers on-site and remote training sessions on use of the archive, and prepares periodic reports tracking the status and usage of the archive.

The Data Curator has expertise with informatics and information technologies, particularly the configuration, operation, and management of large digital databases. The individual also has general knowledge of experimental measurement technologies and earthquake engineering principles sufficient to curate and archive data sets for effective search and retrieval of the archive by independent users.

Responsibilities:

1. Primary point-of-contact at NEESinc Headquarters regarding all matters involving the NEES' permanent archive of experimental and simulation data.
2. In collaboration with the Chief IT Engineer, the IT Strategy Committee, and NEESit staff, develop and implement technologies, policies and procedures for advancing experimental data through various stages of maturation from the raw data to the public archive with particular emphasis on the "data curation" stage involving registering data sets, assigning tags, and certifying curated data for inclusion in, and public release from, the NEES permanent repository.
3. Primary point-of-contact for NEES researchers for review and approval of their "data sharing and archive plans" per requirements of the NEESinc Research Participation Agreement.
4. Observing strict confidentiality standards monitor and track the status and progress of researchers' data and metadata through the data flow process. Maintain contact with, and provide training and guidance to, researchers and Equipment Site staff as needed throughout this process.
5. Collaborate with the NEESinc Webmaster and the Education, Outreach and Training staff to announce publication of new curated data sets and promote their usage.
6. Collaborate with NEESit to develop training materials, and deliver on-line tutorials and/or onsite instruction, for assuring both efficient deliveries of data into the NEES permanent archives and for effective access, query and download of data from the NEES permanent archives. Provide direct support and guidance as needed to both providers and users.
7. Prepare periodic management reports describing the status of all maturing data sets progressing through the system as well as usage of all published data sets.
8. Foster and maintain excellent professional working relationships with all NEESinc subawardee's, sponsors, and partners.
9. Coordinate with NEES management, IT and engineering researchers across the nation to further develop and enhance a global repository of earthquake and tsunami engineering simulation information.
10. Effectively communicate with the geographically distributed IT group and with the NEESit (supercomputer IT) staff to ensure the quality and accuracy of engineering simulation data generated in a high-throughput laboratory setting and associated IT engineering operations.
11. The Data Curator will also have an integral role in defining new IT applications and systems for collecting, analyzing, and mining earthquake and tsunami engineering simulation data. This will consist of providing consultative, technical, and staff support, as appropriate, to steering teams charged with providing innovative solutions to resolve challenges in input, storage, or retrieval of genotypic data.
12. Careful tracking, record keeping and organizational skills will be necessary to influence and drive effective process design and adoption of data management best practices.
13. Other responsibilities as assigned and consistent with the position.

Desirable Qualifications and Characteristics:

1. Advanced college degree in a technical discipline involving management of large data sets such as in the physical sciences, library science, information technology, computer science, or engineering disciplines. (BS in an engineering discipline and MLS from an ALA-accredited program, or MS in engineering discipline plus related professional experience in academic or research library or statistical data center.)
2. Familiarity and/or experience with informatics and/or library science procedures for organization and access of scientific information.
3. 2+ years IT experience with:
   • Database development, modeling, and design for enterprise applications. Oracle experience preferred;
   • Accessing and manipulating relational databases, data warehouses and multidimensional datasets;
   • Writing code for database access, modifications, and constructions including stored procedures; and
   • Constructing data decomposition diagrams, data flow diagrams and documenting processes.
4. 2+ years business experience with:
   • Policy and business process development;
   • Project and client management; and
   • Development and delivery of training materials.
5. General knowledge of:
   • Earthquake engineering principles; and
   • Laboratory experimental measurements.
6. Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills.
7. High level of professional integrity to safeguard confidentiality of research information.
8. Excellent skills in the areas of planning, prioritizing, organization, and time management.
9. Excellent software application skills with office productivity packages, databases, and internet technologies.
10. Comfortable within a team-oriented, hands-on, dynamic work environment with frequently varied job responsibilities requiring a high degree of initiative and self-sufficiency.
11. Appreciation for the diverse interests of the NEES community, and the community-based processes that have been established to serve those interests.
12. Willingness to travel (estimated at 20-30 days annually), possibly internationally.

Application Instructions: Data Curator -- Data Librarian

NEES Consortium, Inc. (NEESinc), headquartered in downtown Davis, California, is a startup not-for-profit corporation that serves as the technical coordination, administrative, and outreach center for the George E. Brown, Jr., Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation (NEES).

The salary range for the Data Curator position will be $75,000 to $105,000 per year plus a solid benefits package. Davis is a university-oriented community near California's capital of Sacramento noted for its desirable quality of life, its small-town atmosphere, its emphasis on parks and open spaces, its proximity to outstanding recreational opportunities, and the quality of its educational system.

Contact:
Applicants should electronically submit a single PDF file addressed to Data Curator Search Committee, NEES Consortium, Inc., at info@nees.org.

Both the transmittal and filename should clearly reference the Data Curator position being sought. To be assured of full consideration, applications should be received by June 30, 2006; however, applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The applicants file should contain:
1) A completed standard application form;
2) A current CV or resume;
3) Names and contact information for a minimum of three references.

A selection committee will assist in review and screening of the applications, interviews of finalists, and development of recommendations to the Executive Director. NEES Consortium, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.

Further information about the Data Curator position can be found under employment opportunities at the NEESinc website www.nees.org.