Postdoctoral Research Associate, Biosciences - Metadata and Ontologies

Requisition Id 14271 

Overview:  

Embark on a transformative journey with us as a postdoctoral researcher in biosciences data management.  This role is not just a job—it's a mission to revolutionize the management and sharing of scientific data.  If you are passionate about FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles, metadata standards, and interoperability, this is the opportunity for you!  Your expertise will be instrumental in advancing our federated scientific data repository application, DataFed (https://datafed.ornl.gov), pivotal to the NW-BRaVE project (https://www.pnnl.gov/publications/pnnl-bravely-supports-national-preparedness-efforts-against-pathogenic-threats).  This multi-institutional initiative aims to enhance data integration, interoperability, and reuse in the biosciences through developing and implementing metadata frameworks and ontological models.

 

As part of our interdisciplinary team within the Workflows and Ecosystem Services group, housed in the Advanced Technologies section at the National Center for Computational Sciences, part of the Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), you'll collaborate with experts across diverse fields.  Together, we address some of the most compelling challenges in science and technology, utilizing cutting-edge technologies and developing innovative solutions.  This role offers a unique opportunity to grow, inspire, and make significant contributions to scientific discovery.

 

As a beacon of ingenuity within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratories, ORNL boasts an illustrious 80-year legacy of tackling global challenges head-on.  With a vibrant community of over 6,000 dedicated professionals, we don't just envision the future; we create it.  Our strategic vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is at the core of our ethos, ensuring ORNL is not just a premier workplace but a diverse crucible of ideas, fostering excellence and innovation across every endeavor.  These principles are the bedrock of our mission to expedite transformative scientific discoveries into tangible solutions for energy, the environment, and national security.

 

Major Duties/Responsibilities

• Lead the development and refinement of metadata standards and ontologies for bioscience datasets, focusing on the DataFed platform.
• Collaborate with domain experts to ensure the relevance and applicability of ontological models to the scientific community.
• Implement and assess methods for integrating diverse bioscience data sources, enhancing their discoverability and usability.
• Contribute to high-impact publications and present findings at prestigious scientific conferences.
• Engage actively with the broader scientific community to advocate for adopting metadata and ontological standards.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace—how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

 

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biosciences, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or a related field with a strong emphasis on data management in the last 5 years.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with FAIR data principles.
• Experience in interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
• Strong background in metadata standards, ontologies, and data integration.
• Experience with bioinformatics tools and databases.
• Excellent programming skills (e.g., Python, R) and familiarity with semantic web technologies (e.g., RDF, OWL).
• A good collaborator and listener, with a questioning mindset.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to think critically.