The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute is dedicated to understanding how the brain gives rise to mental life and behavior, both in health and in disease. Our research community draws from and informs multiple disciplines, including neuroscience, medicine, engineering, psychology, education, and law. The discoveries that arise from these collaborations will transform our understanding of the human brain, provide novel treatments for brain disorders, and promote brain health throughout the lifespan.
The Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (VPDoR) provides guidance and support to facilitate, nurture, and safeguard a thriving research ecosystem at Stanford University. IT Strategy & Services (ITSS) in the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean of Research (VPDoR) engages in collaborative campus-wide initiatives on emerging practice areas related to research, such as open science & data sharing, persistent identifiers, and devising integrations between systems to reduce admin burden or build new efficiencies, utilizing a user-centered, service design perspective. ITSS also guides, runs, and enhances systems and websites critical to research funding and policy, including DoResearch, SOLO, and SeedFunding sites at Stanford.
This position will be situated in the Wu Tsai Neurosciences institute, reporting to and supported by IT Strategy & Services, and overseen by a faculty lead who is an expert in research data and computation.
Our VPDoR Diversity Journey:
- We create a hub of innovation through the power of diversity of disciplines and people.
- We provide equitable access and opportunity to all members of the community in order to do their best work, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
- We listen to and value all colleagues who bring diverse perspectives to the advancement and development of a respectful community.
- We promote a culture of belonging, equity, and safety.
- We embed these values in excellence of education, research, and operation.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The Neural Data Architect will work with research teams affiliated with the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute to develop efficient data management best practices and workflows.
This person will receive in-depth training and will have the support and guidance needed to be successful in this role. While we expect that the various labs that we engage will become proficient and self-sufficient in these new practices, the Neural Data Architect will be a practice leader, and a source for support, knowledge, and refinement of technique, with the guidance of the faculty PI, and the support of the Research IT & Innovation team in the dean’s office.
This recruitment is for a full time (100% FTE), two (2) year fixed term. Extension beyond the initial 2 years will be based on available funding and operational need.
CORE DUTIES:
- Collaborate with research labs affiliated with the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute to assist them in implementing best-practices towards developing scalable research data infrastructure spanning data acquisition, data curation, data processing, pipeline development, data querying, and data archiving.
- Consult on data handling decisions spanning on-premises vs cloud storage and computation, appropriately balancing the need for rapid results and mitigating cost, deploying hybrid solutions as needed
- Educate researchers on existing and accessible research infrastructure at Stanford to facilitate reliable and cost-effective research processes
- Lead training workshops on best-practices for data handling to the Stanford community
- Assist research faculty in the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute to comply with Federal data retention requirements for sponsored research projects
- Review submissions to research group specific data lakes for quality and relevancy; build high throughput data pipelines; abstract information in the required formats.
- Contribute to documentation and/or papers drawing from information submitted to research group specific data lakes and pipeline frameworks.
- Work with users to determine ways of using the information in their group specific data lake, which may include the development of new user interfaces; work with developers to translate the needs of the users into new functionality.
- Promote the use of data lakes and data pipelines to researchers as a tool to be used in their research and to efficiently manage, store, work with, and archive their research data.
- Identify new functionality and user interfaces that would enhance the use of research group specific data lakes and data pipelines.
- Participate in presentations and demonstrations of data lakes and data pipelines locally within the institute, at conferences, or other institutions.
- Collect and analyze information using the Cloud-based, Robust, Efficient, Analytic, Methodology.
Additional specific tasks may include:
- Advising on how to archive raw datasets quickly and safely from acquisition systems to primary data storage spaces to prevent loss
- Crafting of dataset naming and organization conventions
- Designing frameworks for metadata tagging of data (raw or derivative)
- Conversion of datasets into accessible derivative formats/filesystems that are optimized for high-bandwidth, low-latency, parallel access
- HDF5, HDFS, Parquet, AVRO, Arrow
- Development of dataset processing pipelines using common DevOps tools (CI/CD in GitHub/GitLab, Jenkins, Apache Beam, etc)
- Assisting in the designing of code to easily scale from single-threaded execution to parallel/cluster execution
- Development of data visualization tools and frameworks
- bokeh, panel/holoviz, dash/plotly, Shiny/RStudio, AWS QuickSight/GCP Data Studio
- Implementing code repository best practices
- Educating researchers on the existing digital services available at Stanford
- Drafting of and consulting on data management plans
- Assisting in archiving of data in sponsored research projects for compliance with Federal data retention policies and agreements
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Education & Experience:
Master’s degree in a scientific field and three years of relevant experience or combination of relevant experience.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Proficiency with numerical n-d arrays, relational databases, data integration.
- Previous experience and education in neuroscience is desired, but not required.
- Proficiency in Linux and command-line computer operation
- Proficiency with data management principles (e.g., FAIR principles), code management and version control (Git, GitHub/GitLab), programming languages and data analysis packages (Python, R, codebooks such as Jupyter or Colab), cloud infrastructure (GCP, AWS, etc), REST APIs, and serverless architecture. We do not expect this person to be an expert in all our tools. Instead, we are looking for someone with a strong academic and technical/analytical background, a curious mind, and a quick learner that is facile with technology.
- Ability to understand scientific literature, experimental procedures and their limitations, and current needs of the research community.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:
- Frequently perform desk-based computer tasks, seated work and use light/ fine grasping.
- Occasionally stand, walk, and write by hand, lift, carry, push pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.
* – Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- May work extended or non-standard hours based on project or business needs. Occasional local travel may be required.
- Some work may be performed in a laboratory setting.
WORK STANDARDS:
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
- Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
- Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University’s Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.
For On-site or Hybrid positions:
The expected pay range for this position is $92,000 to $125,000 per annum.
Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.
Why Stanford is for You
Imagine a world without search engines or social platforms. Consider lives saved through first-ever organ transplants and research to cure illnesses. Stanford University has revolutionized the way we live and enrich the world. Supporting this mission is our diverse and dedicated 17,000 staff. We seek talent driven to impact the future of our legacy. Our culture and unique perks empower you with:
- Freedom to grow. We offer career development programs, tuition reimbursement, or audit a course. Join a TedTalk, film screening, or listen to a renowned author or global leader speak.
- A caring culture. We provide superb retirement plans, generous time-off, and family care resources.
- A healthier you. Climb our rock wall, or choose from hundreds of health or fitness classes at our world-class exercise facilities. We also provide excellent health care benefits.
- Discovery and fun. Stroll through historic sculptures, trails, and museums.
- Enviable resources. Enjoy free commuter programs, ridesharing incentives, discounts and more!
The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.