The Global and Geo Health Data Centre (GGHDC) archives high resolution environmental data with national to global coverage to support research into the effect of environment on health. It contains software to combine environmental information and mobility data of individuals to calculate personal environmental exposures of individuals in health cohorts. Personal exposures are disseminated through a web portal.

The GGHDC is looking for a spatial data/software engineer to contribute to the design and implementation of micro service software components of the GGHDC web service and related client side software. Microservice software components to be developed include software capable of ingesting external data into the GGHDC by using standard web service protocols (e.g. OGC Web Coverage Service, Web Feature Service). Client side software includes spatial data obfuscation tools enabling the use of the GGHDC web service with privacy sensitive data. The software will be developed in cooperation with geoinformation scientists in the GGHDC team. In addition, the spatial data engineer will support data management in the GGHDC project, for instance related to the use and management of open source spatial data sets such as OpenStreetMap. The spatial data engineer will contribute as co-author to scientific publications written by GGHDC team members.

The successful candidate has expertise in microservices, web services for (spatial) data, open source spatially enabled internet applications and experience with multiple software development environments (preferably including Python). Candidates from various information science and geoscience fields are invited to apply, as long as they have a strong background in spatial data engineering.

The research will be done in close cooperation with members of the GGHDC team including experts in high performance geocomputation, geostatisticians, social & physical geographers, and health researchers.

The candidate holds a MSc or PhD degree in a relevant area e.g. earth sciences, geographical information science, informatics, or a closely related field. Selection criteria for the position will include the experience with spatial data engineering, his/her academic track record and communication skills.

A fulltime one year research position with the possibility of extension to two years at the level of junior researcher or postdoc, depending on the background of the candidate. We offer flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model), partially paid parental leave, a pension scheme and collective insurance schemes. Facilities for sports and childcare are available on our campus, which is only 15 minutes away from the historical city centre of Utrecht. The gross starting salary is between € 2,588 and € 4,084 per month, dependent on qualifications and experience (scale 10 of the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities). The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% per year. Conditions are based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities. The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on all aspects of the project. Read more information about working at Utrecht University here.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

Utrecht University has been ranked first nationally in the 2016 Academic Ranking of World Universities, and 65th globally. The University is committed to a strategies orientation on four overarching themes, which include ‘Sustainability’ and ‘Institutions’. The city of Utrecht is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands, with a charming old center and an internationally oriented culture that is strongly influenced by its century-old university. Utrecht city has been consistently ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the Netherlands.

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences offers education and research concerning the geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere. With 2.200 students (BSc and MSc) and 550 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty is organised in four departments: 1. Earth Sciences, 2. Physical Geography, 3. Innovation, Environmental & Energy Sciences and 4. Human Geography & Urban & Regional Planning.

The Department of Physical Geography has the ambition to excel in research and education on BSc, MSc and PhD level. Its research focuses on processes, patterns and dynamics of Earth’s continental and coastal systems, and on the interaction between these processes. This knowledge is essential for the sustainable management of our planet and to guarantee the availability of resources for the next generations.