The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) invites applications for a Database manager and developer in the newly established Computational Support team. This team is part of the Lab & Infrastructure unit that supports the four scientific departments: Theoretical and Computational Ecology (TCE); Freshwater and Marine Ecology (FAME), Evolutionary and Population biology (EPB) and Ecosystem and Landscape Dynamics (ELD). The Database manager and developer will be involved with all four departments which have very different data requirements.

We are eager to find a data specialist who is exited to help us build the science research infrastructure for the future (virtual labs). Natural science research is facing an enormous challenge in dealing with the data deluge. At IBED we think that well-structured databases, linked to graphical front-ends and automated workflows will help to take our research a step further. We are looking for a colleague with good database and programming skills, who is at the same time communicative and highly motivated to support the ongoing research in ecology, evolution, earth and environmental sciences at IBED. The Database manager will be responsible for the maintenance and extension of several research databases, support scientists to use these by developing front-ends as well as analysis workflows, and support research data management and curation tasks at IBED.

The most important tasks will be:

• designing and building software infrastructure for handling terabyte-scale big data;
• developing and maintaining relational databases for various projects;
• PostgreSQL/PostGIS programming to implement queries and reports to support research;
• developing web-interfaces to facilitate easy access to database outputs;
• setting-up and maintaining meta-data management for IBED research data;
• exploring and testing new database developments (column-stores);
• organize and transfer knowledge on best practices for data management planning, data standardization and harmonization, database use, and metadata recording, e.g. via written tutorials and hands-on training.

• BSc or MSc in Informatics, Data Science, Computing, GIS, Biology or a related field with preferably 1-2 years of experience;
• familiarity with contemporary database software, web-frontends and SQL is essential;
• the candidate must be able to work independently on her or his tasks and be able to collaborate well with colleagues within IBED as well as the wider academic community. Good communication skills are essential for this position;
• fluent in English and adequate knowledge of Dutch or the willingness to learn the Dutch language within two years.

Experience with scientific research data management, the use of large datasets, familiarity with PostgreSQL/PostGIS (or other spatial database systems) and good mastery of a general purpose programming language is a plus.

We offer a challenging position in an exciting, internationally oriented, academic environment. Our employees enjoy a high degree of flexibility in working hours. Taking individual responsibility for the job and personal development are strongly encouraged by the University of Amsterdam.

The initial full-time appointment (38 hours per week) is offered for a period of one year. Part-time work is an option. Upon a positive evaluation of your performance you will subsequently be offered a permanent position. The gross monthly salary is in accordance with the University regulations for academic personnel and will range from €2,763 up to a maximum of €4,166 (salary scale 9 or 10), based on a full-time appointment and depending on qualifications and on the number of years of relevant professional experience, and will be supplemented with an 8 % holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities is applicable including a salary increase of 2.6% as from 1 February 2019.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

http://www.uva.nl/en/home

Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics

The Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) is one of eight research institutes of the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. The institute covers a wide range of subjects in both fundamental and applied research. Our scientific studies aim at a better understanding of the dynamics of ecosystems at all relevant levels, from genes to climate change, using a truly multi-disciplinary approach.

http://ibed.uva.nl/