URL

http://www.nescent.org/main/employment.html#gmodhelpdesk

BACKGROUND

The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent), in partnership with the Generic Model Organism Database project (GMOD, http://www.gmod.org ), seeks a technical support specialist to craft written documentation, provide user support, and give tutorials on GMOD software. The participants in the GMOD project are developing a software suite intended to serve as a complete system for a model organism database, and NESCent seeks to promote the adoption of GMOD software, particularly for evolutionary model organisms with emerging genomic data.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Create documentation for end-users:

Create new documentation for software, including user manuals, FAQs and tutorials. Documentation will include the interaction among various components of the GMOD software suite. A specific example might be a tutorial for loading data into Chado (the GMOD database schema), setting up Gbrowse (a web-based genome browser), and configuring Apollo (a genome editor) to read and write data to Chado. Another example is documentation describing the procedure for incorporating new data types into Chado. As part the software documentation effort, install and maintain GMOD software (particularly Chado, GBrowse, CMap, Turnkey and Apollo, SynBrowse, Textpresso, Biomart).

2. Respond to user help requests:

Monitor mailing lists and web forums for support requests and either provide suitable answers or direct the question to an appropriate developer.

3. Communication and training:

Demonstrate software through tutorials and demonstrations.

4. Maintain website:

Update content on the GMOD community website.

REQUIREMENTS

Degree in biology, computer science or related field. Outstanding technical writing skills. Excellent verbal and presentation skills. Team orientation with outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.

Excellent technical writing, presentation and one-on-one communication skills. Experience with web programming and relational database management systems. Experience with BioPerl and GMOD. Experience with dynamic content-management systems (e.g, Drupal) is desirable. Freedom to travel extensively (up to 12 days/month).

LOCALE

Durham, NC, USA

HOW TO APPLY

Please provide cover letter, resume, and contact information to Brian Osborne (bosborne[at]alum.mit.edu). Questions concerning this position should also be addressed to Brian Osborne.