BACKGROUND:
The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (see http://www.nescent.org) seeks a highly motivated Research Programmer responsible for data modeling, database design, middleware implementation, and implementation of web and data services. The incumbent will collaborate with scientists and software developers to develop a novel system for the analysis of developmental and phenotypic diversity data using ontologies. This position is in the context of an NSF-funded research collaboration with Paula Mabee (U. of South Dakota), Monte Westerfield (U. of Oregon) and the National Center for Biomedical Ontology (see http://phenomap.nescent.org).

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The incumbent will be responsible for creating the data model, schema, server-side middleware, and programming libraries that enable the building of client applications to create, store, browse, search, and manipulate a database of phenotypic knowledge. You will gather requirements from scientists and collaborating developers; determine functional and technical specifications; analyze, design, develop, maintain, document, and test new and existing database schemas, object models, APIs, and software; use and contribute to standards; advise collaborators and supervisors on emerging technologies in semantic knowledge engineering; create technical documentation, contribute to scientific publications; recommend software fixes and enhancements; present work at scientific meetings; advise supervisor and collaborators of priorities, problems and proposed solutions.

REQUIREMENTS:

Required qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Bioinformatics, or related field
• Two or more years of significant experience in database design, middleware implementation, API design, and object-relational mapping
• Thorough knowledge of relational data modeling, ERDs, and normalizing schemas; experience with translating domain models into relational schemas, experience with data warehousing principles
• Proficiency in the DDL and DML elements of SQL, and understanding of advanced elements (e.g., sub-queries, views, triggers, stored procedures)
• Demonstrated ability to architect, design, and implement object models and middleware on top of databases
• Solid understanding of and experience with modern object-relational mapping and middleware technologies and programming frameworks (e.g., JDBC, J2EE/EJB, CMP, JDO, Hibernate)
• Experience with designing, implementing, or using resources in an SOA environment (e.g., SOAP, REST, CORBA, JAX-WS)
• Familiarity with basic Semantic Web concepts, terminology, standards, and formats (such as XML, XSD, RDF, RDF/XML, triple stores, reasoning, CL)
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical scientific audiences

Preferred qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Bioinformatics, or related field
• Three or more years of relevant and significant experience, and at least two years of experience programming Java
• Thorough knowledge of basic and advanced elements of database design and programming, such as views, triggers, stored procedures, query optimization, data warehousing, ideally using a PostgreSQL database
• Knowledge of and experience with Semantic Web concepts, terminology, standards, and formats
• Prior experience and/or education in biology (in particular genetics and evolution) or using or creating ontologies
• Demonstrated ability to work and thrive in a collaborative team environment, and to fluidly interact with local and external open-source developer communities; familiarity with agile development methodologies
• Proficient knowledge of software development best practices, such as design patterns, reuse, modularity, unit testing, usability testing
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to scholarly publications

LOCALE:
NESCent is located in Durham, NC, which is part of the research triangle. The area is regularly ranked among the best places to work and live in the US.

COMPENSATION:
Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. University of North Carolina employee benefits apply.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please send cover letter, resume, and the contact information for three references to the Asst. Director of Informatics, Hilmar Lapp (hlapp[at]nescent.org). Further inquiries about the position may be directed to Mr. Lapp by email, or by phone at +1-919-668-5288.