BACKGROUND:
University of Alaska Fairbanks seeks a Unit Manager for the Life Science Informatics/ Epidemiology Biostatistics cores. These cores provide technical computing services, such as database development and management, data dissemination services, optimization of technical software, custom data analysis pipelining, maintenance of computational clusters, and user training workshops to facilitate the growth and maintenance of a diverse user group. This position is jointly supported by campus-wide research groups, including the Center for Alaska Native Health Research (CANHR), the IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), the IAB Spatial Ecology Laboratory, and grants to individual researchers.

More information about the supporting programs can be found here:

CANHR: http://canhr.uaf.edu
INBRE: http://www.alaska.edu/inbre/
Life Science Informatics: http://biotech.inbre.alaska.edu

REQUIREMENTS:
The position requires significant attention to both substance and detail and a commitment to working collaboratively with faculty and staff involved in the Institute of Arctic Biology, as well as at other UA campuses. The Manager will interact with up to 150 researchers on a regular basis, and oversee the work of programmers and system analysts with an operational budget of approximately $750,000/yr. Experience with computer hardware including networks, clusters and servers, as well as an understanding of programming and scripting are also required. Capability in Red Hat or any Linux is required, while familiarity with SQL, PHP and/or Perl are strong pluses. Additionally, experiences in any field of bioinformatics are pluses.

Also desired are strong communication skills; human resource skills for management of the work flow for a small highly skilled and professional team, including direct supervision, budget authority and planning responsibilities. Typical education should include a graduate degree in bioinformatics, biology, medical science or a related field with strong computational aspects, or information technology/mathematics/statistics or related field with demonstrated biology underpinnings.

Required:

• A graduate degree in biology, bioinformatic, medical sciences, or a related, technical, scientific discipline
• Strong communication skills to be able to work with researchers to determine their bioinformatic needs; Human resource skills for management of the work flow for a small highly skilled and professional team
• Experience in managing bioinformatic projects
• Experience with computer hardware including networks, clusters, and linux servers
• Understandings of programming, scripting and data-bases

PREFERENCES:

• Effective communication skill
• Ability to communicate with a wide range of biologists with little computer experiences Strong supervisory/management skill

TERMS:
Full-time position. starts immediately, but starting date can be negotiated.

LOCALE:
Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

University of Alaska Fairbanks (http://www.uaf.edu) is the flagship university of Alaska with more than 10,000 students. There are active research programs in Biology (http://www.iab.uaf.edu) as well as in Chemistry and Biochemistry (http://www.uaf.edu/chem/). LSI also provides the support to researchers in UA Anchorage (http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/biology/).

Additional information about Fairbanks, Alaska:
Fairbanks, Alaska is an exciting place for many people. This job offers a life-time opportunity for you to experience a vibrant, diverse, and adventurous life within the comfort of a medium-sized city. It is conveniently located and a direct flight from Seattle WA takes only 3.5 hours. The magnificent Denali National Park, which offers unparalleled wilderness experience, is just a 1.5 hour drive to the south. For more hard core adventure, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park are also nearby. You can enjoy the midnight sun during the summer. Even in the winter, we have a lot of fun things to do, like cross country skiing, snowboarding, snow machining, and dog sledding. The shortest day is about 4 hours, but there is plenty of light before sunrise and after sunset. There is very little wind in winter, so even though the temperature is low, it does not feel as cold as Chicago. Fairbanks also offers lots of cultural activities, such as an active music and arts community and film and music festivals (e.g., http://www.fsaf.org).

Most people from outside of Fairbanks have no idea of the excellent quality of life here. Many of us have fallen in love with the Last-Frontier State. I hope you'll take this opportunity to join us.

COMPENSATION:
Salary will be based on applicants skill set and previous experience. But approximately $80,000-90,000. Full benefit.

HOW TO APPLY:
Go to http://UAKJOBS.COM. Select "Staff Jobs", and find posting number: 0061684

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Naoki Takebayashi, ntakebayashi[at]alaska.edu
Search committee chair for LSI/EB core manager.

DEADLINE:
First review will be May 1, 2011. The position will be open until it is filled.