[Taxacom] Analyst Programmer position available at University of Florida

[Nico Cellinese]

Web application and database programmer

The Florida Museum of Natural History is seeking a web application and  
database programmer to contribute to the design and implementation of  
databases and user interfaces supporting collaborative biological  
research over the web. The programmer will work with other Museum  
programmers, system administrators, and biologists to understand user  
requirements, develop new tools, design databases and user interfaces  
in support of the State's Museum informatics research program, and  
also must demonstrate ability to further research through innovative  
and independent thinking.  The web application will support worldwide  
collaborations on phylogenetic (Tree of Life) research, including  
information management and workflows for genetic data, museum  
collections, organism descriptions, and geospatial integration.

Experience with database and interface design is a must and emphasis  
will be placed on ultimate usability.  Familiarity with a variety of  
database and web application technologies, such as MySQL, PostgreSQL,  
Ruby on Rails, PHP, XML, RDF is desired.  Experience with other  
languages and technologies is a plus.  An ability to communicate  
complex computer science concepts to non-computer scientists is also  
desired.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE JOB AND THE PERCENTAGE OF TIME SPENT ON  
EACH FUNCTION

·           Web application development supporting phylogenetic  
research: - 40%

The employee will build upon existing applications currently coded in  
PHP and Ruby on Rails, implementing new tools and functionality as  
needed. Users require effective means to collaborate and share data  
through efficient and user-friendly interfaces.  Examples of pertinent  
technologies required by the project include, but are not limited to,  
the semantic web, ontologies and tagging, scientific workflows and  
pipelines, geospatial analysis and web mapping. Decisions as to which  
technologies will be utilized will be made with input from Curators of  
Informatics.

·           Database design and development: - 25%

Design and implemention of server-based backend databases based on  
analysis of existing standards, data models and related resources,  
both within the Museum and broader informatics communities.  The  
programmer must be able to assess the various types of complex  
biological data of interest to biological collaborators, and work with  
project directors and other computer programmers to devise ways that  
those data can be accessed and used by the researchers worldwide.

·           Project and team management – 15%

Leadership will be required in the planning and design of new  
functionality, including analysis of user, functional, and technical  
requirements and ongoing evaluations of project development, and  
creating a common data portal that integrates external information.   
This will require innovation on the part of the employee as well as  
staying abreast of current developments within the field of  
bioinformatics and computer science.  Other part-time and offsite  
programmers involved in the project will require support through  
collaboration tools, server virtualization, code repositories, code  
reviews, unit testing, bug tracking, etc.

·           Data management and migration  –   15%

The tree of life research community integrates diverse biological  
information knowledge using an equally diverse set of data management  
tools.  These data must be migrated and combined into federated  
databases.  The employee will help users manage their data and  
information through an interoperable portal research and online  
publication through the web.  These data are also made available to  
other researchers, students, and the general public.  The research  
community will be able to assemble, manage, and analyze their content  
in a user-friendly environment.  The general public might want to  
browse information about the planet’s biodiversity.  The ability to  
carry out research through a web application will make the work of the  
Museum and research community even more relevant to the public and  
researchers alike.  The employee will need to collaborate with other  
programmers and scientists in the museum and bioinformatics community  
to develop interoperable solutions with the broadest applicability and  
usability feasible.

·           Other duties as assigned 5%



This position requires the ability to work independently and to  
present innovative ideas and implementations to supervisors.  However  
the programmer will work closely with the Curators in Informatics and  
the Office of Museum Technology, and will report to the Museum’s Lead  
Programmer.  The employee will be given tasks and initial guidance,  
but the expectation is that they will work independently towards  
accomplishing the tasks with regular progress meetings with the  
supervisor and the Museum's Informatics Committee.

WORK SCHEDULE: Normal 40hrs/wk M-F work schedule.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE. Bachelor degree and at least 3  
years of experience in database programming and management. Applicants  
should be comfortable in a multi-platform environment, and should have  
working knowledge of SQL, PHP, Ruby on Rails, HTML, XML, and CSS,  
stored procedures. Prefered knowledge in at least one of the  
following: PostgreSQL, MySQL. Prefered knowledge of Linux, MAC OS X.  
Experience with Linux, Ajax, RDF, the semantic web, ontologies,  
workflows, mashups, web services, SOA is a plus.  Knowledge of basic  
biology and/or anthropology terminology is a plus.

SALARY: minimum starting salary $45,000, negotiable and commensurate  
with experience.

TO APPLY, PLEASE VISIT UFL JOB SITE: https://jobs.ufl.edu/



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Nico Cellinese, Ph.D.
Assistant Curator, Herbarium & Informatics
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Botany

Florida Museum of Natural History
University of Florida
354 Dickinson Hall, PO Box 117800
Gainesville, FL 32611-7800, U.S.A.
Tel. 352-273-1979
Fax 352-846-1861
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu