[ecoinfo] Ecological Informatics Position at U. Wyoming

[Jeffrey D. Hamerlinck]

Dear Colleagues,

The University of Wyoming's Geographic Information Science Center and Department of Geography are currently advertising a joint research scientist position in ecological informatics. The full advertisement is appended below. Please circulate widely.

Thanks,

Jeff Hamerlinck
Director, Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center
University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071 USA

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Ecological Informatics Specialist (Assistant Research Scientist)
Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center and Department of Geography
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY USA

Position Summary
The University of Wyoming (UW) invites application for an Assistant Research Scientist academic professional in the area of ecological informatics. This is a new position designed to build expertise across campus in both ecoinformatics and geographic information science as part of a university-wide ecology initiative supported by the NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.  The Specialist will serve as a member of the research staff of the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center (WyGISC), with affiliations in the Center's Ecoinformatics and Technical Services programs, and with an academic appointment in the Department of Geography. This is a full-time, permanent appointment with a preferred start date of July 1, 2006. Salary is competitive and the position is eligible for full UW employee benefits.     

Responsibilities
The duties of the Specialist will focus on support for integrated spatio-temporal based ecological research within WyGISC and the UW Program in Ecology. Research responsibilities will include: 1) improving access to ecological data, information and computational services through data acquisition, data integration, and management activities; 2) developing and implementing spatio-temporal data analysis and modeling techniques; and 3) participation in the development of collaborative initiatives and programs between WyGISC and the UW Program in Ecology. Teaching responsibilities will include instruction of one upper division/graduate course per year, alternately between Ecological Applications of Informatics and Geographic Information Science Applications in Ecology (or an approved substitute). The Specialist will also be responsible for occasionally conducting formal and informal workshop training in ecological informatics for Program in Ecology participants and the broader environmental science community. Service responsibilities will include advising collaborators on ecological informatics concepts, techniques and applications, supporting the WyGISC Ecoinformatics Program Advisory Committee, and presenting occasional seminars on pertinent topics in ecological informatics and related geographic information science topics for the campus community.

Professional Development
All University of Wyoming Academic Professional personnel are required to participate in professional development activities as part of their work load. The expanding role of geographic information science and ecoinformatics in environmental research at UW and the support provided by the NSF EPSCoR Ecology Program creates considerable opportunity for professional growth.  These include the potential for developing a more significant individual research program blending geographic information science with ecological informatics, as well as a role in shaping broader informatics initiatives on campus.  

Qualifications
Minimum qualifications include: 
* Postgraduate degree in an appropriate environmental science field, emphasizing work with spatio-temporal environmental data; 

* Demonstrated knowledge of fundamental concepts in informatics and geographic information science; 

* Demonstrated technical skills in: (a) database development & management; or (b) software application programming; 

* Two years relevant experience working in an interdisciplinary collaborative team research environment. 

Preferred qualifications include:  
* Knowledge of state-of-the-art research and development in the field of ecoinformatics, including ecology-specific data collection techniques, metadata implementation, distributed computing infrastructures, and workflow application development. 

* Successful teaching and outreach experience related to ecological informatics and geographic information science. 

* Advanced expertise in one or more of the following areas: 
o distributed computing and data management 
o data mining and knowledge discovery 
o spatio-temporal analysis and modeling 
o information visualization 
o scientific workflow design and implementation. 

To Apply
Required application materials include the following: a brief cover letter indicating your interest in being considered and summarizing your qualifications for the position; a current curriculum vitae; and a two to three page statement relating your professional goals and experiences to the position and your view on how the position could support and advance ecology and geographic information science at the University of Wyoming.   

Applicants are encouraged to explore background information on WyGISC, the Department of Geography, and the interdisciplinary Program in Ecology as well as other relevant programs on campus (see www.wygisc.uwyo.edu/ecoinformatics for links).  

Applicants should submit all materials as PDF-format file attachments via e-mail with "ECOINFORMATICS POSITION" in the subject heading, and arrange for submittal of three reference letters (with phone and e-mail contact info) in the same manner to: Jeff Hamerlinck (E-mail: itasca at uwyo.edu ), Search Committee Chair and Director, Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center.

Screening of applicants will begin on March 16, 2006.  

The University of Wyoming is a Carnegie Foundation Research Extensive Institution, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer.