Post Masters Research Associate - Data Management for Crowdsourced Science

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

United States 🇺🇸

Job Description

Overview

PNNL’s Earth System Science Division enables energy independence and national security through leadership in earth systems science, engineering, and decision analytics. Our work focuses on solving complex problems in the dynamic Earth system. Our interdisciplinary scientists steward a breadth of efforts that encompass research on plants to groundwater science and coastal zones, to storm prediction.

Our research focuses on understanding and mitigating operational risks at the interface of human and natural environments. This includes predicting the impacts of natural hazards and extreme climate events on Earth and human systems, along with the impacts of wildfire, flooding, sea level rise and storm surges. We focus on understanding and mitigating environmental contamination and increasing the resiliency, security and sustainability of water resources. We provide geointelligence through advanced sensing and data analytics to forecast complex system behaviors and operational performance to understand human-natural systems. This includes informed decision making and enhanced community resilience, advanced monitoring, and remote sensing of environmental systems for energy and national security. It also includes developing energy systems, including geothermal energy, sustainable oil and gas production, storage and utilization, along with carbon sequestration.

Driven by a “science-to-solutions” philosophy, we provide scientific leadership and technology to enhance national security, mitigate natural hazards and optimize disaster response. In the critical areas of energy, environment, intelligence, and defense, we deliver insights and decision support through the development of tools and solutions.

Responsibilities

The Earth Systems Science Division at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is currently seeking a Post Masters Research Associate to join a team pursuing multiple crowdsourced science efforts focused on biological, chemical, and physical attributes of river corridors. The candidate will focus on data management aspects of these crowdsourced efforts, which are tied to the Worldwide Hydrobiogeochemistry Observation Network for Dynamic River Systems (WHONDRS; https://www.pnnl.gov/projects/WHONDRS) and the Integrated, Coordinated, Open, Networked (ICON) Science Cooperative (https://icon-science.pnnl.gov).

The candidate will have multiple opportunities such as contributing to (1) formal data management of numerous kinds of high-dimensional data derived from global crowdsourced and local sampling campaigns, (2) open data publishing ascribing to FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) data principles to enable further crowdsourced analysis and manuscript efforts, and (3) writing code to facilitate automation of data management, data publishing, and analysis. The candidate’s focus during their tenure will be driven in part by their interests and goals.

All work will be done in a team-based environment, and the candidate is expected to contribute to team goals and a productive and inclusive team environment.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Candidates must have received a Master’s degree within the past 24 months or within the next 8 months from an accredited college or university. 
  • Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 required.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Degree and/or significant demonstrated experience in data science, data management, environmental science, or related field. Minimum overall GPA of 3.5 is preferred. 
  • To be successful the candidate must have experience working in a team environment, be dedicated to an inclusive/supportive team culture, have very strong attention to detail, have excellent time management and communication skills, and be highly organized. 
  • In addition, the candidate must have experience in: (1) leading, managing, or contributing to research projects that advance scientific accessibility and equity and/or (2) formal data management and data publishing. While not required, there is a strong preference for candidates with experience scripting in R and/or Python, working knowledge of FAIR data principles, and experience with data standards or community data reporting formats.

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Not Applicable.

Additional Information

Not Applicable.

Testing Designated Position

Not Applicable.

About PNNL

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, flexible work schedules and telework options. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.

Commitment to Excellence, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Equal Employment Opportunity

Our laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment dedicated to solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. In support of this commitment, we encourage people of all racial/ethnic identities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at careers@pnnl.gov.

Drug Free Workplace

PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.

Beginning 05/01/23, if you are offered employment at PNNL, you must pass a drug test prior to commencing employment. PNNL complies with federal law regarding illegal drug use.  Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.  If you test positive for any illegal controlled substance, including marijuana, your offer of employment will be withdrawn. 

Mandatory Requirements

Battelle requires employees to have a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition of employment, subject to accommodation.  Applicants are required to disclose their vaccination status following a conditional offer of employment and must attest to being fully vaccinated with a Center for Disease Control (CDC)-approved COVID-19 vaccination, or provide documentation of need for medical or religious exemption from the COVID-19 vaccination requirement.

Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of employment.

Rockstar Rewards

Employees and their families are offered medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, health savings account, flexible spending accounts, basic life insurance, disability insurance*, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, tuition assistance, supplemental parental bonding leave**, surrogacy and adoption assistance, and fertility support. Employees are automatically enrolled in our company funded pension plan* and may enroll in our 401k savings plan. Employees may accrue up to 120 vacation hours per year and may receive ten paid holidays per year.

* Research Associates excluded.

**Once eligibility requirements are met.


POSITION TYPE

ORGANIZATION TYPE

EXPERIENCE-LEVEL

DEGREE REQUIRED

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