RESEARCHER/PROGRAMMER

Req #: 240285 Department: SCHOOL OF AQUATIC AND FISHERY SCIENCES Appointing Department Web Address: Job Location Detail: Columbia Basin Research, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington Posting Date: 10/25/2024 Closing Info: Closes On 11/04/2024 Salary: $5,500 - $6,650 per month Shift: First Shift Notes: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here. ( As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world. UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. The two main fields of research related to this position are: 1) applied ecology and 2) information technology. The position is engaged in applied research and programming of online tools related to the impacts of regulated river operations and changing environmental conditions on salmon and population recovery. More specifically, the research includes the development of state-of-the-art tools for management of endangered fish species in large, regulated river systems. The research and programming conducted by this position will be accessible to other researchers, stakeholders, rightsholders, and the public through the Columbia River Basin (CBR) website ( which provides access to historical and real-time data, predictions, and analytical tools. The position's major duties and responsibilities include: 1) handling large data sets with samples sizes greater than a million data points, 2) collaborating in study design and analysis, 3) communicating study findings to support decision-making and management of regulated rivers and endangered migratory fishes, and 4) developing and maintaining online tools with human-centered design for natural resource practitioners, managers, policy makers, etc. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Research and Analysis [50%] • Discover and acquire fisheries and environmental datasets relevant to ecological research. • Collaborate with other researchers on designing research studies and analytical methods. • Run analytical models of salmon responses, including survival, abundance, and migration. • Assist with applying innovative analytical methods related to ecological processes, decision-making, and management of natural resources. • Document versions of analytical models and research in progress. • Prepare scripts for analyses in GitHub and finalize for publication. • Collaborate with other researchers on writing for peer-reviewed publications. • Write sections of technical reports in coordination with other researchers. Programming [30%] • Program scripts for interactive data visualization tools and interactive modeling tools. • Perform self-directed data and script testing to develop, debug and improve products. • Prepare and write end-user documentation. • Collaborate with others on cross-functional teams. • Provide technical support and expertise to other Research Scientists/Consultants, Systems Analyst/Programmer, Computer Support Analyst, and Web Computing Specialist with data and tool development. Data and Database Administration [15%] • Assist in obtaining and disseminating appropriate metadata for each primary source. • Assist in designing and implementing effective QC procedures for publicly available data. • Assist in creating effective SQL to deliver accurate, functional query results. • Assist with providing custom, curated, datasets as requested by team members and the public. Regional Outreach [5%] • Work with CBR staff and regional partners to develop data tools and research products. • Provide feedback to primary sources on dataflow and QA/QC issues. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS Bachelor's degree in Ecology, Information Science, Computer Science, Biometry or related field, and two years of ecology, information, computer sciences experience or other relevant experience; OR Equivalent combination of education/experience. Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS • Working knowledge and experience with R or other relevant analytical software. • Working knowledge and experience with R Shiny apps or other interactive online tools. • Experience in database administration of PostgreSQL database management systems. • Working knowledge of at least one programming language; e.g., Perl, Python. • Working knowledge of at least one scripting language; e.g., bash, sed, awk. • Experience with Git/GitHub or other version control systems. • Experience with open science practices. • Strong written and oral communication skills. • Ability to work in a collaborative setting. • Ability to establish and maintain positive, ethical, and professional interpersonal relationships. DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS • Interest in supporting the scientific process leading to insights and understanding of natural resources and ecological processes to help with conservation, fishery management, research, and collaboration with communities. • At least two years of experience in programming with a collaborative team. • Demonstrated ability to develop dynamic map-based web content. • Demonstrated ability to work independently and execute logical judgement. • Demonstrated ability to work with users to analyze and develop solutions to meet work needs, train effectively, and write usable documentation for internal and external end-user use. • Outstanding interpersonal skills, including team ethic and relationship building. • Demonstrates an inquisitive mind to learn quickly and innovate collaboratively. • Ability to establish and maintain positive, ethical, and professional working relationships with UW community and other professional contacts from a wide variety of backgrounds in the region"”including members of racial, ethnic, and sexual minority populations"”and be respectful of individual and cultural differences. The position is funded for 2 years with additional time based on availability of funding. Application Process: The application process may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select "Apply to this position". Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you log into your "My Jobs" page. If you choose to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed. University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other things, race, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Created: 2024-11-05