Research Computing Facilitator - University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
About the Job
Department: Information Services - Research Advanced Computing Services
Appointment Type and Duration: Regular, Ongoing
Salary: $110,000 - $120,000 per year
Compensation Band: OS-OA11-Fiscal Year 2024-2025
FTE: 1.0
Application Review Begins
August 12, 2024; position open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants
To ensure consideration, please include the following with your online application:
• A current resume or CV;
• A cover letter that demonstrates how your skills and experience meet the minimum and preferred qualifications, which includes identifying any transferable/non-traditional skills.
We are interested in finding the best candidate for the position. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t think you meet every one of our preferred qualifications - use your application to let us know what is meaningful to you about the role and what transferable skills or other qualities you would bring.
Department Summary
Research Advanced Computing Services (RACS), a department within Information Services, works across the University to help support the computational, data, and technology needs of our researcher community. RACS architects and manages high-performance computing systems, provides communication and outreach activities, and delivers individual consultation, support, and training to enable researchers to maximize their productivity in research and teaching.
Information Services (IS) is the central information technology organization at the University of Oregon, delivering a broad range of technology and services to the University. IS consists of four major functional areas: Customer Experience, which serves as the key contact point for interactions with campus clients and customers; Enterprise Solutions, which manages and supports applications, integration services, identity management and data management; Information Security, which helps protect virtual or physical information; and Technology Infrastructure, which provides engineering and support for research IT services and high-performance computing, networking, compute, storage, voice, data centers, audio-visual and classroom technologies, and UO staff supporting Link Oregon, Oregon’s state-wide research and education network.
Founded in 1876, the University of Oregon (UO) is a Carnegie R1 research university, a member of the 65-member Association of American Universities (AAU), and the state’s flagship campus. UO enrolls more than 22,000 undergraduate and 3,600 graduate students representing all 50 states and 99 countries, and is an integral economic driver for the state, with an estimated $2.6 billion annual economic return to Oregon. In FY 2022, the University received $180M in competitively awarded research grants and contacts. The University’s teaching and research faculty total nearly 2,000. Since 2014, UO has operated under an independent governing structure that supports its ability to chart new directions, improve entrepreneurial activity, and invent creative programming. Since then, the University has raised over $3.2 billion in support of partnerships and opportunities in academic, research, and innovation excellence. Recent efforts include new initiatives focused on the environment, innovation and entrepreneurship, and the humanities, as well as an interdisciplinary data-science initiative.
UO is proud of the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, a $1.5B initiative specifically designed to fast-track scientific discoveries and the process of turning those discoveries into innovations that improve the quality of life for people in Oregon, the nation, and beyond. Rooted in the University of Oregon’s 60-year history of interdisciplinary collaboration, the Knight Campus catalyzes new research opportunities, forges partnerships with industrial and clinical practitioners, and provides integrated experiential training for the next generation of citizen scientists and entrepreneurs. Initial faculty expertise is in areas such as regenerative medicine, human performance, biofunctional materials, medical devices and biosensors, neural engineering, protein engineering and synthetic biology. The Department of Bioengineering will be housed in the Knight Campus’ spectacular new building that opened in 2020. A second 175,000 square foot building is scheduled for completion in 2025.
In addition to transformative investments in Eugene, UO is developing its presence in Portland, OR at both downtown and northeast campuses, creating an urban laboratory for professional degree programs managed in close partnership with industry expertise.
Position Summary
The Research Computing Facilitator (RCF) will be a key link between the Research Advanced Computing Services (RACS) team and the research community at the University of Oregon (UO). This position will be responsible for helping researchers at UO understand and utilize RACS, cloud, and NSF ACCESS resources.
The successful candidate will have a strong background in academic research and in supporting computational research especially in the fields of data science, machine learning, and AI.
The RCF will provide consulting and technical support for a broad spectrum of UO researchers. This support will consist of experimental design, large data workflows, design of data analysis, applications of Machine Learning and AI, and design of computational paradigms to improve research outcomes. This position will be expected to identify and participate in collaborative funding proposals and research, and may be a Principal Investigator (PI) or CoPI on grant proposals.
The Research Computing Facilitator will take a leadership role in developing a strategic plan for promoting further growth of the research facilitation service provided by RACS. The RCF will create metrics to determine the success of the research facilitation service and assess the impacts of the growth plan.
The RCF will represent RACS and UO by engaging with the broader national research computing efforts through attending research conferences and workshops, publishing scientific papers and contributing to open-source research focused software projects.
The Research Computing Facilitator at UO will be part of and work collaboratively with the RACS staff. This is a highly integrated team and the ability to work collaboratively is essential.
In addition, the successful candidate is a problem solver with excellent troubleshooting skills, has excellent written and oral communication skills, can work effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences, can self-direct and adjust to shifts in priorities, and is someone who values and appreciates different perspectives and diverse backgrounds.
Minimum Requirements
• A graduate degree in any field that included a significant research computing component.
• Research experience that includes the application of advanced computing to solve research problems.
• Linux command line experience and programming experience with a modern language such as R, Python, or C++.
Professional Competencies
• Data Science interest and expertise
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Strong technical and problem-solving skills
• Work effectively in a diverse team environment and create effective relationships for problem solving and positive interactions.
• Maintain a respectful workplace and model a positive and proactive attitude.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in developing research-focused software applications, using modern software development tools such as version control and continuous integration.
• Experience with developing data analysis and/or data management pipelines.
• Experience using the R or Python languages to support research
• Experience using machine learning and/or artificial intelligence techniques to solve scientific problems.
• Developing and optimizing software for use on GPUs in either a compiled or interpreted programming language.
• Experience with grant proposal development and/or coordination.
• Experience with engaging researchers at all levels to provide research expertise in the use of on-prem HPC, cloud HPC and NSF ACCESS resources.
FLSA Exempt: Yes
All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.
The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit https://hr.uoregon.edu/about-benefits.
The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.
UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy (including pregnancy-related conditions), age, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including family medical history), ancestry, familial status, citizenship, service in the uniformed services (as defined in federal and state law), veteran status, expunged juvenile record, and/or the use of leave protected by state or federal law in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Office of Investigations and Civil Rights Compliance. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed here.
In compliance with federal law, the University of Oregon prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and services. The Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://clery.uoregon.edu/annual-campus-security-and-fire-safety-report.
