The GBIF Secretariat is seeking a motivated and focused individual who combines broad understanding of landscape and structure of data on malaria and other disease vectors worldwide with operational experience of data publishing through GBIF across evidence and data types.
The contractor will primarily support GBIF’s collaboration with Vector Atlas, a project led by the University of Oxford with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. By establishing the flow of data between Vector Atlas and GBIF, the selected candidate will help ensure the persistence, relevance and fitness-for-use of biodiversity data applied toward improved research and decision-making for vector-borne diseases.
Project context
The Vector Atlas project aims to build a platform that includes:
- The Vector Atlas data hub, a repository of vector data that holds, at its core, fully updated datasets of occurrence, bionomics and insecticide resistance (IR) data for the dominant vector species (DVS) of malaria, expanded to include prominent secondary vectors
- An intuitive and easy-to-use interface that allows data producers, including primary stakeholders (the vector experts conducting the on-the-ground vector surveys, IR evaluations and other anopheline focused studies), to search, filter and download the datasets and upload new field data
- A suite of spatial products tailored to the needs of stakeholders, including data producers, policymakers and modellers
- Automated two-way links to other vector data repositories as to ensure that data producers can maximize the value of the data they share while only needing to upload it to one platform
GBIF will support Vector Atlas's project objectives by sharing best practices on data mobilization, FAIR implementation and data citation. GBIF will communicate with Capgemini Engineering and icipe—the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, a GBIF Associate Participant—to develop automated two-way data sharing between our respective databases. GBIF will also be key contributors to stakeholder meetings. In this context, the contractor will advance GBIF’s support for research and the science-policy interface, strengthen implementation of the GBIF 2023-2027 Strategic Framework and pursue recommendations from the CODATA Twenty-year Review of GBIF.
Contractor role and tasks
The contractor has the primary role of supporting GBIF’s involvement in the Vector Atlas project while upholding our wider commitment to improving data relevance, coverage and interoperability. The contractor will liaise with the Vector Atlas project and will be responsible for data mobilization and cross-linking related to the following priority lines:
- Support Capgemini and icipe to build a multi-way data sharing system, focusing on data flows between the Vector Atlas database and GBIF
- Ensure that data flows fulfill the FAIR Principles and are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable
- Represent GBIF at relevant Vector Atlas meetings and workshops and at thematically relevant conferences
Additional tasks
- Identify, explore and prioritize mobilization opportunities for publishing data on disease vectors through GBIF while accounting for the requirements of research, policy, practice, data availability and data gaps
- Promote incentives for data publishing among researchers, institutions, and professional communities focused on vectors of human disease
- Support the GBIF task group on mobilization and use of biodiversity data for research and policy on human diseases and interact with other expert communities
Required skills and experience
- Hands-on experience on publishing and accessing GBIF mediated data
- Experience or familiarity with biodiversity data and biodiversity informatics, including knowledge of data standards, data management and data citation
- Knowledge of data aggregation and digital atlas approaches in biodiversity research and data projects
- Higher academic degree, experience and publication record in relevant discipline(s)
- Broad understanding of biological and ecological sciences
- Deep understanding of the domain of vector-borne diseases research and data highly desirable
- Personal motivation to maximize data availability and access across disciplines
- Project management experience in research or data intensive sector(s), with the demonstrated ability to balance parallel assignments while delivering reliable, consistent results
- Knowledge of discipline-specific data management patterns and activities relating to sharing biodiversity data
- Networking and interactions experience with research and data communities
- Strong intercultural communication and coordination skills, ability to achieve compromise and secure delivery across academic traditions and data cultures through online and in-person interactions
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Demonstrated ability to work individually and in a team environment, including remotely from the home base
- Willingness to engage in work-related travel
This is an exciting opportunity for the right individual to develop or build international and cross-disciplinary experience in supporting evidence-driven research and policy for the benefit of science and society. If your motivation, interests and experience match these requirements, we look forward to hearing from you.
The contract will be coordinated by the GBIF Scientific Officer.
Budget, schedule and time commitments
The GBIF Secretariat is offering a two-year contract starting in December 2022 or January 2023. We expect that the work commitment will be full-time during the contract period. To enable coordination, at least some of the working hours should fall within regular business hours for Denmark, the location of the GBIF Secretariat. Travel and meeting attendance costs are covered separately by GBIF.
Location
The selected candidate is expected to carry out work primarily at their home base or host institution, with occasional work visits to the Secretariat. Applicants currently associated with a GBIF node should include a statement of endorsement from the GBIF Head of Delegation or Node Manager, whose contact information appears on the Participation tab of the country pages (example).
Application procedure and deadline
Applications should be written in English and include:
- A letter of application, max two (2) pages, addressing your experience in respect to the listed responsibilities and requested qualifications, and why you feel you are the right person for the job
- A curriculum vitae, max two (2) pages - but with possible annexes such as lists of publications and data projects
- The names of two referees
Please submit your application by email to info@gbif.org by Tuesday, 15 November 2022, indicating where you saw this advertisement.
Enquiries concerning the contract can be addressed to the Scientific Officer, Dmitry Schigel.
Contract is offered for two years. Our goal is for the successful contractor to start in December 2022 or January 2023, so applicants are requested to indicate their availability in the application letter.