BFF-AFIRMS Data Coordinator

The University of Alberta; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Alberta in Edmonton hosts the BFF-AFIRMS data coordination role on a two-year term, based at North Campus and performed in person. The Data Coordinator will help build data and computing infrastructure to support forest genomics and tree improvement projects across the interdisciplinary team.

Key tasks include data curation and governance, managing large volumes of genomic and phenotypic data, and ensuring smooth data flow for decision-making and stakeholder communication.

Qualifications

• Experience with data curation and governance in a multi-disciplinary setting.
• Ability to design, test and maintain a relational database for genomic and phenotypic data.
• Familiarity with tree improvement programs and forest genetics data.

Responsibilities

• Support the development of BFF-AFIRMS data/computing infrastructure and decision-making workflow.
• Design, test, and maintain a relational database managing genomic, phenotypic, climate and site information.
• Optimize data flow across disciplines to support tree improvement decision-making and facilitate communication with end-users and stakeholders.

Skills

Data governance

Data curation

Relational databases

Genomics data familiarity

Data workflow optimization

Job description

This position has a term length of 2 years with the possibility of extension.

Location - This role is in-person. Work primarily takes place at North Campus, Edmonton.

BFF-AFIRMS, (Best Future Forest: Advanced Forest Genomics and Integrative Resource Management System), is a transformative initiative aimed at digitalizing forest resource management and tree improvement in Alberta (AB), Canada (CA). This is a joint effort across the Government of Alberta (GoA), forest industry partners of Tree Improvement of Alberta, University of Alberta (UofA, CA), and Oklahoma State University (USA). The initiative seeks to integrate high-throughput genotyping, predictive analytics, and decision-making science to ensure responsible stewardship of forest genetic resources in the face of climate challenges, and the growing demand for sustainable forest ecosystems and products.

Working with the BFF-AFIRMS team, the Data Coordinator will join our interdisciplinary team and support the development of BFF-AFIRMS data/computing infrastructure, decision-making workflow, and user experience. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in data curation and governance, collaborating with the database scientist to design, test, and maintain a relational database that manages large volumes of genomic, phenotypic, climate and site information, and tree improvement data. As the primary interface between scientific computing and our diverse range of end-users and stakeholders, the candidate will also be responsible for optimizing data flow across various disciplines for tree improvement decision-making, and facilitating seamless communication within the project.

The candidate will have an understanding of data collection and management in genetics, genomics, scientific computing, as well as familiarity with tree improvement programs, breeding data, and forest genetic resources. A passion for working in a highly multi-disciplinary and collaborative environment to support forest genomics and tree improvement programs is essential.