Junior Data Scientist, Strategic Initiatives and Research Intelligence

University of Calgary; Calgary; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Calgary seeks a Junior Data Scientist to support its Research & Innovation Plan. This role involves data collection, cleaning, and analysis, contributing to decision-making processes. The successful candidate will work with various tools to produce insights and support institutional priorities.

Qualifications

• Experience with data manipulation and visualization tools.
• Knowledge of Python libraries for data analysis.
• Strong coding skills for web scraping tasks.

Responsibilities

• Assist in data collection, cleaning, and integration from various sources.
• Develop applications for data preprocessing and visualization.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure data accuracy and accessibility.

Skills

Data Analysis

Machine Learning

Data Visualization

Web Scraping

Statistical Analysis

Education

Post-secondary education in computer science

Tools

SQL

Python

R

Power BI

Excel

Git

Job description

Description

The Strategic Initiatives and Research Intelligence (SIRI) Team in the Office of VP Research invites applications for a Junior Data Scientist. This Full-time Fixed Termposition is for approximately 2 years (based on length of grant funding), with the possibility of extension.

As institutional and external demands for data reporting and outcome tracking continue to grow, the Office of the Vice-President (Research) (VPR) is seeking a Junior Data Scientist to join the Strategic Initiatives and Research Intelligence (SIRI) team. This full-time position, reporting to the Manager of SIRI, will play a key role in supporting the implementation of the university¿s Research & Innovation Plan.

The Junior Data Scientist will assist in the collection, cleaning, transformation, and integration of data from a wide range of internal and external sources. Under the guidance of senior team members, they will contribute to the development of tools, models, and workflows that support data-driven decision-making. Responsibilities will include applying basic data science and machine learning techniques, producing visualizations, and maintaining well-documented and governed data processes aligned with institutional standards.

The successful candidate will also collaborate with analysts and partners across campus to ensure the consistent use of validated datasets. They will support the preparation of reports and dashboards used by university leadership¿including the President, Vice-President (Research), and Associate Vice-Presidents (Research)¿and contribute to key research intelligence projects that align with institutional priorities.

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Assist in the development of code to automate the gathering of data from various sources including databases, APIs, flat files, and external datasets.
• Develop applications to preprocess and clean raw data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and consistency, including handling missing values, outliers, and inconsistencies.
• Assist in the design and optimization of data architectures, including data warehouses, data lakes, and ETL pipelines, for efficient data storage and retrieval.
• Work with senior team members to design processes to integrate data from disparate sources and systems to create unified datasets for analysis and reporting to various UCalgary stakeholders.
• Collect and analyze institutional research data, as well as external research data pertaining to such areas as external research funding, faculty, postdoctoral scholars, students, publications and citations, and knowledge translation.
• Assist in data analytics projects from inception to completion, including scoping, planning, execution, and delivery.
• Contribute to the technical development and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Stay updated with the latest trends, tools, and techniques in data analytics, machine learning, and related domains through self-learning, training, and conferences.
• Work with senior team members to create visually appealing and insightful charts, graphs, and dashboards to communicate findings and insights to stakeholders including University leadership, faculty, and staff.
• Explore datasets using statistical techniques and visualization tools to identify patterns, trends, and outliers.
• Utilize tools like Power BI or custom-built solutions to develop dashboards that provide real-time insights and allow users to interact with the data through filters and drill-downs.
• Develop advanced visualizations to present complex data insights in an understandable and impactful way.
• Optimize visualizations for performance, ensuring they load quickly and are responsive, especially with large datasets.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with University contacts and external stakeholders; communicate within and outside the university in a professional and proficient manner.
• Participate as a member in the Institutional Data Network (IDN) and the Research Metrics Community of Practice.
• Prepare and present reports as required.
• Works under the guidance of senior team members on specific research activities and assignments.
• Perform other related duties as required.
• Represent the University of Calgary at conferences when applicable.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Post-secondary education in computer science, data science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience with tools and programing languages such as SQL, Python, R, Power BI, and Excel for data manipulation and visualization.
• Knowledge of Python libraries such as Pandas, NumPy, SciPy, Matplotlib, Sklearn, NLTK for data manipulation, statistical analysis, and visualization.
• Knowledge of code version control and code review using Git.
• Strong proficiency with writing code and developing tools for web scraping tasks is critical.
• Capability to develop software code to streamline and enhance operational practices.
• Ability to analyze, design, and implement solutions to improve data accuracy, accessibility, and utility.
• Skills in developing software code for data cleaning, organizing, and maintaining data accuracy and reliability.
• Proficient in designing charts, graphs, and dashboards that effectively communicate data insights to non-technical audiences.
• Capability to approach complex problems systematically and develop innovative software-based solutions based on data.
• Ability to provide ongoing support and maintenance for developed tools, ensuring they remain up-to-date and effective.
• Knowledge in natural language processing is desired.
• Knowledge in artificial intelligence is desired.
• Knowledge of statistical methods, scientific computing, scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to extract or extrapolate knowledge and insights from potentially noisy, structured, or unstructured data.
• Ability to present data findings and recommendations clearly and persuasively to various stakeholders, including non-technical audiences.
• Ability to independently manage time and prioritize work to meet deadlines.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships and facilitate collaboration between diverse groups.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment and to demonstrate a high level of tact, diplomacy, and discretion.

Application Deadline: May 23, 2025

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Technical Job Family, Phase 2.

For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

About the University of Calgary

UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([e-mail]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources ([e-mail]).

Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.