Postdoctoral Researcher - Data Science Institute

Medical College of Wisconsin; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403B retirement package

Competitive vacation and paid holidays

Tuition reimbursement

Paid parental leave

EFAP (Employee & Family Assistance)

Job summary

Medical College of Wisconsin is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to advance ontology work, semantic web efforts, and referent tracking within the Data Science Institute. You will manage ontologies, lead meetings, and contribute to APRICOT deliverables across multiple sites.

The role emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, publication readiness, and data management, with opportunities to develop and release new ontologies like OMRSE, BCIO, REHABO, and DrOn as part of a NIH-funded program.

Qualifications

• Minimum PhD in a scientific field or MD.
• Preferred PhD in Biomedical Informatics or related field.
• Preferred experience: ontology, semantic web, referent tracking.
• Knowledge of ontology, terminology, data models, and controlled vocabularies.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to development of the Ontology for Modeling and Representation of Social Entities (OMRSE); manage the issue tracker; create periodic releases; lead development meetings.
• APRICOT project deliverables, including interoperability between OMRSE and BCIO and annotation of Social Determinants of Health instruments and data.
• Participate in APRICOT meetings and events.
• Contribute to development of the Rehabilitation Ontology (REHABO); manage the issue tracker; create periodic releases; lead development meetings.
• Contribute to development of the Drug Ontology (DrOn); manage the issue tracker; create periodic releases; lead development meetings.

Skills

Ontology

Terminology

Data models

Web Ontology Language

Protege

GitHub

Multi-disciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in scientific field or MD

PhD in Biomedical Informatics or related field

Tools

GitHub

Protege

Job description

Summary

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), a postdoc is an individual who has received a doctoral degree (or equivalent) and is engaged in a temporary and defined period of mentored advanced research training to enhance the professional skills and research independence needed to pursue his or her chosen career path. In addition, according to the National Postdoc Association (NPA), Postdoctoral appointees can pursue basic, clinical or translational projects so long as their primary effort is devoted toward their own scholarship. Postdocs are essential to the scholarly mission of the mentor and host institution, and thus are expected to have the freedom to publish the results of their scholarship.

The Hogan Lab in the Data Science Institute is seeking a post-doctoral researcher for work in ontology, semantic web, and referent tracking. The incumbent will gain experience managing existing, as well as starting new, ontologies and using them in various annotation and data management applications.

A key project is the Advancing Prevention Research in Cancer through Ontology Tools (APRICOT) Project funded by the US National Institutes of Health, working with behavioral scientists and ontologists across three other European sites. This project is developing ontologies and associated tools and resources to be used in reporting behavior research. This position will work on the development of the Ontology for Modeling and Representation of Social Entities (OMRSE) and its interoperability with the Behaviour Change Intervention Ontology (BCIO).

Primary Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of the Ontology for Modeling and Representation of Social Entities (OMRSE); manage the issue tracker; create periodic releases; lead development meetings.
• APRICOT project deliverables, including but not limited to developing interoperability between OMRSE and the BCIO and the annotation of Social Determinants of Health instruments and data.
• Participate in APRICOT meetings, events.
• Contribute to the development of the Rehabilitation Ontology (REHABO); manage the issue tracker; create periodic releases; lead development meetings.
• Contribute to the development of the Drug Ontology (DrOn); manage the issue tracker; create periodic releases; lead development meetings.

General responsibilities:

• Plan, design and execute complex research studies, procedures and protocols.
• Participate in discovery projects.
• Coordinate research study activities; lead and manage projects.
• Oversee organization, synthesis and analysis of data and findings.
• Prepare scientific reports, outcome findings and scientific manuscripts.
• Participate in meetings with principal investigator and research staff in which you will evaluate/interpret the validity of data, develop methodologies, and design and evaluate lab procedures.
• Maintain supplies, may require negotiation with vendors, and track purchase orders.
• May oversee the work of laboratory personnel including training and development as well as daily work direction, delegation and establishing priorities.

• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge - Skills - Abilities

• Required knowledge: ontology, terminology, controlled vocabularies, data models.
• Technical knowledge: Web Ontology Language, Protege, GitHub.
• Strong interest in multi-disciplinary collaboration.
• Writing skills.
• Skills and abilities: presentation skills, organization, time management, multi-tasking.
• Documentation and records management.
• Data utilization.
• Complex problem solving and critical thinking.
• Resource management.

Qualifications

Minimum Required Education: PhD in a scientific field or MD.

Minimum Required Experience: 0 years.

Preferred Education: PhD in Biomedical Informatics or related field.

Preferred Experience: Ontology, semantic web, referent tracking.

Physical Requirements

Work requires occasionally lifting moderate weight materials, standing, or walking continuously.

Work Environment

Occasional exposure to dust, noise, temperature changes, or contact with water or other liquids. Work is performed in an environmentally controlled environment.

Sensory Acuity

Ability to detect and translate speech or other communication required. May occasionally require the ability to distinguish colors and perceive relative distances between objects.

Why MCW?

• Outstanding Healthcare Coverage, including but not limited to Health, Vision, and Dental. Along with Flexible Spending options.
• 403B Retirement Package.
• Competitive Vacation and Paid Holidays offered.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
• Pet Insurance.
• On campus Fitness Facility, offering onsite classes.
• Additional discounted rates on items such as: Select cell phone plans, local fitness facilities, Milwaukee recreation and entertainment etc.

For a brief overview of our benefits see: Benefits Overview.

For a full list of positions see: MCW Careers.

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