Staff Data Scientist & AI Researcher

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago’s Center for Translational Data Science (CTDS) is hiring a Staff Data Scientist to advance AI/ML tooling, data analysis, and user-focused data platforms for translational research. This role works in a collaborative environment, delivering scalable data science solutions across biological and health domains.

The position is at-will and funded by grant contracts, with a focus on building reusable analytics, dashboards, and computational resources while mentoring staff

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Bioinformatics, or a related quantitative field.
• Experience in data science roles, preferably in academic, research, or health/science environments.
• Experience with collaborative open-source projects and software engineering best practices.
• Knowledge of biomedical data and translational research data sources is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead the interpretation of data from multiple sources.
• Develop and implement software notebooks and scripts for data transformation, integration, analysis, and visualization.
• Build, validate, and evaluate AI/ML models.
• Contribute to maintaining in-house open-source data platforms and notebooks.
• Lead data science projects and mentor junior staff and interns.
• Collaborate with faculty and researchers to translate requirements into data science solutions.
• Stay current with data science and ML developments and communicate results clearly to diverse audiences.

Skills

Python

R

Open-source platforms

Cloud environments

Education

Advanced degree in CS/DS/Stats

Tools

Gen3

NCI Genomic Data Commons

Job description

Department

BSD CTD - Data Science

About the Department

The Center for Translational Data Science (CTDS) at the University of Chicago is a research center whose mission is to develop the discipline of translational data science to impactful problems in biology, medicine, healthcare, and the environment. We envision a world in which researchers have ready access to the data needed and the tools required to make data driven discoveries that increase our scientific knowledge and improve the quality of life. We architect ecosystems of large-scale commons of research data, computing resources, applications, tools, and services for the broader research community to use data at scale to pursue scientific inquiry and accelerate discovery. Learn more at https://gdc.cancer.gov/ https://gen3.org/ https://stats.gen3.org/ and https://ctds.uchicago.edu/.

Job Summary

The Center for Translational Data Science at the University of Chicago is seeking a Staff Data Scientist to support a diverse range of research projects. Data Scientists work in a collaborative interdisciplinary team and play a critical role in AI/ML tooling, features, and improvements for our open-source software systems and applications, analyzing data, and in understanding and representing user requirements to internal and external stakeholders in our translational data science projects and products. Under the leadership of team or project leads, a person in this position will be a key contributor to the design and implementation of algorithms, AI/ML models, and workflows to enable the discovery of valuable information in large volumes of data from various sources; organizes, harmonizes, and analyzes data sets and develops tools to assist such processes; uses various technologies to visualize data or enable data visualization; and creates applications of general value to the project and product owners. The job uses best practices and advanced knowledge of data manipulation, statistical applications, programming, analysis and modeling in order to implement projects related to the University’s various internal data systems as well as from external sources.

This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Responsibilities

• Leading the Interpretation of data from multiple sources.
• Developing and implementing software programs and services, software notebooks and software scripts for data transformation, data integration, data analysis and data visualization.
• Building, validating and evaluating AI/ML models.
• Contributing to and taking a leadership role in the enhancement and maintenance of previously developed in-house open-source data platforms, systems, applications and notebooks.
• Performing various types of analysis involving multiple data sets.
• Leading data science projects and initiatives within purview, by relaying data analysis and model deployment best practices, enhancing the technical knowledge of peers, and helping develop data science skills in junior employees and interns.
• Leading the conceptualization, design, and execution of sophisticated data science projects and AI/ML solutions for research and production environments.
• Establish and enforce data governance, quality assurance processes, and operational protocols for large, complex data sets from internal and external sources.
• Assisting in providing leadership for design of user-facing computational resources.
• Serving as a reference for staff, faculty members, and Gen3 users as a technical subject matter expert by applying principles of data science to define and scope data science projects that involve developing computational tools and services for data engineering, data manipulation, statistical analysis, and modeling.
• Collaborating closely with faculty, researchers, and stakeholders to translate scientific and user requirements into actionable data science strategies and solutions.
• Stay current with developments in data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related fields, and adopt new methods and technologies to advance research goals.
• Communicate complex technical concepts and project results clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, and present findings at internal and external forums.
• Has a deep understanding of methods to analyze complex data sets for the purpose of extracting and purposefully using applicable information. May develop and maintain infrastructure that connects data sets.
• Guides staff or faculty members in defining the project and applies principals of data science in manipulation, statistical applications, programming, analysis and modeling.
• Calibrates data between large and complex research and administrative datasets. Guides and may set the operational protocols for collecting and analyzing information from the University’s various internal data systems as well as from external sources.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications

—

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Bioinformatics, or a relevant quantitative field.

Experience

• Experience working in data science roles, preferably in an academic, research, or health/science environment.
• Experience with collaborative open-source projects and software engineering best practices.
• Experience working in multi-disciplinary academic teams.
• Knowledge of biomedical and translational research data sources is a significant advantage.
• Knowledge of hardware specifications required for AI/ML research and projecting resource needs and use in public clouds environments like AWS and GCP.
• Knowledge of and experience with data and applications of interest to CTDS, including, but not necessarily limited to, AI data commons, AI data meshes, Gen3, NCI Genomic Data Commons, cancer genomics, biomedical imaging data, human clinical data.
• Expertise in designing and implementing machine learning, deep learning, and statistical models for research and production.
• Experience with biomedical data.
• Experience collaborating on manuscripts and submitting papers for peer-reviewed, scientific publications.

Preferred Competencies

• Advanced skills in problem solving and quantitative/qualitative analysis.
• Able to organize and prioritize work assignments to meet project needs and work independently to identify and address needs beyond assigned tasks.
• Strong communication skills to effectively convey complex findings while serving as a reference and subject matter expert for staff, faculty members, and Gen3 users.
• Ability to quickly comprehend requirements and assignments and then explain his/her solutions in both writing and speech.
• Ability to learn new skills quickly and manage complex projects.
• Proficiency in Python, R, and other relevant programming languages; experience with open-source data science platforms, technologies, and cloud environments.
• Outstanding analytical, problem-solving, and project management abilities.
• Proven track record mentoring and leading project teams and communicating technical issues to diverse audiences.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid office/remote.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$90,000.00 - $120,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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