Posted to IASSIST on: 2018-11-05
Employer: Stanford University Libraries’ Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CIDR)
Employer URL: http://library.stanford.edu/research/cidr
Description
The Stanford University Libraries’ Center for Interdisciplinary Research (CIDR) is seeking an innovative, experienced, team-oriented Academic Technology Specialist for the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences (IRiSS) in Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences, to help lead the integration of technology into data-driven research activities in the social sciences at Stanford. Regular tasks will include consulting and collaborating with members of the Stanford community including faculty, students, and other research personnel, administrative and technical staff at business and support units from across the University. The candidate will engage in analyzing, designing, developing, and implementing computational tools and environments for social science research primarily housed in the six social science departments including Anthropology, Economics, Communications, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology.
The Academic Technology Specialist will be based jointly in IRiSS and the Stanford Libraries’ CIDR, where s/he will be part of a distinguished and widely-recognized team of other academic technologists and software developers with combined decades of expertise in the computational social sciences and digital humanities, whose activities support research in these fields for the Stanford community. CIDR collaborates both with individual faculty and with centers, departments and institutes engaged in computationally rich research and digital scholarship, particularly in the social sciences, digital humanities, and within the related professional schools where similar work occurs. CIDR is also a hub for collaboration and communication among social science and digital humanities scholars, library curators, and professional developers, promoting a sense of shared purpose in support of the Stanford mission of research and teaching.
The successful candidate will have a deep understanding of scholarship in the social sciences, and experience in working with a variety of social science data. S/he will consult and collaborate with faculty and students on research projects to identify technical approaches, processes and tools; evaluate and integrate existing software tools; and design and implement new solutions. That candidate should have both a broad and deep understanding of current state of the art in social science research methods and computational social science, in emerging tools, and increased data security requirements as new methods seek data that include PII/PHI. The candidate should also be experienced in working with data visualization; statistical analysis; high performance computing; secure storage and computation; data provisioning and contracting; cloud computing; and other related areas.
CORE DUTIES:
- Assist in providing leadership in the use of technology in data driven research, data lifecycles, analysis and workflows, and community building among those engaged in computational social sciences across the University
- Encourage and support the use of advanced computational technology by developing and implementing new tools, processes and resources for principal investigators and their research teams, assisting them with the implementation of these tools and technologies, and creating and supporting infrastructure that allows for the use and re-use of these tools broadly across the research landscape at Stanford.
- Lead or consult on development of software tools and platforms where solutions do not already exist, working with University and outside entities
- Provide expertise and support in applying emerging tools and methods within the social sciences to faculty-driven research projects in support of their research goals including access, management and use of very large data sets; application of machine learning and other artificial intelligence techniques; use or high-performance computing environments and cloud platforms; visualization and statistical analysis using traditional and emerging platforms.
- Apply data science methodologies, tools and techniques in an academic setting supporting social science-based research.
- Lead the development of resources, teach seminars or workshops to disseminate information about application of research technologies, both within IRiSS and CIDR.
- Assist with coordination research technology policies, procedures and support with other University academic and administrative offices.
- Provide outreach and advocacy within and across departments for effective uses of research technology. Provide departmental and campus leadership for using technology in the conduct of leading-edge research.
- Other duties may also be assigned
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
**Education & Experience:
**A bachelor’s degree in the social sciences, computer science, or related area, plus three years of relevant experience, or combination of education and relevant experience.
Other Relevant Education May Include: An advanced degree in the social sciences or a related area is highly desirable.
**Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
**
- Expertise in utilizing technology to enhance research activities.
- Ability to define and solve logical problems for technical applications.
- Demonstrated ability to express scholarship and research goals through the imaginative application of technology to existing materials and structures.
- Ability to plan, design, develop and evaluate engaging multimedia training objects.
- Experience with delivering applications in a networked environment.
- Excellent teaching, communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to interact effectively and tactfully with members of the academic community; demonstrated experience working in an environment with colleagues of diverse backgrounds and customs.
- Excellent time management and project management skills. Demonstrated ability to manage a complex workload, prioritize tasks, and use good judgment in providing services based on goals.
- Excellent leadership and customer service skills, ability to build strong working relationships within the University community.
*PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
**
- Constantly perform desk-based computer tasks.
- Frequently sitting, grasp lightly/fine manipulation.
- Occasionally stand/walk, lift/carry/push/pull objects that weigh 11-20 pounds.
- Rarely writing by hand, use a telephone.
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- Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.*
Archived on: 2018-11-05