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CIRES / NOAA Data Analyst Professional Research Assistant
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Position Number: 5807366
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Science - Computer Science

CIRES / NOAA Data Analyst Professional Research Assistant

Requisition Number: 60481
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Research Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 02-Dec-2024
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado in Boulder has three (3) immediate openings for Professional Research Assistant - Data Analyst, supporting the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries).
These positions will support a NOAA-wide research program to revolutionize the classification of echosounder and contextual data collected in surveys of aquatic animals and seabed habitats. These positions will:

participate in projects to modernize NOAA Fisheries data acquisition, satellite telemetry, and cloud storage and processing;
produce labeled training datasets using archived multi-disciplinary survey data, including echosounder, net catch, oceanographic, eDNA, optical, and other
develop analytical tools for objective, accurate, and automated classifications of echoes to taxonomic group or species, either aboard the data-collection platform, or in the cloud.

These activities will leverage resources and expertise across NOAA, academic institutions, and commercial entities. For example, these positions will work with NOAA Fisheries scientists to understand the historical echosounder and contextual data, and package it into analysis-ready, cloud-optimized formats. The analysis tools, e.g., contracted artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) or Bayesian models, should expedite data processing, improve classification accuracy, expand applicability of acoustic data, promote adaptive sampling, and facilitate further and faster collaborative development.
These Data Analyst positions will be located at NOAA: 1) National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Boulder, CO; 2) Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, CA; and 3) Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Seattle, WA. Remote worksites will be considered. The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

At CIRES, more than 950 environmental science professionals work to understand the dynamic Earth system, including people's relationship with the planet. CIRES has partnered with NOAA since 1967, and our areas of expertise include weather and climate, changes at Earth's poles, air quality and atmospheric chemistry, water resources, solid Earth sciences, and more. Our vision is to be instrumental in ensuring a sustainable future environment by advancing scientific and societal understanding of the Earth system.
NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat. We provide vital services for the nation, all backed by sound science and an ecosystem-based approach to management that support productive and sustainable fisheries, safe sources of seafood, recovery and conservation of protected resources, and healthy ecosystems. NOAA Fisheries is the trusted government authority on the science and management of fish, other marine life, and their habitats. The position located in La Jolla, CA will be integrated with the NOAA Fisheries Southwest Fisheries Science Center. The position located in Seattle, WA will be integrated with the NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center.
NOAA NCEI is responsible for hosting and providing access to one of the most significant archives on Earth, with comprehensive oceanic, atmospheric, and geophysical data. From the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun and from million-year-old sediment records to near real-time satellite images, NCEI is the Nation's leading authority for environmental information. NCEI's Boulder, Colorado office holds and preserves the Nation's marine geophysical data and information.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Collate and format annotated acoustic data from the six Science Centers for input to advanced analytical echo-classification models (50%)
Organize co-variate data for input to advanced analytical echo-classification models (25%)
Work collaboratively with the Science Centers and data scientists/software developers in support of the AA-SI Echo Classification' activity (25%)

What You Should Know

This is a 3-year position.
Given project needs, the targeted start date for this position is February 1, 2025. Access to the NOAA Federal Center's computers is necessary to perform the work of this position.
Access is not available for individuals working in the United States through a visa or a working permit. and therefore, we are unable to consider applications from individuals on a visa or working permit or requiring visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future.
These positions will be rostered in CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder, but will be physically situated at NOAA offices in Boulder, CO (David Skaggs Research Center, 325 Broadway, Boulder, CO), La Jolla, CA (NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr, La Jolla, CA), and Seattle, WA (NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle, WA). Remote worksites will be considered.
Selected finalists will be required to pass a federal background check.

What We Can Offer

CIRES can offer a generous compensation package.
The annual hiring salary range for this position is $68,218 to $101,555.
Salary is commensurate with education and experience and determined based on our CIRES internal career track classification.
Some relocation funds are available for this position to off-set moving expenses following CIRES and the University of Colorado's relocation processes and procedures.
These positions offer a hybrid work environment with both on-site and remote work hours.
CIRES and the University of Colorado Boulder offer a robust training curriculum, opportunities for professional development and a Mentorship Program.
As an employee at CU Boulder, you receive a pass allowing free access to the regional public transit system, which is an outstanding network of buses and light rail systems that provide service within Boulder and connect to Denver, the Denver airport, and surrounding communities.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.

Be Statements

Be empowered. Be impactful. Be Boulder.

What We Require

A bachelor's degree in Information Science, Computer Science, Data Science, or similar technical discipline, or a Science field with 3+ years of relevant experience.
Experience with scripting and object-oriented programming languages (e.g., Python and R) and able to learn new languages as needed.
Experience using version control (Git) and issue tracking.
Experience working with real world data and solving data-driven problems.

What You Will Need

Demonstrated ability to work with and organize large volumes of data, metadata, and other supporting data.
Expertise in managing and transforming large datasets.
Excellent use of Python programming.
Knowledge of metadata and metadata standards.
Familiarity with cloud services, specifically Google Cloud Platform, and efficient migration of systems from non-cloud environments into cloud-based systems.
Demonstrated ability to work competently and collaboratively with diverse teams, in-person and remotely, across multiple time zones.
Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
Excellent English verbal and written communication skills.
Flexible and proactive attitude combined with an ability to work independently and with other team members to simultaneously make progress on multiple projects.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume or CV.
Cover letter addressed to the Search Committee briefly describing your qualifications, professional goals, and specific interest in this position.
If you are selected as a finalist, we will ask you to contact your professional references. We will be using a digital reference check solution. This information will be kept confidential and viewable only by the search committee.

If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version (if applicable) as an optional attachment.
The position will close on December 2, 2024.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/CIRES-NOAA-Data-Analyst-Professional-Research-Assistant/60481