Visiting Scientist in Geospatial Data Engineering
Position Overview
Organization: Finance & Business Economics
Title: Visiting Scientist in Geospatial Data Engineering
Position Details
Position Description
The UW Climate Risk Lab is seeking a Visiting Scientist with expertise in geospatial data to play a pivotal role in supporting this groundbreaking new research and innovation program. Based at the UW Foster School of Business, the Department of Finance and Business Economics is committed to advancing research and technology solutions that address the pressing challenges of climate-related financial risk for corporate and government decision-makers.
This full-time (100% FTE), 12-month/year, fixed term appointment will collaborate with university and corporate experts spanning climate finance, risk management, business analytics, atmospheric sciences, supply chain management, information systems, and AI. Specialized knowledge in geospatial data is vital as we navigate the early stages of our development, providing a unique opportunity for this position to influence the direction of our research initiatives, including product ownership and engineering of an open-access geospatial data map designed to aid open-access research and facilitate better climate risk asset management.
The monthly rate of pay is between $ 6,500 - $ 7,600 commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a12-month annual appointment eligible for one reappointment resulting in a 2 year term. This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule with 2 days per week on-site. The desired start date is June 2024.
This is an ideal position for a someone with a PhD or MS who has a background and/or professional experience in data science and engineering. This position will provide structural development in the area of data management for the open-source direction of the UW Climate Risk Lab. We are actively seeking an individual with excellent communication and collaboration skills who can provide expertise for an open-source process, contributing significantly to the development of tools and methodologies that will empower executive and public sector decision-makers to make data-driven decisions in the face of specific and urgent climate-related risks. This foundational role in a top ranked academic program presents a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact in the field by assisting us in pioneering approaches to climate risk analysis that bridge the gap between geospatial data expertise and actionable insights for decision-makers.
If you are enthusiastic about leveraging your expertise to not only shape the future of our lab but also assist in the development of an open-source initiative that addresses critical climate-related risks, we invite you to apply for this role.
Responsibilities:
Assist in the development of a best practice architecture and the engineering of a solution for a geospatial climate risk data mapping tool.
Co-develop data and software-driven research projects through collaborating closely with our corporate partners.
Produce open-access publications in cooperation with our university partners.
Give periodic presentations on relevant open-source and open-knowledge projects.
Design and implement data analytics solutions to extract valuable insights from climate-related datasets, including building an API.
Work with university faculty and programs to grow the user base of the climate risk data repository nationally and globally – Co-develop the creation of an open-source climate risk data community.
Contribute to climate risk curriculum development through advising on case studies and capstone projects in cooperation with our university partners.
Qualifications
PhD or MS in Data Science, Computer Science, or a related field.
Proven expertise in geospatial data engineering and analysis with a track record of open-source contributions
Demonstrated experience with geospatial mapping software and the ability to design and implement best practice architectures for data repositories working with geoJSON file formats
Proficiency working with Postgres/ PostGIS data storage
Proficiency in Python, Geopandas, AWS
Proficiency building frontend applications in esri, OpenStreetMap and/or Mapbox
Background in statistical analysis, machine learning, and/or data visualization.
Instructions
Please submit the following through interfolio:
Cover Letter
Curriculum Vitae or Resume
The names of three references who will be contacted and asked for a formal recommendation for candidates proceeding to the next level in recruitment.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.
Benefits Information
A summary of benefits associated with this title/rank can be found at https://hr.uw.edu/benefits/benefits-orientation/benefit-summary-pdfs/. Appointees solely employed and paid directly by a non-UW entity are not UW employees and are not eligible for UW or Washington State employee benefits.
Commitment to Diversity
The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).
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Disability Services
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu.