Data Scientist
We are looking for a new Data Scientist (Research Associate) to join our team!
You will join our cross-disciplinary research efforts to improve the preparedness and resilience of humanity against global food catastrophes for the benefit of both present and future generations
Location:
Any / Home (flexible arrangement, remote flexi working).
Duration and Hours:
This is a 40h/week position, which can be split on the part-time basis (most likely 20/20). You will need to take part in policy team calls (phone or online conferencing, which may be very early/late for you due to time zone differences). The majority of time you will be able to set your own working hours.
Remuneration:
Our standard pay range for this role is $25-$30 per hour; however, we will consider a higher rate of pay for rare skills and experienced/exceptional candidates.
Reports To:
Director of Research (Research Coordinator)
Key Responsibilities:
Data Science
- Creating and maintaining code repositories that adhere to good scientific coding practices.
- One or more of the following:
-
- Run crop growth simulations for abrupt climate cooling scenarios and/or loss of supply chain
- Supply chain modelling
- Geospatial/GIS analysis
- Modelling geomagnetic phenomena effects on the power grid
Research
- Seek out and apply the latest knowledge to the context of global catastrophic events/scenarios
- Do literature research on various interdisciplinary topics, for example, food security, novel food production methods, food system futures, nutrition, water access, or agricultural systems (more here)
- Collect findings in documents and analyze in spreadsheets/code
- Discuss your findings/knowledge with team members, maintain appropriate notes and records
- Maintain and develop research collaborations, collaborators’ contacts and records, so that they are readily available to the research team and the organization
- Keep all research documentation and data in good order and readily accessible for the research team, coordinators, and management, in keeping with ALLFED’s policies and guidelines
- Prepare reports, articles, and presentations (in line with ALLFED’s communications guidelines)
- Draft other research-specific communications (for newsletter, annual report, social media)
- Request, collect, and convey feedback on ALLFED’s research papers and outputs as well as the organization itself
- Create, evaluate, and help prioritize project proposals
- Communicate research projects’ progress, milestones, deliverables, resources, and budgets, and other project updates (as needed) to Management/Research/Projects Coordinator(s)
- Contribute to securing funds for research by identifying sources of funding and assistance with approaches and grant applications
- Other related tasks
Essential (must have):
For all ALLFED roles
- A mature attitude - we are trying to help feed the world;
- Reliable, hard-working, able to get along with people;
- Self-motivated and able to work with little supervision to deliver project objectives in a timely manner;
- Excellent record-keeping and organizational skills;
- Comfortable with working remotely and online collaboration systems;
- Able to give/take constructive feedback about work to/from other team members;
- Willingness to learn new tools, methods, software;
- Awareness of a significant responsibility that comes with ALLFED’s work, especially when it comes to outreach and public media presence;
- Good English spoken and written language skills;
- Access to high speed Internet (for your research and video conference calls);
- Headset (microphone + headphones) for calls.
Role Specific
- Most of the programming work is in Python with some Linux bash scripts.
Good familiarity with Python is essential. - Familiarity with good scientific coding practices (as in everything described here).
- Completed software projects that you can demonstrate..
- A completed degree or exceptional track record in either computer science or one of ALLFED’s priority research areas (chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, agricultural engineering, agricultural science, aquaculture, international relations, psychology, data science, logistics, geographic information systems, economics, physics, or a related discipline) with a focus on computer science
- Excellent attention to detail
- Excellent analytical and reporting skills
- Flexibility: As Einstein said, "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" We frequently reprioritize research projects based on updated understanding to remain most effective.
Desirable (nice to have):
- Experience using version control system such as git
- Experience with geospatial data analysis
- Familiarity with relevant Python packages (e.g. geopandas, pandas, matplotlib)
- Familiarity with other programming languages suited for geospatial analysis languages (e.g. Julia)
- Good presentation skills
- Demonstrated peer reviewed research and paper publication
- Willingness to present and discuss work at conferences
- Big-picture thinking / ability to see how research interlinks with communications and preparedness planning
- Familiarity with global catastrophic risks
- Good at reasoning under uncertainty
- Impact-driven: you prioritize for improving the world optimally