Data Steward

Join our team to advance cutting-edge plant phenotyping research for sustainable climate-resilient crops at the Netherlands Plant Eco-Phenotyping Platform (NPEC). Use your expertise in data management, data standardization, data science and programming to guarantee data quality (FAIR principles), support our operational team by building automation tools, and support research by optimising analysing pipelines. Be part of an interdisciplinary effort to tackle challenges in food security and ecological sustainability through innovative, data-driven solutions.

Your job
You will play a key role in ensuring the integrity, accessibility and usability of our data. As a Data Steward, you will:

• ensure data quality and integrity through regular audits and validation processes;
• participate in the elaboration of phenotyping data standards;
• execute existing analysis scripts for routine data analysis in collaboration with scientists and researchers;
• optimise existing data analysis and visualisation scripts to enable more insightful and efficient data-driven decision-making;
• build and maintain APIs and automation scripts to enhance operational efficiency;
• develop and maintain documentation for data processes and systems.

Requirements:

You are an enthusiastic and versatile data steward who is eager to support the operation of a state-of-the-art phenotyping platform and participate in providing high-quality data for data-driven research. You have a strong background in data management processes, data standardisation, and programming skills for data science. You are customer and result-oriented, possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and have the ability and willingness to learn.

Furthermore, we would like you to bring the following:

• a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or a related field - interest in plant science is a plus;
• demonstrable experience in building and maintaining data analysis pipelines using programming languages like Python, R, or C++;
• proficiency in programming languages commonly used for building APIs and implementing automation, such as Python, Java, or JavaScript;
• proficiency in database management systems with experience in database design and query optimisation;
• strong communication skills that enable you to effectively communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders;
• ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

Salary Benefits:

We offer:

• a position for one year, with prospect of extension for another year on good performance (two years in total);
• a gross monthly salary – depending on previous qualifications and experience - ranging between €3,537 and €5,331 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 9-10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

36 - 40 hours per week

Padualaan 8