User Interface Design and Web Application Developer

The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) seeks a creative and enthusiastic individual to design user interfaces and web applications for scientific applications that manage, analyze, visualize and share data in support of evolutionary research. The incumbent will work as part of a small informatics team in close collaboration with domain scientists.

NESCent (http://nescent.org) is an NSF-funded center dedicated to cross-disciplinary research in evolutionary science. Our informatics team works closely with visiting and resident scientists to support their custom software and database development needs (http://informatics.nescent.org), and collaborates broadly with other biodiversity informatics projects. All NESCent software products are open-source, and the Center has a number of initiatives to actively promote collaborative development of community software resources. Above all, we are enthusiastic about our work, about the mission of the Center, and about the contribution of informatics to that mission.

Job description: The incumbent will design and develop user interfaces and web applications for databases and other software tools for sponsored scientists and staff. The job responsibilities include all stages of the software development process, including requirements gathering, design, implementation, release packaging and documentation, as part of a small team (typically 2-3 individuals). We expect the incumbent to present their work at conferences and contribute to publications with scientific collaborators; interact regularly with visiting and resident scientists, other members of the informatics team and Center staff; and generally serve as an expert resource for Center personnel. The position provides opportunities for professional development and encourages research into new technologies. Most informatics staff work at our Durham NC offices, located adjacent to Duke University, but we support a wide range of technologies for virtual communication with off-site staff and collaborators.

Salary range: $70,000 - $80,000, depending on education and experience

Required Qualifications: * Demonstrated success collaborating with clients on custom software solutions * Experience with various stages of the software development cycle * Expertise in development and testing of user interface designs * Excellent communication skills, both virtual and face-to-face

Preferred Qualifications: * M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Bioinformatics or related field * Demonstrated interest in science, particularly biology * Expertise in dynamic and interactive web technologies (JavaScript, CGI) * Expertise in rapid application development and respective programming technologies and languages (e.g., modern scripting languages and web-application frameworks such as Python/Django, Ruby/Ruby-on-Rails, and Perl/Catalyst). * Expertise in graphic design * Expertise in data visualization and/or scientific data integration * Expertise in software usability design and assessment * Expertise in web service (SOAP, REST, XML, JSON) and semantic web technologies * Fluency in Java programming * Prior experience in relational database programming (PostgreSQL or MySQL) * Experience with open-source, and collaborative, software development

How to apply: Please send cover letter, resume and contact information for three references to Dr. Karen Cranston, Training Coordinator and Bioinformatics Project Manager (karen.cranston@nescent.org); Please also complete the online application at the University of North Carolina HR website: http://bit.ly/r9HQ8r. Informal inquires or requests for additional information may be directed to Dr. Cranston by email or phone (+1-919-613-2275). Closing date is August 15, 2011.