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Research Software Engineer

Job Details

Position OverviewWe are seeking a humanistic software engineer to help us document the diversity of life on Earth. The person may be a back-end, front-end, or full-stack developer. The ideal candidate values meaningful work contributing to a global mission that builds on 350 years of biological exploration of Earth aimed at identifying and describing the world’s species. The person enjoys problem solving, innovating solutions, learning new methods, and communicating insight and expertise in a small team atmosphere. We employ a stable of undergraduate computer science students who bring great enthusiasm and energy to our team and who provide rewarding opportunities for reciprocal mentorship.

Biological specimens of plants and animals document the distribution of life on the planet. Our group supports biodiversity scientists in museums and research centers around the world with software that manages and publishes information about the specimens of plants and animals. Our open-source Specify platforms are used by 300+ biological collections around the globe as part of an institutional research software consortium HQ’d at the University of Kansas. We engage with these institutions every day, and our global footprint keeps increasing.

Keep humanity and passion in your career path and help us document the biological diversity of the natural world. You will enjoy a collegial and welcoming work environment as a valued colleague on our competent and friendly team--a group that has been growing this expanding museum technology initiative for 30 years.

The Specify Collections Consortium, (https://www.specifysoftware.org), is a global, non-profit, biological museum consortium, organized under the University of Kansas administrative umbrella. We offer remote, hybrid, or in-person work and a flexible 40-hour weekly schedule with a generous university benefits program. The university offers employees and their dependents tuition coverage for 12 KU credit hours per year. Other professional development opportunities are also available. Travel to the world’s museums, contingent on pandemic status, is an option, as our support activities take us to meet with biodiversity scientists around the planet.

Our home office, the Natural History Museum, is located on the bucolic KU campus. The building is a gorgeous place -- the edifice was designed after the St. Trophime Cathedral in Arles, France. Lovely Lawrence Kansas is an idyllic campus town with excellent public and private schools, active arts and music scenes, and comes with outstanding dining and cuisine options for a small town of 100,000 souls. All of that, along with a ‘can-do’, free-spirit community make Lawrence an exceptional place to live, learn, and to raise a family, or a cat.

Technologies We Use
  • Front-end: Typescript, React, Figma, Tailwind CSS
  • Back-end: Python, Django, MariaDB, MySQL, OpenAPI ● Dev-ops: Docker, GitHub Actions, Linux

Job Description[90%]
● With oversight from team leaders, you will contribute to extending the web-based
Specify 7 data platform for biological collections by applying software engineering best
practices, including design, code documentation, and automated testing, to create great
software for global impact.
● You will learn and understand the Specify platform architecture, security and standards,
to implement software modules, and contribute to various Specify software product and
process tools.
● You will insightfully consider design options and prioritize software innovation for
generality, flexibility, extensibility, and scalability. You will champion solutions based on a
thoughtful understanding of requirements acquired from interactions with project
Junior Engineer Update Nov 2022
stakeholders, including other team members, advisory committees, and the Specify user
community.

[10%]
● You will collaborate with remote Consortium Member collection’s scientists to
understand end-user software requirements and participate in developer meetings to
present your software development ideas and proposals. Position RequirementsPosition will be hybrid (on-site and remote work) or fully remote based on selected candidate's preference. Required QualificationsRequired Qualifications as demonstrated by application materials
    Bachelor’s degree with 1 year of professional experienceProfessional experience with one or more of: front-end, back-end, or UI development.Proficient in at least one of the programming languages: JavaScript, TypeScript, Python.Experience with principles of relational database systems and SQL.Familiarity with best-practices of software design.Excellent oral and written communications skills.Experience collaborating in a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications
  1. A Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, or biology.
  2. Competency with a variety of object-oriented or functional programming languages.
  3. Experience with data cleanup, manipulation, and ingestion.
  4. Professional experience developing intuitive, end-user software applications.
  5. Software development experience with web services.
Additional Candidate InstructionsA complete application consists of:
  • Resume including a link to a portfolio demonstrating required skills.
    • Preferred: GitHub or other open-source code sharing platform link
  • A cover letter addressing how required qualifications are met.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Before an offer is extended, three professional or supervisory references will be requested.

Application review begins on November 28th and will continue until a pool of qualified applicants is received. Contact Information to ApplicantsAimee Stewart, aimee.stewart@ku.edu Advertised Salary Range70,000 Work ScheduleHybrid or remote 40-hours: M-F Application Review Begins28-Nov-2022 Anticipated Start Date03-Jan-2023

Organization

Working at the University of Kansas 

Join the University of Kansas, and you’ll become part of a Jayhawk family that spans the globe. Wear your KU shirt in London, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Nairobi or anywhere else, and you will likely hear a resounding “Rock Chalk!” from a stranger. Of course, the appropriate response is an enthusiastic “Jayhawk!” Because, after all, they’re not really strangers, they’re family.

The Jayhawk community is united by more than 150 years of tradition and by our commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge, transforming the academic experience, and creating solutions through innovative research. KU’s mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.  

The University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university and one of just 66 invited members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). We consistently earn high rankings for academics and recognition as a premier research university.

KU faculty and staff embrace our role as the state’s flagship university, AAU member and R1 institution that serves the state, nation and world. We celebrate the energy and compassion that infuse the Jayhawk spirit; and, we remain true to KU’s historic values: the elevating force of education, the transformative power of research and the healing power of service.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging 

The University of Kansas is committed to a learning and workplace environment that is representative of our nation and global society, accepts and values everyone, appreciates our common humanity and understands that our multiple differences are the cornerstone of academic preparation, professional excellence and distinction. KU must be a place where all people feel they belong and have access to resources and support that help them attain their educational and professional goals.

We recognize there are inequalities and privileges generated by historical and persistent intersecting differences by race, ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, abilities, religion, regional background, veteran status, citizenship status and nationality. And we hold ourselves accountable for policies, processes and programs that appreciate these and other differences and create more fair, safe and just learning, working and living environments for KU students, faculty and staff.

Instruction 

KU offers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate study programs, and we fulfill our mission through academic and research programs of international distinction, coupled with outstanding libraries, teaching museums and information technology. These resources enrich the academic experience for students from all 50 states and 112 countries, and provide enrichment resources for KU faculty and staff.

Research 

The university attains high levels of research productivity and recognizes that faculty are part of a network of scholars and academicians that shape a discipline as well as teach it. KU staff are integral to our research success, participating in and supporting discoveries that expand knowledge and improve lives.

Service 

The university and our employees serve society through research, teaching and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. KU's academic programs, arts facilities and public programs provide cultural enrichment opportunities for the larger community. And, KU offers educational, research and service programs throughout the state. KU employees are encouraged to participate in and serve the campus and surrounding communities in a way that is meaningful to them.

International Dimension 

KU offers more than 100 programs of international study and cooperative research for KU students and faculty at sites around the world. The university offers teaching and research that draw upon and contribute to the most advanced developments throughout the United States and abroad. At the same time, KU's extensive international ties support economic development in Kansas.

Values 

The University of Kansas, our students and employees are committed to excellence. We foster a multicultural, inclusive environment in which the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. Intellectual diversity, integrity and disciplined inquiry in the search for knowledge are of paramount importance.

Our City and State 

KU sits atop Mt. Oread in the center of Lawrence, a town full of natural beauty and culture. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine named Lawrence one of the best college towns in the United States. Lawrence is home to more than 100,000 people, and has a charming, Midwestern friendliness that welcomes visitors and celebrates diversity. In addition to KU, Lawrence is home to Haskell Indian Nations University, the premiere tribal university in the United States.

Lawrence’s historic and thriving downtown features restaurants, nightlife and local shops offering unique finds that you won’t find anywhere else. The town has more than 50 parks, an encompassing mixed-use trail, and quick access to biking/hiking trails along the Kansas River and around Clinton Lake. A five-minute drive from Lawrence, Clinton Lake offers fishing, boating, beaches, camping and other outdoor activities.

Located just 40 minutes west of Kansas City, Lawrence offers the appeal of a mid-size, suburban town with quick access to the amenities of a large city, including an international airport. The Kansas City metro area is home to world-class museums and cultural activities, Jazz clubs and other nightlife venues, expansive shopping options, and exciting professional sports with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC.

Kansas is in the center of the country, making it convenient and cost effective to fly or drive to destinations throughout the United States. Far from flat, the Flint Hills, just 90 minutes from Lawrence, offer panoramic vistas that showcase the breathtaking beauty of America.

Making KU Your Home 

Something about Lawrence is magnetic. Long-time residents are never surprised when a KU student or employee from out of state decides to make Lawrence their permanent home. And, even those who do leave often find themselves returning to “the nest” at some point in the future. In fact, Lawrence has been named by several publications as one of the best places to retire.

At the University of Kansas, you’ll join a global Jayhawk family and find a place to call home.

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