.png "MRC: Medical Research Council")
View Vacancy -- Lead Data Steward - MLC 2489
We are seeking a lead data steward to join a new data modelling team within the National Mouse Genetics Network (NMGN). This is an opportunity to build a strong skillset in data modelling required to define core metadata to link diverse datasets at scale, whilst providing day to day direction for a growing team.
The NMGN is a recent major new investment by the Medical Research Council to support the enhancement of mouse research and its alignment with human clinical studies. The NMGN will use data to link pre-clinical mouse models with clinically relevant human cohorts, allowing the rapid translation of mouse models into the clinical setting and therefore accelerating improvements to patient outcomes.
The NMGN programme requires a scalable data sharing platform focused on the scientific priorities of the network. Datasets across diverse modalities will be linked and annotated according to requirements for federated analysis. This role will be based at the Mary Lyon Centre at MRC Harwell, the Medical Research Council’s national facility for mouse genetics.
Main Duties/Key Responsibilities:
- Driving day to day direction in the data modelling team, whilst mentoring and supporting more junior colleagues as the team expands
- Work with NMGN stakeholders to survey metadata and data model requirements for the wide range of scientific data modalities collected by the community
- Contribute to shaping new standards for annotating scientific datasets
- Produce high-quality documentation (both written and as structured data dictionaries) as required for collaborative open-source pipelines
- Build skills in SQL, RDF, knowledge engineering and other technical domains as required and as requirements for data modelling develop
- Maintain resources and code using version control and Git
- Communicate effectively with NMGN stakeholders and the scientific community using various platforms such as email, video conferencing, and attending and presenting at meetings and conferences
- Learn the FAIR principles (https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/) and work to ensure that our data platform product is FAIR-compliant where necessary
- Work systematically to harmonise metadata and controlled vocabulary across the data types collected by the NMGN and refer to expert opinion from the network
- Flagging and escalating issues in data to project stakeholders according to a preliminary set of validation metrics to uphold the quality of scientific data
Additional Information:
Hybrid working is possible with this role; 1/2 days per week on site at Harwell campus. We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the advert early.
Education/Qualifications/Training Required:
Essential:
- A strong life sciences or computational degree, or relevant work experience
Desirable:
- Training or education in relevant technical skill such as RDF or knowledge-engineering
Knowledge and Experience Required:
Essential:
- Experience of working with metadata, controlled vocabularies and structured data in the life sciences
- Experience and knowledge of life sciences big data such transcriptomics, behavioural time-series and genomics
- Experience of mentoring and supporting more junior colleagues from a position of increased responsibility
- Experience working effectively within a technical team
- Demonstration of consistency and independence when working on long-term projects whilst making decisions and communicating to project stakeholders
Desirable:
- Evidence of technical skill and aptitude in at least one relevant domain for data modelling and knowledge engineering
- Understanding of FAIR data and data linking
- Evidence of having worked on Agile projects
Personal skills/Behaviours/Qualities:
Essential:
- Possess strong written and verbal communication skills
- Be proactive and self-organised
- Capable of working under pressure to meet deadlines
- Able to develop and maintain effective professional working relationships
- Willing to learn new technical skills as project goals change
Equality & Diversity:
The MRC values the diverse skills and experience of its employees and is committed to achieving equality of treatment for all. Our objectives are that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their skills, aptitudes and abilities. The MRC is committed to the engagement and retention of the best possible talent and to creating an environment that encourages excellence in scientific research through good equality and diversity leadership and management.
Corporate/Local Responsibilities & Requirements:
The post-holder must at all times carry out their responsibilities with due regard to the MRC’s:
- Code of Conduct
- Equality and Diversity policy
- Health and Safety policy
- Data Protection and Security policy
The above lists are not exhaustive and the post-holder is required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be requested within the scope of the post. All employees are required to act professionally, cooperatively and flexibly in line with the requirements of the post and the MRC.
The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.
In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more - Benefits
Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants who have disclosed they have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.
UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.
We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.