Data Manager

About the Position

The Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI) at the University of Minnesota seeks to hire a Data Manager who enjoys contributing to research and solving cyberinfrastructure problems. As a Data Manager at MSI, you will join MSI’s Research Informatics (RI) group and provide support for MSI’s researchers and users by managing data and computational tasks. You will work most closely with faculty and staff at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB) and Medical School.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

  • Lead data management efforts for assigned research projects (e.g. secure transfer and ingest of data, preparation of data releases, data curation)
  • Work as part of a group that manages data for a number of research projects
  • Use and help implement data management software/tools (e.g. iRODS)
  • Contribute to discussions of metadata standards and data harmonization across projects
  • Anticipate and plan for researchers’ needs for new data management infrastructure
  • Participate in internal cross-functional data infrastructure projects
  • Work directly with researchers to resolve data management needs
  • Develop scripts and procedures to improve user experience
  • Assist in development of researchers’ data management/archiving plans (e.g. NIH Data Management & Sharing Plans)
  • Other duties as assigned

Data Management (50%)

  • Work directly with researchers to meet data management needs
  • Work with other Data Managers and Data Stewards at MSI, and faculty partners to anticipate and plan for researchers’ needs for new data management infrastructure
  • Write and maintain scripts and scripted tools for data management

Consulting and Development (20%)

  • Work with MSI’s informatics, application development, and operations groups to develop and test tools to support the data management and computation needs of the MIDB and related projects
  • Develop workflows and scope projects with researchers within and external to MSI and MIDB

Support and Planning (20%)

  • Prioritize, plan, and scope tasks, assignments, and projects with minimal supervision
  • Manage tasks and projects in MSI's relevant tracking systems
  • Actively identify process and workflow collaboration and improvement opportunities at MSI as a whole and its integrations with the wider University system

Professional Development (10%)

  • Participate in the University of Minnesota technology, research, and cultural communities through relevant University working groups, committees of practice, and professional organizations
  • Pursue development through relevant independent studies, training, workshops, and conference

This position has been designated as flexible work profile 1 or 2. Profile 1 is expected to work primarily on-site. Profile 2 is expected to work on-site more than 50% of the time. The office location will be in Johnston Hall. MSI management retains the right to modify flexible work arrangement agreements on a temporary or permanent basis for any reason at any time.

Required Qualifications

  • BA/BS degree with at least two years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal six years
  • Understanding of Linux-based computing environments
  • Experience using Linux command-line tools
  • Proficiency in at least one programming language
  • Demonstrated experience in some type of large-scale data management

Preferred Qualifications

  • Graduate degree in a related field (e.g. engineering, computer science, information) and/or 2+ years of relevant work experience
  • Experience with LORIS, iRODS, Globus, S3, or other related data management tools and software
  • Knowledge of HPC cluster queuing systems such as SLURM
  • Experience using or troubleshooting applications in a Linux environment
  • Experience with image processing or data visualization
  • Experience working with academic researchers (e.g. working with academic grants, funding agency requirements, papers, etc.)

General Skills and Attributes 

  • Strong general troubleshooting and problem-solving skills
  • Friendly presence and helpful attitude; excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work well with others at all levels of the organization
  • Strong documentation skills
  • Takes initiative to lead new/novel projects that have dynamic scope
  • Outgoing, confident, and easily builds relationships
  • Strong initiative to see tasks through to the end
  • Ability to learn quickly and adapt to change
  • Ability to identify opportunities for improvement
  • Ability to work responsibly with or without direct supervision
  • Ability to translate issues across departments and expertise (e.g. communicating technical issues to a non-technical audience)

About the Department

The Minnesota Supercomputing Institute (MSI) is a core research facility of the University of Minnesota (U of M), part of the Research Computing umbrella within the Office of the Vice President for Research. MSI provides advanced research computing infrastructure and expertise to the University's research and scholarly community and the State of Minnesota in order to advance and accelerate research and foster innovation and discoveries through advanced computing technologies, scientific computing and informatics, application development, and services. MSI currently supports over 900 different research groups with over 4500 active users spanning the sciences, engineering, life sciences, medicine, and social sciences.

MSI has partnered with the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB), bringing together University of Minnesota experts in pediatric medicine and research to diagnose, prevent and treat neurodevelopmental disorders in early childhood and adolescence. This position will be integrated into the MIDB Informatics Group, a dedicated resource to support the needs of the MIDB institute in the neuroimaging informatics space. The candidate will close the gap between researchers and the resources available to the neuroimaging community, ensuring the highest quality of research output in the shortest possible time.

MSI has a strong commitment to the University’s goal of creating a positive and inclusive campus climate by advancing equity and diversity. We aim to hire high-potential people with varying identities and backgrounds.

To Apply 

Applications must be submitted online via the University of Minnesota Employment site. The Job ID for this position is 358503.