Academic Associate - Data Science Director for the McGill CFREF program

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The primary responsibility of the DSD will be to organize data science activities as one of the principal support axes for D2R activities.

Reporting to the D2R Chief Scientific Officer and working closely with the D2R lead for Data Science and other D2R leadership, the DSD will identify and address the project's data science needs taking into account a rapidly evolving research environment; obtain, organize and provide access to program and related public datasets and computational resources, and address data governance and security; and establish a environment for dissemination, training and communication regarding D2R data science. Candidates should have a strong background in computational analysis and quantitative methods applied to large-scale data in biomedicine and experience in scientific and financial management in large research projects (see Qualifications and below). Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Activities and responsibilities include:

1. Identify and address D2R data science needs

• Strengthen the D2R data science community . Establish a matrix of the interests and skills within D2R; promote synergies and help to consolidate existing collaborations and initiate new interactions between D2R scientists; identify gaps in important areas of expertise and develop plans to fill these.
• Engage with D2R partners in data science. Monitor the scientific and financial engagements of existing D2R partners in data science areas; prospect and propose new data science partnerships that will advance D2R objectives in areas such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI).
• Tool development. Identify the computational/statistical analysis tools that are needed to achieve D2R goals, and work with the D2R scientific community to assure that that these are fulfilled; integrate publicly available analysis tools and propose D2R internal development; monitor on a continuous basis scientific developments within and outside of D2R, and evolve the D2R toolkits to meet emerging needs.
• Ensure access to computing resources . Survey compute and storage needs and ensure that sufficient resources are available to the D2R community to support the program's research; provide links to platforms such as the CFI-funded SD4Health, the Pan-Canadian Genome Library and the Digital Research Alliance of Canada to respond to D2R computing needs; propose core platforms that can provide access to bioinformatics/biostatistics/ML/AI analysis services, data management, and examine needs and propose solutions for research software development services for D2R.
• Contribute and lead applications to relevant funding opportunities . Contribute to the scientific writing of the Data Science component of grant applications. Furthermore, identify relevant funding opportunities to grow Data Science within D2R and lead the development of such applications.

2. Organize and provide access to existing and D2R-generated datasets

• Facilitate access to critical national and international datasets . Relevant datasets for D2R should be identified and access should be facilitated while following good data governance practices.
• Build and manage a catalog of D2R-generated datasets . Many datasets will be generated as part of the D2R program. Clear guidelines should be developed and incorporated as part of all D2R calls to ensure that a catalog of D2R datasets could be built and access provided.
• Cybersecurity . As D2R data is collected, ensure best practices in terms of research cybersecurity are implemented.

3. Environment for dissemination, training and communication regarding D2R data science

• Create D2R data science workshops & promote collaborations Lead events for the PIs and trainees working on D2R Data Science projects as stand-alone events or linked to other D2R meetings;
• Promote interactions Animate a forum or forums to encourage meetings, physical interactions and collaborative projects between D2R investigators who are active in data science research and applications but currently distributed across many buildings, departments, and institutions.

Qualifications:

• PhD in an area or areas of data science related to the D2R
• Working experience (5+ years) in method development and applications of one or more areas of relevance to D2R.
• Capacity to expand to new areas of activity such as ML and AI
• Experience in leading team activities and working in a multidisciplinary environment, ideally with both academia and industry
• Knowledge of grant writing, and financial management.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, and excellent organizational skills.

McGill University is an English-Language university where most teaching and research activities are conducted in the English language, thereby requiring English communication both verbally and in writing.

McGill University is committed to equity and diversity within its community and values academic rigour and excellence. We welcome and encourage applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to engage productively with diverse communities.

At McGill, research that reflects diverse intellectual traditions, methodologies, and modes of dissemination and translation is valued and encouraged. Candidates are invited to demonstrate their research impact both within and across academic disciplines and in other sectors, such as government, communities, or industry.

McGill further recognizes and fairly considers the impact of leaves (e.g., family care or health-related) that may contribute to career interruptions or slowdowns. Candidates are encouraged to signal any leave that affected productivity, or that may have had an effect on their career path. This information will be considered to ensure the equitable assessment of the candidate’s record.

McGill implements an employment equity program and encourages members of designated equity groups to self-identify. It further seeks to ensure the equitable treatment and full inclusion of persons with disabilities by striving for the implementation of universal design principles transversally, across all facets of the University community, and through accommodation policies and procedures . Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application process may contact, in confidence, [email protected] .

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.