Informatics Research Scholar

At the Agricultural Informatics Lab , we conduct design research and technology development to improve resilience in food and agricultural systems. We build a range of products, from farmer-facing decision support tools and community-oriented local food system toolkits, to developer-facing APIs that serve a range of agricultural data. We conduct human-centered design research, translate our findings into usable and useful software prototypes, think critically about the role of technology in local and global food systems, and build real tools for real users. Each of our projects includes: a partnership with domain experts and communities (e.g., agronomy researchers, farmers, food hub coordinators), a mix of undergraduate students, graduate students, senior personnel, and interdisciplinary faculty.  All our work is grounded in community needs and desires and results in open source projects.

We are looking to hire an Informatics Research Scholar who is willing to take on a range of research and development tasks across the breadth of work in our lab.

This position will contribute to and manage qualitative research projects by recruiting and consenting farmers, farm advisors, farm supporters, community food members, and the general public for interview, survey, or observation, select research sites, coordinate logistics, and conduct onsite or virtual data collection, including through concept mapping, focus groups, interviews, public meetings, and workshops. In addition, this position will contribute and manage agricultural informatics research by determining type, amount and level of information required to develop and analyze social, economic, ecological, and ecosystem management alternatives in coordination with research scientists (domain experts), develop data dictionaries, data codes and values, and metadata for multi-disciplinary information and research applications.

• Contribute to the formation of research projects and agendas: research proposals, inform study design, and submit/maintain IRB
• Engage in the design and direct the implementation of decision support tools and other information-based support systems for agriculture, natural resource, and community-food research, program, and activism efforts; this includes producing high-fidelity mock-ups and developing initial prototypes. May oversee informatics staff
• Contribute to the formation of, manage, and engage in the data pipeline: Evaluate quality, compatibility, and limitations of data used in agricultural, natural resource, and community-food network research efforts
• Determine the requirements for and manage information system development platforms and version control
• Pull, parse, organize, and maintain social-ecological information and data to facilitate analysis across multiple projects and data analytics platforms for qualitative and quantitative approaches
• Design and conduct user testing, alpha testing, and beta testing of decision support tools or other interactive tools
• Contribute to the public and academic dissemination of research: Contribute and maintain written input for website content, peer reviewed and trade publications, training and workshop content and/or seminars
• Use a variety of communication devices, including presentations for academic, extension, farmer, and public audiences while presenting audio-visual aids to describe research activities and objectives
• Communicate with scientists, specialists, and employees within the university, collaborators in the USDA, with local and national government officials and partners, and with community food activists
• Contribute to academic and community pedagogy: Provide technical and pedagogical support before, during, and after in-person and online seminars, training, and data collection activities
• Train program managers on information systems adopted or developed for their program
• May oversee qualitative research staff, informatics staff, and/or Post-Docs or students

• PhD in Informatics or related field
• 3 years’ experience working at the intersection of agriculture and informatics combined with agricultural technologies
• Experience with grant writing, including demonstrated success at securing funding
• Expertise in Python, Javascript, SQL programming languages
• Expertise with server administration, including management of open source projects
• Expertise in UX/UI design and prototyping. Including use of tools like Figma
• Expertise in HCI qualitative and quantitative research methods. Includes ability to design and execute a research study
• Familiarity with IRB process
• Strong publication and grant writing record

Preferred:

• Postdoc experience

Additional Information:

• Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check is required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contributions Immediately
• Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply