Stanford University, Division of Infectious Diseases is seeking a data curator to work on the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database (HIVDB). This is a key position that will involve expanding a widely used international resource and assisting with systematic reviews and meta-analyses pertinent to the use of HIV treatment. 

The successful candidate will perform many of the everyday activities required to maintain the HIVDB including (i) performing regular searches of the PubMed literature database, the GenBank sequence database, and posters presented at scientific meetings; (ii) communicating with the authors of GenBank submissions and published papers to request the metadata required for entering a study into HIVDB; (iii) validating datasets prior to entering them into HIVDB and regularly reviewing them with the HIVDB team; and (iv) working with the HIVDB team to create and maintain regularly updated summary reports and large curated downloadable datasets.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr. Shafer and two bioinformatics software developers and will be trained in the principles of HIV drug therapy and drug resistance, the HIVDB project, and software for managing viral sequence data. Excellent communication skills are required as communicating with clinical researchers outside of HIVDB is a key part of the position. The successful candidate will participate in writing scientific papers.

Duties include:

• Collect, analyze and interpret information from peer-reviewed scientific journals and/or through direct submissions by applying specific scientific content knowledge. Abstract data into the required format, and verify for accuracy.
• Review complex, scientific submissions to the database for quality and relevancy; abstract information in the required formats. Review, research and resolve quality control reports findings.
• Conduct independent research of scientific literature and other available research to add content to the database and identify upcoming research opportunities.
• Develop documentation regarding effective use of the database for user community, typically professors, students and citizen scientists.
• Test new functionality with software to determine issues. Escalate and follow up on identified issues.
• Maintain quality control and integrity of databases and query tools for data mining as part of a collaborative team based on technical content expertise in a scientific field, such as molecular biology or chemistry.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports and publications regarding research progress by researching data/statistics and investigating errors or changes of data are accurate.

* - Other duties may also be assigned

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to read and comprehend literature pertaining to HIV treatment, HIV drug resistance, and virus genetics.
• Facility with using online bioinformatics sequence analysis tools
• Ability to work with databases using sql queries.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED):

Bachelor’s degree in scientific field and one year of related experience, or combination of relevant experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):

• Solid analytical skills.
• Strong written and oral English communication skills.
• Computer skills, including word processing and spreadsheet applications.
• Ability to understand scientific literature, experimental procedures and their limitations, and current needs of the research community.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Frequently perform desk based computer tasks, seated work and use light/ fine grasping.
• Occasionally stand, walk, and write by hand, lift, carry, push pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• May work extended or non-standard hours based on project or business needs. Occasional local travel may be required.
• Some work may be performed in a laboratory setting.

WORK STANDARDS:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.

Job Family: Information Analytics
Job Series: Scientific Data Curator
Job Code: 4181
Grade: F
Exemption: Exempt
Schedule: Full-time

Additional Information

• Schedule: Full-time
• Job Code: 4181
• Employee Status: Regular
• Grade: F