Job description

We are recruiting for a Postgraduate “Data science teaching assistant” to join our new Big Data training program that will provide flexible and modular skills development for a diverse range of trainees medical practitioners, clinicians, scientists, companies and health sector professionals at different stages of their careers.

The program ‘Enabling the big data revolution through skills training’ is funded by UK Research and Innovation (https://www.ukri.org/news/initiatives-boost-health-and-bioscience-skills-and-industry/). This post will sit in the ‘Omics workstream, and will be based in the Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine in the Guy’s hospital, Guy’s campus. It is internationally recognized for research on adult and pluripotent stem cells and is a focus for cutting-edge stem cell research currently taking place across the College and its partner NHS trusts, as part of King’s Health Partners. Through the Centre, King’s aims to drive collaboration between scientists and clinicians to translate the potential of stem cells into clinical reality for patients.

The post holder will be responsible for adapting and expanding the existing online learning material as well as creating new material covering ‘Omics data sets and their analysis over multiple workshops. They will help to build an exciting virtual learning environment which will incorporate all the workshops. The post holder will lead in the testing the training, creation of tools to monitor progress and asses learning of participants and establish and support communication between instructors and participants.

Who we are looking for:

• Experience in data science and Big Data
• Experience in developing training material, online resources and assessment for face-to-face, online distance and blended learners
• Experience in developing modules and content in a virtual learning environment such as Moodle.
• You will be experienced in using R and Unix.
• You will be confident in managing conflicting demands and changing priorities and be able to meet deadlines
• Good communication and interpersonal skills will come naturally to you.
• You will enjoy working in an interdisciplinary team but also be able to show that when required you can work independently.

Your duties will include:

• Collect existing training material and organize it in a structured training course. The training material will cover R, Stats with R, UNIX, ‘Omics data analysis at a beginner level
• Contribute to the expantion of the existing material to different level of competencies (intermediate and advanced)
• Development of new training material as required
• Creation of different assessment such as quizzes and exercises using real-life examples and software programming skill practice

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 18 months

This is a full-time post

Key responsibilities

• The development of innovative educational material for data science.
• Designing and developing learning & teaching experiences in Moodle and other appropriate software, in collabortation with the other pillars across the training programme.
• Developing and integrating assessment and feedback practices which could include using quizzes, software demonstration and reflective practice exercises.
• Working collaboratively with other pillars across the training programme to ensure a coordinated activity.
• To produce quick, productive and forward-moving session

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

Essential criteria

1.       Degree level qualification or equivalent in quantitative subject (Biology, Data science, Statistics) or similar level experience

2.       Experience in course content development and execution of training using e-learning platforms.

3.       Strong communication skills including excellent English skills as applied to the design of courses.

4.      Good knowledge in Big Data science research

5.       Good knowledge of R scripting skills and application to Big data science

6.      Able to use experience and initiative to ensure that content is delivered to strict deadlines

7.       Ability to work autonomously, as well as part of a dynamic and agile team

8.      Self motivated and results orientated with a problem solving attitude.

Desirable criteria

1.       Experience working in a higher education environment

2.       Experience with multimedia design video recording and video editing

3.       Understanding and application of e-learning and distance learning pedagogy and principles

4.      Experience of implementing projects in an educational environment

5.       Experience of interdisciplinary team working