Job Location: Seattle, WA
As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.
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The mission of the eScience Institute at the University of Washington is to empower researchers and students in all fields to answer fundamental questions through the use of large, complex, and noisy data. As the hub of data-intensive discovery on campus, the Institute leads a community of innovators in the techniques, technologies, and best practices of data science and the fields that depend on them. The Institute does this by bringing expertise and helping researchers at UW to leverage data science tools, methods, and best practices in their research and in their grant proposals. As data science experts and, in collaboration with faculty at UW, the Institute advances the state-of-the-art in data science methods and in domain sciences that benefit from them. The eScience Institute shares President Cauce’s commitment to combat inequities and racism. The values of diversity, equity and inclusion are integral to the success of our research enterprise and are embedded in the culture of who we are as an institution and employer.
The eScience Institute is seeking outstanding candidates for the position of Machine Learning Specialist.
Scientists from all fields are increasingly using machine learning tools and techniques, as well as cloud-based workflows, but these methods are not traditionally part of the mainstream curriculum in many disciplines. The purpose of this position is to increase eScience capability to support machine learning adoption in a variety of fields.
The Machine Learning (ML) Specialist (payroll title: Program Operations Specialist) will assist eScience in a training/support role with ML specific coding tasks, data analysis, data visualization, Github project management, training and communications of ML-related educational materials. Reporting to the faculty Director of Research, the ML Specialist will work in a team environment that includes faculty, professional staff, data scientists, researchers, and other key stakeholders at the eScience Institute. The successful applicant will prototype or reuse other code where the outcome could be ML software tools developed alone or in collaboration with other researchers. The ML specialist will actively participate in the development of machine learning educational materials in the form of interactive notebooks, recorded videos and live participation in eScience training events.
Responsibilities
The ML Specialist will work collaboratively towards sustaining the eScience Institute as a valuable data science educational resource at the UW, serving users that include faculty, students, researchers, and staff spanning all schools and departments. The ML Specialist will create and manage ML-related technical content for eScience educational programs and services, help organize training events that teach crucial ML computing skills, and keep pace with developing tools and technologies for data-driven research. The ML Specialist will contribute to the Institute’s growing opportunities for training and outreach, centered on ML methods and corresponding technologies.
Examples Of Existing Programs Include The Following
- GeoSMART. The GeoScience MAchine Learning Resources and Training (GeoSMART) framework will build a foundation in open-source scientific ecosystems and general ML theory, toolkits, and deployment on cloud computing platforms. Within this framework it will: 1) develop tutorials and training materials to ensure accelerated adoption of ML cyberinfrastructure, tools and methods through online and hands-on training and 2) facilitate adopting and integrating program materials into mainstream academic curriculum. The program will cultivate the development of discipline-specific ML libraries, workflows and communities of practice capable of sustaining future growth of ML cybertraining opportunities.
- Hackweeks and Incubators. The eScience Institute engages in hackweeks and incubators that last from one to ten weeks per engagement. These outreach events include opportunities to teach research computing skills to participating scientists and students.
- Data Science for Social Good. The Data Science for Social Good summer program brings together students, stakeholders, and data and domain researchers to work on focused, collaborative projects for societal benefit.
- PangeoML. This project will develop machine learning (ML) applications and open source technologies that meet specific computational needs of researchers and applied science practitioners. Over the course of a three-year project, which builds on the Pangeo ecosystem, the team will develop new high-level tools that serve a broad range of ML applications, primarily focusing on the extract-transform-load (ETL) pattern ubiquitous in ML workflows, yet functionally unique to the geosciences.
Responsibilities Include The Following
Educational Content and Information Management
- Communicate project status and issues affecting progress to senior management, project sponsors and project teams.
- Develop machine learning tutorials and teaching materials (interactive Jupyter notebooks, short video tutorials, etc.).
- Organize and manage online learning resources for ease of access by community members.
- Lead segments of eScience signature activities with ML content, such as winter incubator and data science for social good programs.
- Contribute to GeoSMART curriculum development, hackweeks and online learning materials.
- Collaborate with colleagues and contribute to decisions regarding ethics in AI.
- Exercises substantial responsibility to ensure program success; responsible for identifying and tracking evaluation metrics to improve content and delivery. Evaluate metrics to improve content and delivery.
- Utilize expertise in ML to support coding tasks in Python to develop simple and complex ML workflows.
- Integrate existing Python code into Python modules and packages for distribution and publication.
- Provide expertise in ML to support code documentation and other writing assignments.
- Organize, conduct and participate in training events as needed.
- Perform related duties as required.
Consultation and Instruction
- Provide consultation services through the eScience office hours program to assist researchers with ML challenges.
- Collaborate with eScience data scientists and research scientists on eScience activities and other research activities.
- Develop and distribute ML educational communications on behalf of the eScience Institute.
- Provide technical assistance to other key stakeholders.
- Teach and consult in person and remotely on computing resources to support ML-related data-driven research. Teaching activities will include live teaching sessions with individuals, small groups, and occasional larger classes.
- Evaluate and contribute to ML technical language in project proposals both originating from the eScience Institute and that are submitted to the eScience Institute.
Knowledge, Tool, and Technology Development
- Maintain currency on machine learning tools and techniques; apply learning to education, consultation, and instruction services.
- Attend conferences and off-site meetings; some travel will be necessary in this job.
- Responsibility for compliance with UW policy.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in STEM or related field, and at least 4 years of related experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired may substitute for this degree.
- Proficient in developing ML workflows.
- Familiarity with time series and geospatial data processing with common data science toolkits.
- Ability to solve well defined problems using accepted ML methods and techniques.
- Demonstrated verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently as well as in team settings, interact with diverse technical communities around the world.
- Must be self-motivated and demonstrate both intellectual curiosity and a strong commitment to the mission of the eScience Institute and the University.
- Demonstrated commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
Equivalent Education And/or Experience May Substitute For Minimum Requirements.
DESIRED
- PhD or commensurate experience in research.
- Experience working in a higher education setting.
- Experience in ML workflows as they relate to geosciences.
- Experience with Python.
- Ability to quickly learn and use new ML and other software packages effectively, and integrate them into the position portfolio.
- Experience with open science tools such as GitHub.
- Well-honed organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines.
- Supervisory experience would be a plus.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Ability to occasionally travel to conferences and off-site meetings.
- Ability to work a flexible work schedule, which may occasionally require evening or weekend work for emergency problem resolution, particularly surrounding academic deadlines.
Application Process
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your “My Jobs” page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law .
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability , and committed to becoming climate neutral.
The University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.
To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or dso@uw.edu .
COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 requires employees of higher education and healthcare institutions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless a medical or religious exemption is approved. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination. View the Final candidate guide to COVID-19 vaccination requirement webpage for information about the medical or religious exemption process for final candidates.
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