Background

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute (NVI) is looking for a person motivated to make a difference in public and animal health and welfare in a permanent position as a research software engineer/systems administrator. Your work in modernizing infrastructure and digitalization of our work processes will have a high impact on how the Norwegian Veterinary Institute will operate in future. This position is located in the Veterinary Institute IT section, and will collaborate closely with the Epidemiology section and other sections at the NVI.

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute is at present implementing new methods with modern technology for disease surveillance, diagnostics, preparedness and research. We are currently establishing new DNA sequencing technology. An important part of this process is the set-up of new outsourced computer infrastructure and new bioinformatics/data science analyses. We are thus in need of a person to work with that infrastructure, as well as the associated data and analysis methods.

We strongly encourage everybody regardless of current location to apply for this position, and assistance can be provided to those from abroad. We expect non-Norwegian speakers to learn Norwegian within the first couple of years. The Institute is currently in the process of relocating from Oslo, Norway to Ås, which is approximately 35 km from downtown Oslo.

Work description

Your main responsibility will be to set up and maintain a data analysis production environment for the NVI. You are expected to work closely with the external infrastructure provider, as well as relevant people internally. Your work will include setting up and managing data transfer systems, databases, and tools for analysis for various types of biological data. You will also work closely with the inhouse bioinformatics group, and work with them to manage HPC resources, as well as install and manage bioinformatics software, including web based software such as Galaxy. Developing analysis tools in collaboration with the bioinformatics team and other researchers will also be part of your responsibilities.

You will play a key role in the future development of the biological data infrastructure and data analysis tool kit. at the NVI. You are expected to maintain and expand your knowledge and skill set within your area of responsibility, and to transfer relevant knowledge to others. Assistance by the research/bioinformatics staff currently at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute will be given to help direct the work.

Qualifications

Required background:

• Master’s degree (equivalent or higher) in computer science, bioinformatics, statistics, mathematics, physics or within life sciences
• Linux system administration and shell scripting experience
• High performance computing experience including cluster resource management tools
• Experience in development and operation of SQL databases
• Experience working with software development
• Python, R, java or other programming language knowledge
• Web development within the python tool set

The following skills and competences will be valued:

• HPC queue management with slurm
• Container technology (Docker/Singularity)
• Galaxy administration
• Web development and operation of online tools/databases (HTML/bootstrap/CSS)
• Java Spring Framework and Hibernate
• Working with REST APIs
• Conda package manager
• Experience with microbial bioinformatics
• Development of bioinformatics tools and pipelines
• Bioinformatics workflow languages such as Nextflow
• Participation in development of free and open software
• Participation in the Carpentries organization

Personal qualities:

• Good interpersonal and collaborative skills
• Ability and interest in working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Self-driven and capable of working independently
• Good problem solving skills, and an interest in developing new work processes
• Ability and interest in learning new skills, using new methods to solve problems, and an interest in teaching new methods to others
• Flexible and ready to go in situations where time is critical
• Excellent communication in English

Contract and salary

The current position is offered as a full time (37,5 hr per week) position.

The salary follows the regulations set by the Norwegian State for the category of 1364 senior adviser, depending on qualifications. There is a compulsory membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund with a deduction of 2% of the salary, giving opportunities for favourable loan offers.

The Norwegian Veterinary Institute offers flexible working time, a good working environment and opportunity for rental of the institute’s mountain cabin and sports facilities.

The Veterinary Institute is committed to diversity, and we therefore encourage anyone who is qualified to apply for the position, regardless of age, gender, ability to function, gaps in CV, national or ethnic background.

Applications must be sent electronically via the Institute’s application portal.