Seeking web programmer to facilitate use of global change models and data
Background

Our group aims to provide cutting-edge resources to support decisions based on ecosystem science data. There is increasing demand for the ability to forecast the effects of land use change and biofuel production. We use data syntheses and ecosystem simulation modeling to provide ecological forecasts to scientists as well as non-specialists.

An important objective of our work is the development of user-friendly web interfaces that simplify our computational workflows. We aim to provide forecasts that are more transparent, reproducible, and automated, and thus ultimately more defensible to both peers and the public. Furthermore the web interfaces reduce the redundancy of effort among modeling groups, facilitate collaboration, and make models more accessible to the research community and public.

Job Description

We seek a scientific web application programmer to join the ecosystem modeling program in the Energy Biosciences Institute at the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign. The programmer will work with our team to develop web resources for ecological data management, modeling, and statistical inference. The programmer will assume responsibility for the design, implementation, and maintenance of front-end and back-end software that will provide into effective interfaces and data visualizations for the following web-based software tools:
Biofuel Ecophysiological Traits and Yields database (BETYdb, https://ebi-forecast.igb.illinois.edu/bety),
Predictive Ecosystem Analyzer modeling workflow (http://www.pecanproject.org)
Greenhouse Gas Value Calculator (http://www.globalchangesolutionsllc.com/GHGVcalc.html).

Other members of the development team collect data, manage existing data, and develop models used by these websites. We work in a collaborative interdisciplinary environment with a focus on providing high quality scientific content.

The programmer will be expected to provide leadership in the adoption of best-practices among all developers to support development and quality control, to remain current on the latest web technologies, to apply new knowledge to a cutting edge system, and to provide leadership in web-based front-end design and implementation decisions.

This position, pending approval, will provide competitive salary and excellent benefits. The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. U of I is also major contributor to the fields of computer science and plant biology, and home to the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, which provides informatics and computing support to our project. In addition to its strong technology base, the micro-urban community of Champaign-Urbana has an internationally diverse population and a vibrant arts/culture/entertainment scene.
Required Experience

Bachelors degree, or equivalent experience, in Computer Science, Math, or other fields.
Programming experience with web interface/back end design using web framework systems (e.g. Rails or Django) in a Linux environment.
Experience with or willingness to learn Ruby and SQL.
Demonstrated ability to adapt and learn new skills.
Excellent organizational skills.
Motivation to create a user-friendly environment to support work on problems related to biofuel production, ecosystem functioning, and global change by scientists and non-specialists.
Desirable Experience

Ruby-on-Rails development,
R, GIS or similar visualization software.
Familiarity with Model View Controller (MVC) and Representational State Transfer (REST) approaches.
Experience working in a collaborative scientific research environment.
Source control systems (bazaar preferred).
How To Apply

Evaluation of applications is rolling with a preferred start date of early summer 2012. A cover letter, resume, and up to three examples of previous work should be emailed to Melinda Laborg (laborg@illinois.edu). Please direct questions related to the programming aspects of the job to Patrick Mulrooney (mulroony@illinois.edu); and other questions to David LeBauer (dlebauer@illiniois.edu).