Data Science Specialist for International Research Initiative - DTU Bioengineering

We are seeking a proactive and experienced data science specialist to join a new international research initiative focused on sustainable agriculture and food production around the globe and hosted at DTU Bioengineering. In this role, you will be responsible for designing, and managing the initiative’s global data lake, capturing a broad range of different data set types, from laboratory to field-trial data.

You will be working closely with the initiative’s Program manager, a software engineer, a full-stack developer, and a business developer to build a scalable and robust (open source) data solution that will enable the capture, sharing, and analysis of scientific datasets across the initiative’s partners in Europe, Asia, and Africa. Once the new data capture system has been built, you will further be responsible for assisting in the continuous analysis of the accumulating data sets and developing solutions that ensure that data sets are compatible across the initiative’s different epochs. Your contributions will be essential to the strategic and operational success of this impactful initiative in the field of applied biosciences. 

Your Responsibilities
The tasks for the Data science specialist in the initiative include:

• Develop the necessary IT infrastructure, including:
  • Create (specify) a robust and flexible data infrastructure and data class structure, that allows multiple partners to upload, retrieve, and share experimental design and data sets (in close collaboration with the software engineering).  
  • Development of an end-to-end solution based on a literal program for standardised capture of experimental design and execution, along with data capture and analysis. May include app-based/GUI solutions for easy use by scientific staff.  
     
• Management of users and data sets
  • Onboarding and off-boarding new researcher to ensure that they comply with the data framework and system you have created. 
  • Access control to system and data, along with a system for pushing data from closed system to open/public system. 
     
• Maintain knowledge sharing platform for the initiative:
  • Create a user-centric knowledge-sharing platform (in close collaboration with the full-stack developer) that can be accessed by all stakeholder types (scientists, regulators, agronomists, and special interest groups)
  • Upkeep of public datasets (create tools/procedures that ensure that user-uploads comply with the developed data framework/standard).
  • Develop methods/tools that allow user to easily analysis and retrieval benchmarking data sets.
  • Implement online modelling tools for the development of biosolutions (developed by Data science team).
     
• Scientific computing/analysis:
  • We, furthermore, expect that you continuously will contribute to the initiative’s scientific computing teams activities, e.g. analysing large data sets for new biosolutions, and developing predictive models linking biosolutions’ performance in the laboratory to what we see in the field. 

About You
We are seeking a Data Science Specialist with the following qualifications:

• PhD degree, in a relevant field, such as biotechnology, Agronomy, or Fermentation-based manufacturing, and that you have relevant coding, data science and management skills. 
• Experience managing and coordinating data collection, storage, and analysis in large research initiatives.
• Experience with building data lakes, including aspects such as user access control, data access restrictions and security, and roll out to users (onboarding/offboarding, and continuous training).
• Experience with creating literal programming based LIMS capable of standardizing experimental design,  execution and data capture, across large research teams. 
• A dependable and proactive team member who ensures continuity and efficiency as the initiative grows. 
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to engage effectively with a diverse international network of researchers, stakeholders, and administrative teams.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage parallel workstreams and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, oral and written.
• Strong cultural intelligence and adaptability, with the ability to navigate diverse international collaborations, foster inclusive working relationships, and communicate effectively across different cultural and professional backgrounds. (the user group will include research partners in Europe, Africa and Asia). 

It is considered a significant advantage if you have:

• Experience with working in an interdisciplinary setting, including biologists, automation specialists, agronomists (laboratory and field trial setting) and software engineers. 
• Experience with education initiatives aimed at ensuring adaption and use of standardized data capture platforms.

What we offer in return
The full-time and permanent Data Science Specialist position offers a unique opportunity to take an active role in creating the future standards for the capturing, storing, sharing, and analysis of scientific data within this large initative. Your efforts will furthermore be a key component to a  dynamic research environment, contributing to a meaningful initiative that fosters innovation, builds global partnerships, and aims to ensure the sustainable production of food globally. As the Data Science Specialist in the initative , you will play a crucial role in driving the day-to-day operations of an international research initiative, working closely with a diverse team across the globe to ensure seamless coordination across researchers, partners, and private/public stakeholders worldwide.

You will collaborate closely with the initiative’s dedicated data science team, including an Associate Professor, a postdoc, and the initiatives IT infrastructure group, including a software engineer and a full-stack developer. Together, you will be responsible for the development of a new and hopefully generic data infrastructure capable of serving a multitude of different scientific projects and disciplines, ensuring end-to-end documentation,sharing, and reuse of data sets (FAIR standard). Your role in the setup will be to connect the scientific team with the infrastructure teams to ensure alignment between the developed system and the needs of experimental and data scientists. 

We offer flexible working hours that promote a healthy work-life balance, alongside a supportive environment where teamwork and personal development are prioritized. As part of the initiatives data science team, you will have opportunities to grow professionally through training and skill-building initiatives that enhance your expertise within an international research context.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC).

The position is a permanent full-time position. Starting date is June 1st, 2025, or according to mutual agreement.

The workplace is DTU Lyngby Campus, in DTU Bioengineering’s newly renovated building 223. 

Application and contact
Please submit your online application no later than Sunday 13 April 2025. Open the "Apply now" link, fill out the form, and attach your motivated application, CV, and exam certificates. 

Your motivated application should include documented examples of relevant past jobs and/or completed projects concerning the standardization of data capture, storage, sharing and analysis in experimental biology. We would also like a short text (half a page) on what you see as the major barriers for successfully implementing such a system in a research project/environment, and how you would tackle them.

If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Rasmus John Normand Frandsen via email rasf@bio.dtu.dk or +45 452 52708, +45 2251 1435 (mobile).  

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (DTU Bioengineering) is an international leader in the areas of biotechnology and biomedicine. Our engineering approach to all aspects of biotechnology and biomedicine positions us as a valuable player with unique competences in a growing bio-based economy and with health systems transforming towards personalized medicine. We have a clear focus on the needs in the life science- and biotech industries and point towards innovation, new businesses, and scientific services for the benefit of society. The department has extensive collaborations with national and international research units and industry. DTU Bioengineering has approx. 400 employees, of which 2/3 are scientific staff. The department is located at DTU Lyngby Campus.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.