Center for Black Digital Research Data Scientist

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Pennsylvania State University Libraries seek creative, forward-thinking applicants for a renewable 3-year-term position of CBDR Data Scientist, Senior Supervisor.

  

This senior supervisor position is housed in the Center for Black Digital Research (CBDR), a collaboration between the College of Liberal Arts, the University Libraries, and, imminently, the College of Engineering, working in concert with the directorate of research faculty from these multiple colleges. The Data Scientist will collaborate to apply data analysis, visual analytics, and other computational techniques to research with data science and digital humanities methods that align with the CBDR’s principles and practices. The position will report to the Digital Humanities Librarian within the Research Informatics and Publishing Department with day-to-day management by the CBDR interdisciplinary faculty directorate.

The Center for Black Digital Research is home to a diverse community of students, staff, faculty, and external partners. The Data Scientist will collaborate with research faculty in the analysis and development of computational methods of datasets, digital collections, and related metadata; propose solutions using theories and techniques to advance CBDR’s research agenda; analyze system pipelines, workflows, and software options to establish and ensure effectiveness, scalability, and interoperability of computing and digital publishing infrastructures within the Center’s projects and with external partner institutions; provide consultation and expertise of computational applications to a research team ranging from undergraduates to faculty; perform, train, and supervise computerized data processing operations, statistical analysis, and data visualizations in common digital humanities applications; assess and determine feasibility of Center objectives and the related interlocking systems and applications to ensure compatibility, quality, and timeliness that bridges interdisciplinary gaps and streamlines cross-disciplinary project work; and author or co-author papers, proposals, presentations, and report. 

The Data Scientist will supervise project teams, including student and faculty committee chairs, to ensure quality, efficiency, and sustainability in ways that embrace the Center’s commitments to expanding opportunities in what we call transformational technologies at the intersection of AI, machine learning, and the digital humanities. This position will help lead the CBDR’s new efforts to research, develop, and present new ideas, concepts, and solutions, such as applying machine learning, large language models, or other innovative technologies to enhance and expand public access to the CBDR’s digital collections. Working closely with CBDR faculty directors and partners across disciplines, the Data Scientist will also contribute to the pursuit of major external funding sources by assisting in planning, forecasting, tracking budgets, and validating and approving specific area and grant-related expenses. 

Major responsibilities will include: 

• Leading new technical innovations for working with datasets on CBDR projects, including by developing new quantitative and qualitative techniques, concepts, or approaches to datasets.

• Leading or co-leading new efforts to explore, understand, and present new approaches to applying machine learning, large language models, or other technologies that will address current technical challenges and advance the CBDR’s work with data and digital collections.

• Developing and implementing training and mentorship programs for interdisciplinary teams on data workflows across multiple projects and areas of research, drawing from best practices in the fields of digital humanities, CIS, data science, and/or machine learning. 

• Leading or co-leading the implementation of new technical innovations by coaching and mentoring early-stage and advanced researchers.

• Organizing, assigning, and reviewing completed work to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards.

• Problem solving moderate to complex problems, applying expertise and practices of the field to propose possible solutions and sharing the benefits, limitations, and impact of these possible outcomes and how they can map onto the CBDR’s multi-layered digital ecosystem.

• Sharing and demonstrating expertise at venues (conferences, training programs, publications) to contribute to advancing of CBDR scholarly research agendas and elevates the profile of Black public and digital humanities and transformational technologies. 

• Fostering a strong culture of internal and external communication, including by translating new technologies across rank and multiple academic disciplines.

• Clearly communicating internally with CBDR project teams and Libraries departments (i.e. Special Collections, Preservation, Conservation, and Digitization, Strategic Technologies, and Research Informatics and Publishing) and with external audiences (i.e. faculty partners and institutions) in styles that are appropriate.

• Contributing to maintenance, sustainability, and documentation of the CBDR digital infrastructures, computational applications, and related software. 

Required Qualifications:  

• Minimum education and experience (or equivalent combination) to include:

  • A Master's degree OR a terminal degree in a relevant subject area combined with professional experience. Relevant areas include: African American Studies, Africana Studies, History, or English with a sustained emphasis on African American people and culture. 

  • Undergraduate or graduate degree in computer science, data science, and related technical fields, or significant professional experience in those areas.

  • 6+ years of experience in conducting academic, humanistic, and digital research. 

• Experience critically applying computational methods to the process of collecting, refining, analyzing, and interpreting complex datasets. 

• Experience using data visualization and mapping software, techniques, and tools to translate complex data for non-specialist audiences.

• Excellent written and oral communication to engage multiple audiences. 

• Experience managing interpersonal dynamics, problem-solving, and team building.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a complex, rapidly changing, and professionally diverse environment.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience: 

• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams of technical and subject matter experts to leverage and transform content management systems in manners that prioritize the needs of stakeholder communities and diverse audiences. 

• Working with and engaging students, faculty, and communities of color and other underrepresented communities to learn digital competency and navigate academia. 

• Leadership skills and problem-solving acumen to build and manage teams and processes that anticipate and resolve complex challenges in the areas of data, digital collections, and related areas. 

• 2+ years of experience conducting collaborative research in Black digital collections and/or archives, including but not limited to dataset development, crowdsourcing, etc. 

• Experience or formal education in technical design, programming languages, data science methods and/or application administration, project management, and user support. 

• Experience working productively alongside other experts in African American Studies, archives, curriculum, or public arts programming. 

The Center for Black Digital Research (CBDR) is a public-facing, digital research center with a focus on supporting innovative scholarship; student training; building pipelines that diversify the professoriate; and preparing students for diverse careers. The Center is founded on a set of lived principles that include a commitment to community-building, ethical collaboration, and shared and distributed leadership. CBDR is supported by the College of Liberal Arts and the Provost’s Office, in partnership with the University Libraries and will be housed on the 3rd floor of Pattee Library at Penn State University’s University Park campus. For more information visit digblk.psu.edu.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

$86,300.00 - $129,500.00

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure. 

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. 

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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