Scientific Programmer in Semantic Interoperability

Description

We invite applications for a position as Scientific Programmer in Semantic Interoperability on the NWO-funded project TimeCapsule. '

Within the context of the history of pharmacy and medicinal plants (c. 1550-1850), TimeCapsule aims to develop a context-aware search engine that will be built upon state-of-the-art language technology and search strategies, using open source software and technologies provided by the industrial partners. By using spatiotemporal metadata gathered in TimeCapsule's semantic interoperable ontology, for the first time long-term developments and transformations can be analyzed in big data collections, both diachronically and synchronically.

TimeCapsule will gather data from ten disparate cultural heritage databases into a single, autonomous database from which data can be retrieved in a unified manner. This will enable us to aggregate a variety of dissimilar but contextually related digital heritage items in an accessible way. TimeCapsule is executed by a consortium of academic, cultural heritage and private partners led by prof. dr. A.H.L.M. Pieters (Utrecht University).

The project description can be consulted at www.projects.science.uu.nl/TimeCapsule/. The project staff will consist of a Postdoctoral researcher, a PhD student and a scientific programmer.

Tasks
It will be your task to create the software integrating various available databases within one semantic framework. A substantial part of your work will be carried out on location, with the industrial partners GridLine and Spinque. Specific tasks include:

• to specify and create a generalizable interoperability framework, building upon technology provided by the industrial partners
• to integrate the available databases into this framework
• to design and implement a web-based user interface

Requirements
Candidates preferably have the following degrees and skills:

• Master's degree or hbo (polytechnics) degree in Computer Science
• experience with language technology, search technology, semantic web technology and interoperability of cultural heritage data
• experience with Java, databases (SQL databases, KeyValue stores), internet programming (including Ruby on Rails, REST) and user interface design
• good communication skills
• ability to collaborate with both academic and industrial partners
• affinity with cultural heritage and good passive understanding of Dutch

Conditions of employment
The candidate is offered a part-time position for 1 year (0,5 - 0.7 fte). The gross salary depends on qualifications and experience and ranges between € 2,313 and € 3,491 per month. (Salary scale 8 or 9) The salary is supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and an end-of-year bonus of 8,3% per year.

In addition we offer a pension scheme, a partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities. More information: terms of employment.

The research group will provide the candidate with necessary support on all aspects of the project.

Organisation
Utrecht University has great ambitions for its teaching quality and study success rates. This also applies to its clear research profiles which are centred around four themes: Sustainability, Life Sciences, Youth & Identity, and Institutions. Utrecht University plays a prominent role in our society and contributes to finding the answers to topical and future societal issues.

The Faculty of Science consists of six departments: Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Information and Computing Sciences, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. The Faculty is home to 3500 students and nearly 2000 staff and is internationally renowned for the quality of its research. The Faculty's academic programmes reflect developments in today's society.

The Department of Information and Computing Sciences (see www.cs.uu.nl) is nationally and internationally renowned for its research in computer science and information science. The research of the department is grouped into four divisions: Software Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Worlds, and Interaction Technology. Its research focus is on Game Technology, one of the four research focus areas of the Faculty of Science. Both the Department and the Faculty strive to strengthen the research in computer science and information science with applications in gaming technology.

Additional information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from: Prof. Dr. Remco Veltkamp, R.C.Veltkamp@uu.nl or Dr. Frans Wiering, F.Wiering@uu.nl. 

More information about employer Utrecht University on AcademicTransfer. Direct link to this job opening: www.academictransfer.com/19411