Research Data Steward / Data Scientist (Biological Research Data) – 2 year position Full-time NEW

Research Data Steward / Data Scientist (Biological Research Data) – 2 Year Position

Department of Biology – Secretariat, Dep. of Biology Ole Worms Allé 1 8000 Aarhus C

Fixed term full-time position 1 Aug 2026 – 31 Jul 2028 ID: 21129

Would you like to help the Department of Biology at Aarhus University to build a sustainable data management culture and support high-quality, transparent and reusable research across the full research data lifecycle? We are seeking a Research Data Steward / Data Scientist to support research groups across the department. The 2 year temporary position combines data stewardship, technical support and coordination of data-related activities spanning multiple biological disciplines (e.g. physiology, ecology, genetics, microbiology), and data types (e.g. field observations, various sensor data, remote sensing products or genomics). The role includes developing practical and scalable solutions for data management, documentation, infrastructure and secure handling, while facilitating collaboration between research groups, AU services and administration. The position is anchored in the department secretariat and will report to the Head of Secretariat.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate efficient, secure, and user-friendly data management practices with minimal technical complexity, aligned with FAIR data principles.
• Provide guidance on data management planning and support the design and implementation of reliable, user-oriented solutions.
• Develop, maintain, and promote data management standards and guidelines, while ensuring data continuity and building community engagement through onboarding, training, and offboarding including metadata and documentation requirements, tools, training, and guidance across the data lifecycle (planning, collection, analysis, structuring, archiving), including support for reproducible workflows and quality assurance
• Raise awareness of data policies, including classification, storage, sharing, and handling of sensitive data, ensuring data provenance, quality, integrity, accessibility, and security
• Contribute to automated solutions (e.g., using R, Python, SQL, shell scripting) and provide guidance on relevant data science methods
• Facilitate collaboration and coordination among researchers, students, IT services, and administration, including support for projects, task prioritization, and related activities

Your Profile and Qualifications Could Include:

• A relevant academic degree (MSc required; PhD preferred) within biology or a related field
• Experience from biological research environments and heterogeneous biological datasets
• Familiarity with metadata standards, funder requirements and structured data practices
• Documented experience with data management, infrastructure, or analysis workflows
• Programming experience in R, Python, SQL, Bash, and other relevant languages
• Effective written and oral communication skills in English
• Experience with research data publication and long-term stewardship
• Knowledge of data protection and secure data handling in research
• Experience with coordination of technical resources or teams

Who We Are Looking For

• Works in a structured and professional way
• Has a collaborative and service-oriented approach
• Can engage with different research environments and stakeholders
• Focuses on developing practical and applicable solutions

What We Offer

• A role that supports our vision of establishing a sustainable data management framework across the Department of Biology, encouraging compliant practices and integrating critical economic considerations.
• A position embedded in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment that supports the broad spectrum of biological research and its diverse data challenges.
• Opportunities for professional development in research support and research data management, including exposure to university research.

About the Department of Biology

The Department of Biology (www.bio.au.dk) hosts research programs and teaching curricula that cover all major biological sub-disciplines. The Department employs ~ 40 tenured staff, 60 postdocs, 45 PhD-students and 60 technical staff. The Department hosts BSc and MSc study programs in Biology with about 400 students enrolled as well as a PhD program. The working language is English, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds. The Department's research encompasses a wide array of basic and applied topics in across biomes, species and methodologies and covers arctic, temperate, and (sub)tropical ecosystems, with an overarching focus on understanding the impact of global changes on ecosystems' functions. We aim to use this fundamental knowledge acquired to also improve the understanding, planning, and management of natural resources. The place of employment is on the university campus at Aarhus University, Department of Biology, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.