The German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) is a world-leading internationally oriented research center, committed to discovering new approaches to prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases. To this end, researchers at ten DZNE sites across Germany pursue a translational and interdisciplinary strategy comprising five interconnected areas: fundamental research, clinical research, health care research, population health science, and systems medicine. (
www.dzne.de)
Population Health Science is located at the DZNE headquarters in Bonn. Under the leadership of Prof. Monique M.B. Breteler, a team of more than 85 people investigates causes and biomarkers for normal and pathological development of mental and physical health during adult life. With a special focus on neurodegenerative and other age-related diseases, our research is mainly based on data from the Rhineland Study, a population-based cohort study conducted in two geographically defined areas of Bonn with individuals aged 30 years and older. Two recruitment centers are available for this purpose, each with state-of-the-art equipment for comprehensive health screening, including robotics for processing and analyzing blood samples, advanced biobanking facilities, in-house 3T MRI scanners, and large data storage and computing capacities. The analysis of this highly multidimensional and complex "Big Data" is performed centrally at DZNE using modern, innovative, and constantly evolving IT infrastructures. For more information on the Rhineland Study, please follow this link:
www.rheinland-studie.de
We offer a full-time position at the DZNE in Bonn for a
Head (m/f/x) of IT & Data Management for Population Health Sciences
Code 1921/2021/4
The jobholder holds a key position within the organizational structure of the Rhineland Study. They work closely with the Scientific Director of the Rhineland Study and actively participate in strategy development and implementation processes as a member of the Rhineland Study management team.
As Head of IT and Data Management, you lead a team that supports the research of Population Health Sciences and the Rhineland Study. This includes general data management tasks as well as the development and implementation of IT solutions for the entire technical infrastructure, ranging from raw data collection (NIfTI, FASTA, many device-specific raw data files) to data analysis. In this setting we are already working with several terabytes of highly heterogeneous data. A continued development of this modern infrastructure, which includes a platform for secure data use and access for internal and external scientists, is planned.
Your tasks
Your responsibilities include general administrative and scientific support of the Director of Population Health Studies, Prof. Monique M.B. Breteler, in leading the Rhineland Study and Population Health Sciences. This includes but is not limited to meeting preparation and follow-up, conceptual work (analyses / evaluations), preparation of scientific progress reports, preparation of scientific and non-scientific talks as well as correspondence. The position also requires active linkage to the administration of the DZNE as well as to national and international collaboration partners.
Your tasks
As Head of IT and Data Management, you will lead a team of (currently) 6 Data Managers and Software Developers and are responsible for the day-to-day operation and development of the data management and IT support services and infrastructure. This includes:
- General management of the „IT and Data Management“ (personnel management, resource management, IT project management)
- Participation in central internal and external committees on overarching IT and research infrastructure projects
- Maintenance and expansion of the IT and data infrastructure of the Rhineland Study as well as its interfaces to other research databases and internal services of the DZNE
- Design and implementation of a common platform for Big Data analyses (e.g. TensorFlow) and virtual environments for data analysis by external collaboration partners
- Oversight on all aspects of data management (data governance, data architecture, database and storage management, data security, data integration and inter-operability, metadata, data quality, etc.)
- Coordination of all data privacy and data security compliance measures
- Oversight and planning of the medium- and long-term computing and storage requirements of the research group; interface to the central IT department of the DZNE for implementation of these requirements
- Tracking of new developments in the field and implementation of useful ones into the IT architecture of the Rhineland Study
Your profile
- You have a university degree in computer science, mathematics or statistics or have acquired comparable qualifications. Ideally, you have already worked in comparable study settings and are familiar with human medical data and the specifics of large research data infrastructures.
- You have in-depth knowledge of database applications, handling of large data sets with heterogeneous data, and development of modern modular applications.
- You have leadership and management experience and an excellent communication style
- You have hands-on experience in project management.
- You have strong knowledge of most of the following:
- modern SQL, preferably with PostgreSQL,
- R and/or Python,
- distributed systems and parallelized analysis of large data sets, and
- virtualization / containers.
- You have experience in developing with web frameworks (e.g. Grails) and JavaScript.
- You have knowledge of current data privacy regulations and its impact on the handling and usage of human medical data.
- You have coordinative and organizational skills and assertiveness to collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment and are fun to work with.
- A high degree of commitment, sense of responsibility, independence and solution orientation characterize you.
- You have excellent written and spoken German and English skills.
We offer
- An interesting and challenging task in a research center that works on the future topics of health research
- An international environment characterized by a strong focus on science and research
- A high potential for the individual development of our employees
- A full-time position, initially limited to two years with the possibility of a permanent position thereafter
- Employment, payment, and social benefits are determined by the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (Tarifvertrag für den öffentlichen Dienst) and will match the high responsibility and seniority of the role
The DZNE is an equal opportunity employer. It especially welcomes and encourages disabled individuals to apply.
Apply now via the following link:
https://jobs.dzne.de/en/jobs/70716/form
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
For inquiries about the position, please contact Monique Breteler, MD, PhD at
population-research@dzne.de.
Review of applications will begin immediately upon receipt. The aim is to fill the position quickly.