Scientist: Data Science (2 positions) at South African National Biodiversity Institute

Reference Number: BRAM/003/2024

SANBI is looking for two highly motivated individuals to improve the reproducibility and transparency of workflows used to generate maps, indices and products that underpin SANBI’s assessment and reporting requirements. The increasing volume and complexity of data requires improved data science capacity in SANBI’s teams that are responsible for summarising and presenting the state of biodiversity in changing climates and human use impacts. The successful candidates will strengthen data science applications within a multi-disciplinary team that generates the National Biodiversity Assessment (NBA) and reports on national and international biodiversity-related indicators. The successful candidates will have the unique opportunity to develop skills across marine, terrestrial and freshwater environment.

This position requires a Master’s Degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, Biological or Environmental sciences or equivalent qualification with NQF 9. A postgraduate qualification or equivalent qualification at NQF 10 will be an added advantage. This position also requires 2 years’ experience in relevant field.

The following competencies are required for the candidate to be successful in this position: moderate training in Ecology; demonstrated experience in the use of programming languages (preferably R); version control; databases and mapping with relevant GIS software is required; proficiency with MS Office; evidence of scientific writing skill; good command of spoken and written English; ability to synthesise data would be advantageous. The possession of a valid drivers’ license with at least one-year practical driving experience.

Key Performance responsibilities include:

• Improving SANBI’s knowledge generation and dissemination, by strengthening the quality of data and analyses with improved methods of data collation, cleaning, curation and well-documented workflows.
• Collaborate with SANBI staff and partners for effective collation and curation of internal and external data, on research and policy projects relating to ecosystem mapping, monitoring and assessment, and in support of small grant applications when needed.
• Support generation of the National Biodiversity Assessment and its underlying products and supporting scientific outputs, via strengthened data science workflows and participating in relevant ecosystem classification, mapping, assessment and biodiversity indicator-related forum/committees with external stakeholders.
• Strengthen SANBI’s data science capacity by developing your own skills to improve ecosystem classification, mapping and assessment, automating workflows, as well as offering training opportunities and/or mentorship for interns and students.