Overview

Are you interested in geophysics and data management? Join the UK Polar Data Centre as a geophysics data assistant to help improve accessibility of aero-geophysics data. You will have the opportunity to interact with data managers, web developers as well as geophysicists to help the polar community learn more about Antarctica’s geological structure and ice thickness.

British Antarctic Survey are looking for a Geophysics data assistant to help the UK Polar Data Centre staff in publishing aero-geophysics data with their relevant metadata and geospatial references and to update the Polar Airborne Geophysics Portal with newly published data.

Job reference: BAS 20/87
Contract type: Full Time
Duration: 3.5 months
Salary: Starting salary from £25,198 per annum.
Benefits: We offer generous benefits
Team: Polar Data Centre
Location: Remote/Home Working
Closing date: 8 November, 2020 11:59 pm

What is the role about
This year, the UK Polar Data Centre has released more than 40 datasets of airborne polar geophysics data on its Discovery Metadata System in order to make them Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR). These include aeromagnetic, aerogravity data and bed elevation picks from airborne radar depth sounding acquired in Antarctica in the last 30 years. The SEGY and point radar data, part of the same set of campaigns, still need to be published to provide a complete set of data for users. These data are crucial to inform both paleo and contemporary ice sheet studies. However, they need to be curated and processed to be reusable by other researchers as they are lacking geospatial information and metadata. In close collaboration with data managers, web developers and scientists, the successful candidate will also update the polar airborne geophysics data portal in order to showcase BAS’s extensive collection of aero-geophysics data and help the polar community to learn more about Antarctica’s geological structure and ice thickness.

Who we are
The UK Polar Data Centre (UK PDC) is the focal point for Arctic and Antarctic environmental data management in the UK. Part of the Natural Environmental Research Council’s (NERC) network of environmental data centres, and based at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), it coordinates the management of polar data from UK-funded research and supports researchers in complying with national and international data legislation and policy. We are a small friendly team comprising specialist data managers, software developers and web developers passionate about Open Data and ensuring that data collected today will be understandable and usable long into the future.

Purpose

To aid UK Polar Data Centre staff in publishing aero-geophysics data with their relevant metadata and geospatial references and to update the Polar Airborne Geophysics Portal with newly published data.

Qualification

Degree (or equivalent work experience) in a scientific, IT, GIS or data management subject area or equivalent work experience

Duties

• Help publish SEGY and point radar data:
o Link SEGY data with positioning data and a header
o Check the data
o Complete metadata information on the Discovery Metadata System

• Update the Polar Airborne Geophysics Portal
o Create a map showing the acquisition lines for each survey
o Create a general and possibly interactive map showing all the surveys.
o Link the survey lines to the metadata/data already published

• Any other duty appropriate for the Band and skills as instructed by the Geophysics data manager or the Head of the PDC

Skills Specification

Skills are listed as either Essential or Desirable. Desirable skills importance rating in parenthesis (1 is high, 5 is low)

Communication skills – a) oral skills b) written skills

• Fluent in written and spoken English language and able to communicate effectively with BAS Scientists at all levels in the organisation. – Essential
• Ability to clearly report progress against an agreed work plan. – Essential

Computer / IT skills

• Good keyboard/PC skills – Essential
• competent using a variety of software tools. – Desirable [2]
• Experience working with GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS). – Desirable [3]
• Experience in website design and/or coding. – Desirable [2]

Decision Making

• Ability to work independently once fully trained in the role. – Essential

Interpersonal skills

• Experience of working successfully within a small team – Essential

Other Factors

• Evidence of high levels of attention to detail in a previous role. – Essential

Qualifications

• Degree (or equivalent work experience) in a scientific, IT, GIS or data management subject area. – Essential
• Degree wit a high component of geophysics, GIS or informatics. – Desirable [2]

Skills / Experience

• Specific evidence of working with, or managing, geophysics data. – Essential
• Evidence of an interest in, and good working knowledge of, an aspect of aerogeophysics. – Essential
• Have a basic knowledge of Geographic Information Systems. – Essential
• Experience working with SEGY radar data. – Desirable [4]

How to Apply

Download the application forms and apply online or via mail.

Please quote reference: BAS 20/87
Closing date for receipt of application forms is: 8th November 2020
Interviews are scheduled to be held: w/c 16th November

Interviews will be a two-stage process, with candidates who pass the initial interview will be invited to give a presentation to BAS staff which will form the second part of the interview.

BAS is an Equal Opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and promoting equality in careers in science, we hold an Athena SWAN Bronze Award and have an active Equality, Diversity and Inclusion programme of activity. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. People from ethnic minorities and disabled people are currently under-represented and their applications are particularly welcome. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job. We are open to a range of flexible working options, including job sharing, to support childcare and other caring responsibilities.