Science Data Steward

Open Science Data Steward

Astera Institute

Base pay range

$/yr - $/yr

Astera is a private foundation on a mission to steer science and technology toward an abundant future for all. We believe the coming years will bring an era of unprecedented scientific and technological advancement as exponential progress in AI converges with central advances in other fields to dramatically accelerate innovation. This inflection point provides an unparalleled opportunity to fundamentally rethink the institutions, systems, and tools that drive scientific progress.

We are seeking a detail-oriented and proactive Open Science Data Steward to oversee the full lifecycle of research data across our Radial Science programs. In this in‑person role, you will partner with researchers, maintain high data quality standards, develop scalable data infrastructure, and champion open science and FAIR data principles.

• Partner with researchers across Astera Radial Science to ensure data is prepared and published to meet quality and reusability standards for researchers and AI systems.
• Serve as the organization’s data steward, overseeing the complete lifecycle of research data from creation through publication and archival.
• Create and maintain living documentation for data repository interactions, best practices for data release timing, metadata tools, and standards to ensure compliance with open science principles and FAIR data standards.
• Identify patterns and emerging challenges in data management, collaborating with leadership to develop scalable solutions and infrastructure improvements.
• Support integration of research data with open science knowledge graphs and ensure compatibility with emerging AI and machine learning ecosystems.
• Provide training and guidance to new researchers and residents on data management best practices.
• Collaborate with software engineers to identify and address technical gaps in data infrastructure.
• Work directly with researchers to ensure data policies are followed and address compliance issues.
• Balance Astera’s commitment to open science with practical realities of responsible data sharing, developing nuanced release strategies when necessary.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Science, Library Science, Data Science, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 3‑5+ years of experience managing research data in academic or research organizations with complex governance requirements.
• Deep understanding of data quality principles, governance frameworks, and metadata standards.
• Familiarity with scientific data formats, repositories, and standards.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to translate between technical data requirements and researcher needs.
• Strong organizational skills with meticulous attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• High agency self‑starter who can work independently, identify opportunities for improvement, and drive initiatives forward.

Preferred:

• Experience with life sciences data (genomics, imaging, crystallography, or related fields).
• Familiarity with the AI/ML data landscape and structuring data for machine learning applications.
• Knowledge of open science initiatives and experience with open data publishing platforms.
• Experience with data integration, knowledge graphs, or semantic web technologies.
• Track record of developing data management policies, procedures, or training materials.

This role is in‑person at our office in Emeryville, CA.

Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience. Compensation Range: $100,000 – $140,000.

Astera Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive team.