Postdoctoral Research Associate, Biosciences - Metadata and Ontologies

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Biosciences - Metadata and Ontologies

Embark on a transformative journey with us as a postdoctoral researcher in biosciences data management. This role is not just a job—it's a mission to revolutionize the management and sharing of scientific data. If you are passionate about FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles, metadata standards, and interoperability, this is the opportunity for you! Your expertise will be instrumental in advancing our federated scientific data repository application, Data Fed (

), pivotal to the NW-BRaVE project (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). ). This multi‑institutional initiative aims to enhance data integration, interoperability, and reuse in the biosciences through developing and implementing metadata frameworks and ontological models.

As part of our interdisciplinary team within the Workflows and Ecosystem Services group, housed in the Advanced Technologies section at the National Center for Computational Sciences, part of the Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), you'll collaborate with experts across diverse fields. Together, we address some of the most compelling challenges in science and technology, utilizing cutting‑edge technologies and developing innovative solutions.

This role offers a unique opportunity to grow, inspire, and make significant contributions to scientific discovery.

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80‑year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment.

These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

• Lead the development and refinement of metadata standards and ontologies for bioscience datasets, focusing on the Data Fed platform.
• Collaborate with domain experts to ensure the relevance and applicability of ontological models to the scientific community.
• Implement and assess methods for integrating diverse bioscience data sources, enhancing their discoverability and usability.
• Contribute to high‑impact publications and present findings at prestigious scientific conferences.
• Engage actively with the broader scientific community to advocate for adopting metadata and ontological standards.
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

• Ph.D. in Biosciences, Bioinformatics, Computer Science, or a related field with a strong emphasis on data management in the last 5 years.

• Familiarity with FAIR data principles.
• Experience in interdisciplinary research and collaboration.
• Strong background in metadata standards, ontologies, and data integration.
• Experience with bioinformatics tools and databases.
• Excellent programming skills (e.g., Python, R) and familiarity with semantic web technologies (e.g., RDF, OWL).
• A good collaborator and listener, with a questioning mindset.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to think critically.
• Proficient written and oral communication skills.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on‑site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include the following:
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