Applications Developer – Q-NEXT

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Materials Research Institute at Penn State seeks outstanding applicants for an Applications Developer position. The position will focus on the Q-NEXT DoE project led by Argonne National Laboratory. Q-NEXT brings together leading experts in quantum science and engineering at national laboratories, universities and technology companies, building an ecosystem that will accelerate technology commercialization for the emerging quantum economy. 

Role and Responsibilities: The Applications Developer will focus on enhancing the existing tool used by 2DCC-MIP named the Lifetime Sample Tracking Tool (LiST) to meet the specific data management requirements of Q-NEXT. The 2DCC-MIP is a National Science Foundation funded Materials Innovation Platform national facility at Penn State – the 2D Crystal Consortium. This position will establish a materials processing and synthesis database for efficient data and process logging, data sharing, meta-analysis, and project tracking tailored to Q-NEXT. The incumbent will assess existing functionality, determine what can be customized and integrated into the tool to meet Q-NEXT’s needs, and develop new features as required. The role requires collaborating with the 2DCC-MIP applications development team to adapt and integrate the tool, ensuring it effectively serves Q-NEXT objectives and is synergistic with 2DCC-MIP functionality requirements. Task areas of the applications developer in developing this Q-NEXT environment of LiST will include:

• Establishing a materials lifetime tracking database, accounting for all processing, growth, synthesis, fabrication, and characterization. From substrate to end-of-life sample storage, with everything in between (e.g. sample splitting/dicing, sample shipments, sample processing, sample characterization, device synthesis, etc.)
• Providing tools to facilitate data input and materials tracking both in time, as well as relative to a project.
• Providing simple user access and input. Provide, in phases, alternative access models e.g. data availability for publication (public facing, static data), industry engagement (walled dynamic data), academic data sharing (walled interactive), compliance with agency data storage requirements, etc.
• Providing API access to data in a cohesive machine interpretable structure, as needed, to establish efficient project tracking, meta-studies, and feed large theoretical models and calculations.
• Evaluating and enhancing the LiST codebase for the pillars above for synergy among common Q-NEXT and 2DCC institutional data-related objectives where practical.

Travel to Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois to collaborate directly onsite with Q-NEXT personnel is expected to occur periodically as necessary in addition to regular virtual meetings to support the Q-NEXT objectives in developing the LiST environment for Q-NEXT facilities.

Education and Experience: At the minimum, this position requires a Bachelor’s Degree or higher and 3+ years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Candidates for this position must have a background in Computer Science or Information Science and Technology or a related technical field. It is preferred, but not required, that candidates also have familiarity with domain science instrumentation or data related to the research of Q-NEXT (e.g., Physics, Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemistry). The position requires excellent communication skills and the ability to work in a team environment and will include interfacing with facility managers at various Q-NEXT external institutions for inclusion in the tool.

Specific desired experience:

• Robust web application and REST API development experience, using languages such as C#, PHP, Java, Python, JavaScript and/or TypeScript as well as front end frameworks (e.g., React, Vue)
• Experience integrating with authentication using OpenID, JWT, OAuth, Shibboleth and Azure Active Directory
• Experience with SQL and/or NoSQL databases
• Experience integrating Microsoft tools via GraphAPI and cloud-based web applications are a plus
• Familiarity with data and data series visualization; experience with front-end and/or back-end tools for visual data representation is a plus

This is a term appointment funded for one year from the date of hire with excellent possibility of renewal.

Application: To be considered for this position, applicants should include a resume, a cover letter with a summary of relevant skills and experience and contact information for three professional references (name, position title, phone number and e-mail address). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellence that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

Penn State offers competitive benefits to full-time employees, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement plans, in addition to tuition discounts (75% discount for spouse and children), and paid holidays. Please visit https://hr.psu.edu/current-employee/benefits for more detailed information.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

$76,700.00 – $115,100.00

Salary Structure – additional information on Penn State’s job and salary structure. 

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. 

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