Azusa Pacific University

Senior Metadata and Standards Specialist

Azusa Pacific University$121K — $162K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's degree in a quantitative discipline (e.g., Biomedical Informatics, Computer Science)
  • 5-7 years of experience in machine learning/data science
  • Proficient in programming languages like Python or R and machine learning tools
  • Knowledge of predictive modeling, evaluation, and scaling to large datasets
  • Familiar with big data computing models such as Hadoop and Spark
  • Understanding of relational and NoSQL databases (e.g., SQL, MongoDB)

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement a FAIR metadata framework for NAMs data
  • Define and maintain metadata schemas and validation rules for various data types
  • Integrate provenance models into the metadata framework
  • Develop comprehensive metadata dictionaries
  • Oversee metadata versioning and quality assessment frameworks
  • Establish and maintain metadata standards aligning with institutional policies
  • Collaborate with teams to integrate metadata services into analytical platforms

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits and wellness package
  • Generous time-off program
  • Access to employee resource groups for peer support
  • Holistic employee wellness program focusing on multiple well-being areas
  • Support for financial security at various life stages
Full Job Description
Job Description

Position Summary:

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Senior Data Science Analyst/Engineer.

As part of the Complement-ARIE program, the NYU-Sage New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) Data Hub and Coordinating Center will create a controlled access platform for researchers to share and analyze data from NAMs approaches. The program will build tools to standardize and harmonize NAMs data, store it securely, and provide researchers with powerful analytical and visualization tools.

The successful candidate will co-lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive metadata framework ensuring FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) compliance and data discoverability across the NAMs Data Hub. This position will extend the C2M2 (Crosscut Metadata Model) to create an integrated framework for NAMs data, develop Common Data Elements (CDEs), integrate terminologies and ontologies for NAMs representation, embed provenance tracking, and author and maintain metadata schemas defining data structures and validation rules to ensure interoperability across all NAMs datasets.

Job Responsibilities:

Metadata Framework Design and Governance
  • Design and implement FAIR and interoperable metadata framework for NAMs data
  • Define and maintain metadata schemas, profiles, and validation rules for NAMs data modalities such as clinical, omics, imaging, experimental and observational data
  • Integrate provenance models (e.g., PROV-O) into the metadata framework
  • Develop comprehensive metadata dictionaries
  • Oversee metadata versioning, changemanagement, and deprecation processes, ensuring release notes, impact assessments, and backwardcompatibility
  • Establish metadata quality assessment frameworks
  • Ensure metadata standards and implementations align with institutional and external policies including privacy, access control, and data use conditions

Ontologies, Terminologies, and Semantic Modeling
  • Select and integrate appropriate reference terminologies and ontologies for NAMs data representation into a comprehensive NAMs ontology framework
  • Perform gap analysis and define mappings and crosswalks between local terminologies and reference ontologies
  • Design semantic models using RDF/OWL, SKOS, JSON-LD, and related standards to enable machine-interpretable, ontology-driven data integration and reasoning
  • In collaboration with the engineering team, integrate NAMs terminologies and ontologies with existing Standardized Vocabularies and align Metadata schemas with an evolving CDM

Metadata and Ontology Workflows
  • Collaborate with data engineering and analytics teams to integrate metadata and ontology services into NAMs Hub pipelines and analytical platforms
  • Participate in the adoption of emerging AI-enabled tools for metadata extraction, enrichment, and quality assurance
  • Use AI-assisted coding tools to accelerate development of schemas, validation scripts, and queries

Collaboration and Community Engagement
  • Develop and deliver training and guidance materials on metadata, ontologies, and FAIR data for internal teams and external collaborators
  • Coordinate multi-institutional metadata and standards activities, including consensus-building, review cycles, and formal approval processes
  • Participate in the Standardization Workgroup to develop and refine standards
  • Collaborate with related data standard organizations such as CFDE and OHDSI to align NAMs metadata standards with their data models and standardized vocabularies.


Minimum Qualifications:

To qualify you must have a Masters degree in a quantitative discipline (Biomedical Informatics, Computer Science, Machine Learning, Applied Stascs, Mathematics or similar field) and
5-7 years of experience in machine learning/ data science.
Proficiency in at least one programming language (Python, R) and machine learning tools (scikitlearn, R)
Knowledge of predictive modeling and machine learning concepts, including design, development, evaluation, deployment and scaling to large datasets
Familiarity with computing models for big data Hadoop / MapReduce, Spark etc.
Knowledge of databases (Relational / SQL, NOSQL MongoDB etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

PhD degree
Demonstrated track record of successfully applying metadata and data standards to research or operational datasets in any biomedical field, with tangible outcomes such as improved interoperability, FAIRness assessments, or adoption by external stakeholders
Deep knowledge of FAIR principles and their practical application
Strong understanding of metadata standards including Dublin Core, DataCite, DCAT, PROV-O, and Schema.org
Experience with RDF, SKOS, SPARQL, and semantic web standards for metadata representation
Knowledge of controlled vocabularies, taxonomies, and ontologies for metadata annotation
Experience with schema definition languages (e.g., LinkML) and validation frameworks
Knowledge of and practical experience with biomedical terminologies and ontologies
Strong analytical skills for metadata modeling and information architecture
Excellent documentation skills with ability to create clear technical specifications and guidelines
Strong communication skills for training and stakeholder engagement
Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multi-institutional research environments
Experience with version control systems for managing schemas and documentation
Experience with Common Fund Data Ecosystem (CFDE) and the C2M2 metadata model
Understanding of biomedical data types including genomics, imaging, and laboratory data
Knowledge of OMOP CDM and Standardized Vocabularies
Published work on metadata standards or FAIR data implementation
Experience coordinating metadata and data standardization initiatives across multiple institutions
Experience with automated metadata extraction and enrichment tools
Familiarity with AI/ML tools and methods, including their application to metadata enrichment, automated annotation, or standards development workflows
Familiarity with NAMs methodologies and alternative testing approaches

Qualified candidates must be able to effectively communicate with all levels of the organization.

NYU Grossman School of Medicine provides its staff with far more than just a place to work. Rather, we are an institution you can be proud of, an institution where you'll feel good about devoting your time and your talents. At NYU Langone Health, we are committed to supporting our workforce and their loved ones with a comprehensive benefits and wellness package. Our offerings provide a robust support system for any stage of life, whether it's developing your career, starting a family, or saving for retirement. The support employees receive goes beyond a standard benefit offering, where employees have access to financial security benefits, a generous time-off program and employee resources groups for peer support. Additionally, all employees have access to our holistic employee wellness program, which focuses on seven key areas of well-being: physical, mental, nutritional, sleep, social, financial, and preventive care. The benefits and wellness package is designed to allow you to focus on what truly matters. Join us and experience the extensive resources and services designed to enhance your overall quality of life for you and your family.

NYU Langone Health provides a salary range to comply with the New York state Law on Salary Transparency in Job Advertisements. The salary range for the role is $121,792.22 - $162,052.80 Annually. Actual salaries depend on a variety of factors, including experience, specialty, education, and hospital need. The salary range or contractual rate listed does not include bonuses/incentive, differential pay or other forms of compensation or benefits.

To view the Pay Transparency Notice, please click here

About Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University is a private, evangelical Christian university in Azusa, California. The university was founded in 1899, with classes opening on March 3, 1900, in Whittier, California, and began offering degrees in 1939. The university's seminary, the Graduate School of Theology, holds to a Wesleyan-Arminian doctrinal theology. APU offers more than 100 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs on campus, online, and at seven regional locations across Southern California. Azusa Pacific University is organized into three colleges and seven schools. The academics programs are available from the Honors College, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of Music and the Arts, Leung School of Accounting, University College, School of Behavioral and Applied Sciences, School of Business and Management, School of Education, School of Nursing, and School of Theology. APU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Learn more about Azusa Pacific University

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