The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is committed to Employment Equity with the intention to promote representivity within the Institution. Preference will be given to applicants from the designated groups in accordance with our Employment Equity Plan
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, ENGINEERING, AND SCIENCE
ARC-KREATE COMPUTATIONAL DATA SCIENTIST
(1 YEAR FIXED-TERM APPOINTMENT, POSSIBLE RENEWAL)
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS, STATISTICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
WESTVILLE CAMPUS
REF NO.: MSCS04 RE-ADVERTISEMENT
We invite candidates in Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering to apply for this position in the Astrophysics Research Center (ARC). The Centre offers a vibrant educational and research environment in Astronomy and has many well-established national and international collaborative research links.
To further expand its profile in Radio Astronomy research and applications, the Astrophysics Research Centre has, in collaboration with the eThekwini Municipality established a Centre of Excellence called KREATE - The KZN Centre for Radio Astronomy Economic Advancement, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. KREATE provides a platform for an integrated response to the fourth industrial revolution (4IR), involving industry, academia, and government. The Centre is focused on big data innovations and the dissemination of these innovations into industry. Strategic focus points of the KREATE centre are (1) big data hardware, (2) big data software, and (3) radio frequency engineering and mechanical infrastructure development. KREATE operates in a manner that interfaces with ARC and HIRAX (Hydrogen Intensity and Real-time Analysis eXperiment) at UKZN, the Municipality's Economic Development Unit, and local industry partners focused on 4IR and astronomy challenges surrounding, among other things, big data, radio frequency engineering, and mechanical infrastructure development, with the intention to create 4IR employment opportunities within the eThekwini municipality.
The primary purpose of this role is to develop new algorithms to analyse astronomy big data, in collaboration with university academics and researchers, and to apply these techniques to industry problems. The computational data scientist will liaise with industry partners to study industry big data problems and formulate solutions, designs, and software frameworks. The computational data scientist will develop big data training material and presentations for students and industry personnel and will present this material in skills development workshops. The computational data scientist will prepare scientific outreach materials to popularise big data and machine learning, and will play a strategic role on the KREATE Lab management committee.
Minimum Requirements:
● A relevant Master's degree
● One year of programming and machine learning experience, with python programming experience is strongly recommended.
● Relevant university courses in software or data science subjects
● Relevant knowledge of big data science
More information about the Astrophysics Research Centre, within which this post is based, is available at https://astro.ukzn.ac.za/. Enquiries and details regarding this post may be directed to the Line Manager for this post, Professor K Moodley, e-mail: moodleyk41@ukzn.ac.za
The total remuneration package offered includes benefits.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 16 August 2021.
This is a re-advertisement. Previous applications received will be carried forward, so previous applicants do not need to reapply.
Applicants must complete the “support” application form available on the Vacancies website at http://vacancies.ukzn.ac.za/. Completed forms AND Curriculum Vitae may be sent to CrichtonC@ukzn.ac.za. The Advert Reference Number, Level, and Campus MUST be clearly stated in the subject line.
