Data Analyst

THE ROLE

CABI is establishing itself as an expert in facilitating the development of tools and products which utilise a variety of data sources and modelling approaches, combined with an understanding of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) and human-centred design (HCD). These tools and products enable stakeholders to make informed decisions and access information relating to crop health. As an organisation, CABI produces and collates large amounts of ecological, environmental, socio-economic and earth observation (EO) data through its science and major programmes; including Global Burden of Crop Loss (GBCL), PRISE, Plantwise+, Action on Invasives and CABI Compendia.

We are looking for a data analyst to work across CABI digital development programmes, with a focus initially on Global Burden of Crop Loss (GBCL). GBCL aims to generate comprehensive, authoritative evidence on the magnitude of crop losses worldwide, disaggregated by crop, biotic and abiotic causes. GBCL is modelled after the Global Burden of Disease initiative in human health, which has transformed health policy, research, and funding over the last 25 years through better use of data.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Processing and analysing big and complex datasets from CABI programmes and other large global initiatives
• Carrying out data searches and critical reviews of external datasets for use in CABI research or inclusion in CABI products
• Spatial modelling and GIS analysis
• Building models related to pests and crop development
• Collaboration in writing scientific publications with an emphasis on data analytics
• Providing technical input to the writing of project proposals
• Participating in international networks; building collaborative partnerships with a global community of collaborators
• Providing data skills training and support alongside your data science team colleagues
• Supporting field scientists in the design of data collection protocols and building digital data collection tools.
• Support CABI scientists and development professionals to produce high quality, reusable, FAIR, and, where necessary, open data from their activities

In your work in the GBCL programme:

• To work closely with the GBCL Technical Director, contributing to the development of the Global Burden of Crop Loss methodological approach by identifying, testing, and refining models and methods Support to Technical Lead on GBCL on data science initiatives within CABI programmes
• Contributing to the definition of specifications, support the design and development of appropriate systems for GBCL data management infrastructure and processes
• To identify, assess, clean, and manage GBCL-targeted datasets for analysis
• To review and assess published research related to GBCL and its potential relevance

CANDIDATE PROFILE

CABI is looking for a curious and enthusiastic individual with strong quantitative skills to provide support for advancing data science work within our programmes in digital development. This post will support a growing portfolio of data modelling and analytics projects within CABI’s digital development theme. 

This role is suitable for a data analyst with a background in agriculture/biosciences and with spatial data analysis skills, to support the GBCL initiative in collating, validating, and analysing large and complex datasets in a reproducible manner. The candidate will work in global, multidisciplinary teams on the implementation of the programme modelling approaches to generate estimates of crop loss and economic burden. Knowledge and experience of at least one statistical programming language is required. Skills in geospatial analysis, applying quantitative methods addressing ecological/agricultural problems, and understanding of the principles of pest biology are of key importance.

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