Research Associate (GIS Programmer) at West Virginia University

, West Virginia, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

03 May, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

02 Feb, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

GIS Programming, ArcGIS Server, Relational Databases, Django, Full-Stack Web Applications, Cybersecurity Best Practices, Remote Sensing Techniques, Deep-Learning Methods, Computer-Vision, Image-Recognition Models, ArcGIS-Python Geoprocessing Scripts, Cartography, Technical Documentation, System Administration, Flood and Landslide Hazard Mitigation, Database Troubleshooting

Industry

Hospitals and Health Care

Description

Research Associate (GIS Programmer) – West Virginia University, Morgantown WV. Will study the nature and use of the earth’s surfaces, relating and interpreting interactions of physical and cultural phenomena in Morgantown, WV. We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including: 37.5-hour work week 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar) 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave) 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof) WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits 401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s. Wellness programs What You'll Do Will conduct research on the physical aspects of a region, including landforms, climates, soils, plants, and animals. Will investigate the spatial implications of human activities within a given area—including social characteristics, economic activities, and political organization—and examine interdependence between regions at scales ranging from local to global. Will gather and compile geographic data from sources such as censuses, field observation, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and existing maps. Will analyze geographic distributions of physical and cultural phenomena on local, regional, continental, and global scales. Will advance the State’s spatial data infrastructure through the development and maintenance of enterprise geographic databases using ArcGIS Server and relational databases. Will design and develop full‑stack web applications—integrating responsive front‑end interfaces with robust back‑end services using Django—to deliver geospatial data products to stakeholders. Will implement application‑level and server‑level cybersecurity best practices, including protection against web vulnerabilities such as Cross‑Site Scripting (XSS) and SQL Injection, and will conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to ensure data integrity and confidentiality. Will apply remote‑sensing techniques and deep‑learning methods—including computer‑vision and image‑recognition models—to extract, analyze, and visualize geospatial information from satellite and aerial imagery. Will prepare and contribute to research‑grant and proposal writing efforts, including the development of competitive submissions to federal funding opportunities such as NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF). Will configure and administer multi‑user geodatabases; cache and publish ArcGIS services; and write ArcGIS‑Python geoprocessing scripts. Will create cartographically sound, user‑friendly web‑map applications and geoprocessing tools for state agencies and other clients; produce clear technical documentation, business rules, flow charts, and logical diagrams according to standard operating procedures; and present research findings in written and oral form. Will provide programming support for geoprocessing, map production, and spatial analysis; offer backup support for system administration, redundancy server/data management, software installation and updates, and website development; and coordinate with state and local officials to provide technical support and consulting services on flood and landslide hazard mitigation—including maintenance of the WV GIS Data Clearinghouse and the MapWV public portal. Will troubleshoot databases, applications, software, and hardware to sustain adequate services and user satisfaction. Will supervise three to five student employees. Domestic travel not to exceed five percent. Telecommuting permitted. Education: Master’s degree in geospatial information science, geography, computer science, environmental science, or geology and one year of experience in geographic information systems. Skills/Requirements: One year of experience in the following: (1) geographic information systems (GIS): end to end management, spatial analysis, and presentation of spatial or geographic data; (2) preparing technical documentation and resolving complex issues, and explaining the technical features of the application or process; (3) GIS programming languages and web map application development and implementation for desktop and mobile devices, including Python and the ArcGIS JavaScript API; (4) configuring and administering multi user geodatabases, caching and publishing ArcGIS services, and developing ArcGIS Python geoprocessing scripts; (5) full stack web application development integrating front end components using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and back end components using Django; (6) basic cartographic design principles, including graphic design and user interface; (7) system administration, including security protocols and utilizing an understanding of virtualized server networks; (8) implementing cybersecurity controls and mitigation strategies for common web vulnerabilities, including Cross Site Scripting (XSS); and (9) remote sensing analysis and the application of deep learning techniques for computer vision and image recognition of geospatial data. Must also have certification as a Certified Floodplain Manager. Apply at: https://careers.wvu.edu/

Responsibilities

The associate will conduct research on physical geography, investigate spatial implications of human activities, and advance spatial data infrastructure through developing enterprise geographic databases and full-stack web applications using Django. Responsibilities also include applying remote-sensing and deep-learning methods to imagery, contributing to grant writing, and providing technical support and consulting services.