The ANTA’BIF (Antarctic Biodiversity Information Facility, www.biodiversity.aq) project aims at constructing a scientific network and web portal that will provide free and open access to Antarctic biodiversity data. The project is funded by the Belgian Science Policy (BelSPO, www.belspo.be),
ANTA’BIF is implemented by the Belgian Biodiversity Platform (www.biodiversity.be) and will build on the experience accumulated in the framework of, amongst others, the SCAR-MarBIN project (www.scarmarbin.be). ANTA’BIF offers a dynamic and challenging position, with many developments on the way, and real-time collaboration with a network of scientists and developers in Belgium and abroad. The construction and test phase of the project will run over a period of two years. 

Profile:  IT Specialist
We seek, for immediate hiring, an IT specialist (Graduate or equivalent), to take part in the implementation and development of the new Antarctic Biodiversity Information Facility (ANTA’BIF). (S)he will be in charge of the implementation of specific web developments and of the data and metadata management of the project.
. The successful candidate  will have a strong knowledge in biodiversity informatics, and a taste for Antarctic science. (S)he should be familiar with Open Source Software, and will work with the ANTA’BIF manager and the IT team of the Belgian Biodiversity Platform. (S)he will be based at the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.
Applicants should have the following profile:
Be knowledgeable in biological data/database management
Have experience with GIS software (ArcView, Geoserver); experience with Web2.0, HTML, CSS, XML and REST is an asset
Have an open-minded spirit, being collaborative and creative is crucial
Be fluent in English, knowledge of additional languages is an asset
The successful candidates will be confided the following tasks: 
Specific development and adaptation of the existing SCAR-MarBIN web portal to form a dedicated Antarctic biodiversity data portal
Management of data transfer of the contributing databases
Management of metadata records, including the synchronization with OBIS and GBIF
Semantic control of the data to be published
Follow-up the developments in the field of biodiversity informatics.

Interested persons should send their application (plus CV) to the project promoter, Hendrik Segers (hendrik [dot] segers [at] naturalsciences [dot] be), with CC : to Bruno Danis (bruno [dot] danis [at] naturalsciences [dot] be)  before January 15st, 2010; the selection of candidates will take place during the first half of February 2010.