Research Metadata Specialist

About the role

VIB Data Core, part of the VIB life sciences research institute, is hiring a Research Metadata Specialist in Ghent. The specialist helps make life-science data well described, connected and reusable by linking datasets to samples, experiments, projects and publications, making the information structured, machine-readable and consistent. The role works closely with researchers, data stewards, developers and repository teams.

Key responsibilities

• Design and maintain metadata models connecting life-science data (omics, imaging, spatial, etc.) with its scientific and administrative context.
• Select and apply the right standards, controlled vocabularies, ontologies and persistent identifiers with domain experts.
• Build and maintain mappings between local systems, the central data platform, external repositories, literature databases and institutional reporting.
• Develop and maintain lightweight, API-based workflows to retrieve and transform metadata, working with developers to integrate it into target systems.
• Define quality requirements and validation rules and help automate them.
• Coordinate the review, testing, versioning and documentation of metadata models and templates.
• Support and train developers, data stewards and users, using their feedback to improve templates and workflows.

Required profile

• Master's degree in bioinformatics, data science, information science, life sciences or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Several years of experience with metadata in life-science research across a range of data types.
• Experience designing or maintaining metadata schemas, data models or mappings.
• Practical understanding of metadata standards, vocabularies, persistent identifiers and provenance, and how they support FAIR data.
• Structured, collaborative way of working with clear communication and documentation.

Required skills

• Ability to read API documentation, work with JSON or XML and use or adapt scripts.
• Familiarity with Git and with testing and documenting changes.
• Strong assets: experience with research repositories, bibliographic databases, data deposition or federated data platforms; ontologies or semantic technologies such as RDF or JSON-LD; building reusable metadata transformation or validation tools.

What we offer

• A permanent, full-time position in an international, research-driven organisation.
• A varied role split between strategic projects (Open Science, European data initiatives) and the day-to-day running of metadata, data deposition and archiving services.
• Room to grow in FAIR data, semantic interoperability and knowledge graphs through training and national and European initiatives.
• Flexible working, with up to two days per week from home; the position is based in Ghent with travel about two to three times a year.

To apply, use the VIB online application form with a cover letter and CV; references are optional.