| Department: |
Psychology
|
Effective Date: |
January 2005 |
| Grade: |
USG 10 |
Reports to: |
Administrative Officer
|
General Accountability
Administrative Officer
Faculty Advisor: Chair
Nature and Scope
This senior consultant position provides computer support for the department of Psychology with high priority given to programming and support of faculty and graduate student research and teaching, and the general organization of our departmental systems and software administration. Management and planning for a rapidly evolving computer environment includes approximately 400 computers and a central resource for 34 faculty, 21 staff and approximately 90 graduate students. The departmental hardware and software is directly managed in partnership with a second computer consultant and in consultation with the Faculty and university computing staff. With increased complexity and range of computers and applications in use throughout the department and campus, continuous updating of technology knowledge, the computing industry, and university policies and practices is essential. This position is responsible for the recruitment and job tasks of 3-4 Co-op and Work Study students each term.
Statistical Data
Specific Accountabilities
General Consulting
· provide students, staff and faculty with information and assistance in the use of computer software packages including those for programming, data analysis, word processing, graphics, databases, communication, etc.
- responsible for shared management of two complex computer infrastructure systems: NEXUS supporting researchers, teaching and experimental labs and the Arts Domain which manages tasks such as authorization, access of group and user accounts, software updates, queues, authentification and backup operating systems in use include UNIX, all current version of MS Windows, Linux, and MacOS.
· develop customized software applications as required, including the management of the REG system
· prepare user documentation designed to facilitate the use of the commonly used packages or systems.
· collect and maintain a general and technical reference library for use by faculty, staff and students within the department using a locally maintained web page as the primary tool
· inform department members of relevant UW computing policies and computer seminars, workshops, and provide in-house training as required.
Research Consulting
- provide information of hardware characteristics and specifications as they relate to research implementations and organize purchase quotes for researchers.
- assist researchers, research assistants and students to develop their own programs in areas of program-design and debugging. All aspects of program design are independently resolved.
- provide consulting assistance for various programming languages (C, UNIX Shell, AWK, Perl, CGI, , BASIC)
- provide information on peripheral research hardware (such as voice keys, eye movement trackers, video digitizers, subject response boxes, etc) and software.
Software Development & Support for Research and Teaching
- review project requirements and constraints including analysis of real-time requirements, operation routines, interface and performance considerations, and hardware/software issues.
- develop the internal logic of the program and its associated data structures based on researcher specifications. production: involves the actual coding of the program (typically C, UNIX Shell, AWK or Perl). accuracy, attention to detail and the continuing development of well designed, flexible, program modules.
- implementation of newly designed software will include testing of software reliability, and adjustments with final installation of hardware/software in research labs
- continual consultation and maintenance may include fine tuning of software and preparation of documentation
Systems Administration and Maintenance
System administration and maintenance is performed at two levels - departmental and lab servers (UNIX and Windows NT) as well as individual client machines (UNIX, all current versions of MS Windows, Linux and MacOS) in offices and labs. All involve the installation and updating of hardware and software. In general, it involves the following services:
- install new system hardware and software for offices and labs as well as attaching peripherals, adding memory, cards, configuring the operating system, network parameters and attach to the network
- respond to problems and general requests and quickly diagnose and identify solutions; arrange equipment repairs
· install new systems and software as required
· administer department user accounts.
· perform regular network backup procedures
· maintain and upgrade department network (working closely with ACO and IST)
General Administration
- recommend, assist and advise Department Chair and Administrative Officer in partnership with second department Computer Systems Manager regarding short and long term planning
- General consulting for a wide range of hardware and software support for all department members, with particular attention to the REG system, communications lists, security, software licensing and UW policies relating to research computer usage
- Recruitment of training of 3 Co-op and Work Study students each term; organization of job tasks, monitoring progress and providing performance reviews
- Member of Department Web Committee
Significant Internal/External Relationships
- admin computer consultant, administrative staff, Psychology Shop Technicians
- faculty members, graduate students, research assistants
- Faculty of Arts Computing Office, including Associate Dean of Computing.
- Information Systems and Technology Department; this includes project groups, consultants for hardware, education, support centre, course and committee attendance
- UW Computer Store
- Purchasing Department
external computing firms specializing in hardware and software products
Working Conditions
