Scientific Annotation Specialist

Overview

Black Canyon Consulting (BCC) is seeking a skilled Scientific Annotation Specialist to support an NIH project aimed at advancing biomedical research through high-quality data annotation. This role is instrumental in developing, training, and evaluating automated systems for named-entity recognition and entity-linking of cell types in biomedical publications. The ideal candidate will have experience in biomedical text annotation, be detail-oriented, and adhere to established annotation guidelines.

 Purpose

The primary purpose of this role is to annotate cell types and related information in a dataset of text extracted from biomedical publications. Annotations will identify cell types, their locations in the text, and corresponding cell ontology identifiers, aiding in the development of machine learning models for biomedical research.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Training Participation: Attend project-related training to gain familiarity with:
  • Annotation processes and guidelines
  • Online annotation software (e.g., TeamTat)
  • External resources, such as Cell Ontology and the Ontology Lookup Service
• Annotation Rounds: Conduct multiple rounds of annotation for each assigned text, including:
  • Independent Annotation: Initial round of annotation without external communication, with access to automated tools.
  • Guided Review: Annotate with visibility of another annotator's work to resolve disagreements.
  • Collaborative Review: Work with other annotators until consensus is achieved.
• Quality Assurance: Ensure all annotations are consistent with project guidelines and participate in regular meetings to address ambiguities or guideline updates.
• Feedback & Improvement: Engage in daily meetings to discuss project issues, challenges, and any potential improvements to the annotation guidelines.

Required Skills

• Strong understanding of biomedical terminologies, particularly related to cell types.
• Ability to adhere strictly to annotation guidelines.
• Experience with annotation software and digital resources for biomedical research.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to high-quality work.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a structured annotation process.

 Education & Experience

• Required: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Biology, Bioinformatics, Biomedical Sciences, etc.)
• Preferred: Prior experience with scientific or biomedical text annotation, especially in named-entity recognition and ontology tagging.
• Additional Qualifications: Familiarity with Cell Ontology, Ontology Lookup Service, and biomedical literature databases.

Work Environment & Schedule

• Location: In-person training at NIH-Bethesda, MD; remote work available after training.
• Schedule: Flexible working hours with availability required during U.S. Eastern business hours (9 am - 5:30 pm) for meetings.
• Project Duration: Minimum 6 weeks, subject to extension based on text volume and project requirements.

Apply Today!
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply through our website. Please submit your resume and any relevant documentation showcasing experience in biomedical annotation or related fields.

Benefits

We provide our team members with a premium benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) plan with employer contribution, paid holidays, PTO, and tuition reimbursement.