NIH searches for chief data officer

Another agency is joining in the recent hiring spree of chief data officers and is looking to name its first associate director for data science.

In a Jan. 10 statement, National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins announced plans to fill the new senior position. The data officer will lead NIH-wide strategic initiatives that intend to make the most of the increasing amount of biomedical research data.

"There is an urgent need and increased opportunities for advanced collaboration and coordination of access to, and analysis of, the rapidly expanding collections of biomedical data," Collins said. "NIH aims to play a catalytic lead role in addressing these complex issues -- not only internally, but also with stakeholders in the research community, other government agencies, and private organizations involved in scientific data generation, management, and analysis."

Until the new slot can be filled, Eric Green will be serving as acting associate director for data science. He currently is director for the National Human Genome Research Institute and has worked to map, sequence and understand eukaryotic genomes. Green will continue to serve as NHGRI director while taking on the acting leadership position.