Job Description

Assistant/Associate Research Scientist

Organization's Summary Statement: The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), based at the University of Maryland College Park, was established in 2018 under the auspices of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USDI) to be a strategic asset for research and development in social systems, autonomy and augmentation, and advanced computing. One of only 15 designated Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) in the nation and the only UARC focused on supporting the intelligence community, ARLIS conducts both unclassified and classified research spanning from basic to applied system development and works to serve the US Government as an independent and objective trusted agent. ARLIS research is driven by a cadre of research scientists and engineers, faculty research specialists and project engineers, further supported by senior University of Maryland faculty and a consortium of university partners. Research is typically conducted through teams of e.g. social scientists, computer scientists, psychologists, linguists, cognitive neuroscientists, applied mathematicians, political scientists, policy analysts, and systems engineers. The Assistant/Associate Research Scientist will support ARLIS's applied research efforts in computer vision and cognitive/affective science. This role is focused on designing, developing, and evaluating advanced computer vision algorithms and prototypes that address real-world defense and national security challenges. The ideal candidate will possess strong experience in computational modeling and AI/ML systems, contributing to both early-stage research and deployable solutions. Must be able to obtain a U.S. security clearance. If selected, you must meet the requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to a government security clearance investigation that includes criminal and credit history checks, as well as verification of U.S. citizenship, birth, education, employment, and military history.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement computer vision models for real-time and offline applications
• Evaluate and optimize algorithm performance across diverse datasets and domains
• Apply principles of both computer vision and psychology to create empirically rigorous, applied solutions for DOW stakeholders
• Collaborate with teams on AI/ML integration and system architecture
• Support technical documentation, reports, and presentation of research outcomes
• Assist in proposal development and research planning efforts
• Contribute to publications, prototypes, and demonstrations for internal and external stakeholders

Security Clearance Requirements

• U.S. citizenship required
• Must be eligible to obtain a U.S. government security clearance
• Employment contingent on successful completion of background investigation

Physical Demands

• Primarily office and lab-based work
• Extensive use of computers for modeling and algorithm development
• Occasional travel for collaboration, testing, or conferences

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Psychology/Cognitive Sciences, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Kinesiology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in computer vision algorithm design, development, and evaluation pertaining to topic areas including (but not limited to) human/biological motion, behavior, and/or emotion.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficiency in computer vision libraries and frameworks (e.g., OpenCV, PyTorch, TensorFlow)
• Strong programming skills in Python, C++, or related languages
• Experience with AI/ML pipeline development and evaluation
• Ability to apply concepts of computer vision and/or machine learning to human behavior
• Ability to conduct rigorous research and present findings clearly
• Effective collaboration and communication skills in a multidisciplinary environment

Preferences

• Experience working with cross-functional R&D teams
• Familiarity with defense or intelligence applications of computer vision and AI
• Familiarity with computational neuroscience or biologically inspired computing
• Experience with being a principal investigator (PI) or significant team lead of a research project.
• Development on classified networks
• Active TS/SCI clearance
• Human subjects research experience

Licenses/Certifications

• No specific licenses or certifications required
• Certifications in AI, deep learning, or cloud platforms are advantageous but not required

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