College of IST Lab Assistant for the IST Open-Source Lab w/ Dr. Fonkam

Penn State University•Ferguson Township, PA

2d•$20

About The Position

The College of IST is seeking applicants for part-time job of Lab Assistant for the IST Open-Source Lab. Job duties to include: Key Responsibilities 1. Technology Curation & Lab Infrastructure (40%): Identify, evaluate, deploy, and maintain a suite of relevant open-source software and platforms to support AI modeling, simulation, data visualization, and collaborative development (e.g., MLflow, GAMA Platform, JupyterHub, GitLab, Vensim). Manage the lab's physical and virtual computing infrastructure, including workstations, servers, and cloud-based resources. Ensure a robust, secure, and accessible computing environment for diverse users and projects. Develop and maintain documentation for software tools, setup procedures, and best practices. 3. Lab Operations & Community Support (25%): Serve as the primary point of contact for lab users, providing technical support and guidance on tool usage. Help organize and potentially lead workshops, hackathons, or demo days to showcase lab capabilities. Collaborate with faculty and students to understand research and instructional needs, proactively suggesting and implementing technical solutions. Manage lab access, scheduling, and inventory. 2. Content Development & Branding (35%): Lead the comprehensive revamp of the lab's public-facing content, including its website, event schedules and promotional materials. Craft a compelling new brand identity (visual and narrative) that communicates the lab's focus on Open-Source AI Systems Modeling & Computer Simulation. Develop engaging tutorials, workshop materials, and "project starter kits" to lower the barrier to entry for students and researchers. Create clear, visually appealing guides and documentation for the lab's capabilities and available technologies.

Requirements

Proven Knowledge & Expertise in Information Sciences & Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
Demonstrated hands-on experience deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting software in Linux/Unix environments.
Strong familiarity with the open-source software ecosystem and community practices.
Proven ability to create clear technical documentation and user guides.
Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with a passion for helping others learn and succeed.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AI/ML toolsets (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn), simulation platforms, or data science workflows.
Skills in web development (e.g., static site generators, basic HTML/CSS) and graphic design tools for branding.
Experience in an academic, research, or advanced maker-space environment.
A portfolio or examples of previous technical writing, system documentation, or public-facing content creation.

Responsibilities

Technology Curation & Lab Infrastructure: Identify, evaluate, deploy, and maintain a suite of relevant open-source software and platforms to support AI modeling, simulation, data visualization, and collaborative development (e.g., MLflow, GAMA Platform, JupyterHub, GitLab, Vensim).
Manage the lab's physical and virtual computing infrastructure, including workstations, servers, and cloud-based resources.
Ensure a robust, secure, and accessible computing environment for diverse users and projects.
Develop and maintain documentation for software tools, setup procedures, and best practices.
Lab Operations & Community Support: Serve as the primary point of contact for lab users, providing technical support and guidance on tool usage.
Help organize and potentially lead workshops, hackathons, or demo days to showcase lab capabilities.
Collaborate with faculty and students to understand research and instructional needs, proactively suggesting and implementing technical solutions.
Manage lab access, scheduling, and inventory.
Content Development & Branding: Lead the comprehensive revamp of the lab's public-facing content, including its website, event schedules and promotional materials.
Craft a compelling new brand identity (visual and narrative) that communicates the lab's focus on Open-Source AI Systems Modeling & Computer Simulation.
Develop engaging tutorials, workshop materials, and "project starter kits" to lower the barrier to entry for students and researchers.
Create clear, visually appealing guides and documentation for the lab's capabilities and available technologies.

Benefits

The unique opportunity to architect a new, high-visibility academic lab from an early stage.
A collaborative and innovative work environment within a top-tier research university.
Professional development opportunities to stay at the forefront of open-source and AI technologies.

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