ARLIS IHMS Open Rank (Assistant or Associate) Research Scientist

University of Maryland•College Park, MD

72d

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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
Certifications in AI, deep learning, or cloud platforms are advantageous but not required

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

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