Assistant Research Scientist (PREP0005091)

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 50,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University is offering a PREP Research Associate position to support a NIST PREP collaboration. The role focuses on AI/ML image processing for PCB inspection and data-driven device evaluation.

Responsibilities include developing pipelines with Python/PyTorch, building test rigs for 2D/3D PCB imaging, and presenting progress weekly while performing literature reviews and market research of relevant algorithms, hardware, and software.

Qualifications

• Education: Engineering majors with a Ph.D or master’s degree (Ex: ComputerScience, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering,and/or Mechanical Engineering)
• PCB design and hardware: Experience with PCB layout and design software such as KiCad,DipTrace
• Experience with designing and inspecting PCBs

Responsibilities

• Develop AI/ML based image processing pipelines using Python/PyTorch and other relevant software modules in collaborationwith other NIST researchers.
• Develop test rigs to acquire 2D and 3D images of PCBs anddefective parts.
• Research the effects of various physical properties of an objectand sensor settings on the AI metrics.
• Write reports and develop weekly presentations to discuss theprogress of the project.
• Perform a literature review and market research of relevantalgorithms, hardware and software.

Skills

Python

PyTorch

TensorFlow

OpenCV

2D/3D pose estimation

Point cloud processing

Windows

Linux

PCB design

Education

Engineering Ph.D or Master’s in CS/CE/Robotics/EE/ME

Tools

KiCad

DipTrace

MATLAB Computer Vision Toolbox

HALCON

Job description

Johns Hopkins, founded in 1876, is America's first researchuniversity and home to nine world-class academic divisions workingtogether as one university.

Johns Hopkins University: Whiting School of Engineering: Office ofResearch and Translation

Salary : $50,000-$100,000 a year

PREP Research Associate

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Professional Research Experience Program (PREP). NIST recognizes that its research staff may want to collaboratewith researchers at academic institutions on specific projects ofmutual interest and, therefore, requires those institutions to be recipients of a PREP award. The PREP program involves staff from a wide range of backgrounds conducting scientific research across various fields. Individuals in this position will perform technical work supporting the collaboration's scientific research.

Research Title: Machine Vision Engineer for PCBInspection

The work will entail:

NIST is investigating the performanceof commercial and custom AI systems (hardware and software) forprinted circuit board (PCB) inspection and manufacturing defectdetection. The work will focus on conducting experiments, acquiringand analyzing data to understand these systems' performance, andgenerating data to train AI systems.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Develop AI/ML based image processing pipelines usingPython/Pytorch and other relevant software modules in collaborationwith other NIST researchers.
• Develop test rigs to acquire 2D and 3D images of PCBs anddefective parts.
• Research the effects of various physical properties of an objectand sensor settings on the AI metrics.
• Write reports and develop weekly presentations to discuss theprogress of the project.
• Perform a literature review and market research of relevantalgorithms, hardware and software.

Qualifications

• Education: Engineering majors with a Ph.D or master’s degree (Ex: ComputerScience, Computer Engineering, Robotics, Electrical Engineering,and/or Mechanical Engineering)
• PCB design and hardware:
  • Experience with PCB layout and design software such as KiCad,DipTrace
  • Experience with developing and inspecting PCBs
• AI/ML and computer vision:
  • Experience using Python, PyTorch, and Tensorflow for developingAI/ML pipelines.
  • Experience with OpenCV, MVTec HALCON, or Matlab Computer VisionToolbox.
  • Basic understanding of imaging sensors such as RGB and RGB-Dcameras
  • Experience with computer vision algorithms to perform objectdetection, data augmentation, and 2D/3D pose estimation
  • Point cloud data processing, 2D and 3D imaging
• Experience with physics engines such as Unity, Unreal Engine andMuJoCo.
• Experience developing on both Windows and Linux platforms.
• Experience with CAD software such as SolidWorks and OnShape

Background Checks

After receiving a conditional offer, the successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment backgroundcheck including education verification. When deciding whether a candidate’s conviction history is job-disqualifying, the Universityconsiders the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that haspassed since the conviction, and the nature of the job beingsought.

Privacy Act Statement

Purpose:

The National Institute for Standards and Technology(NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which isdesigned to provide valuable laboratory experience and financialassistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor’s degree holders,graduate students, master’s degree holders, postdocs, andfaculty.

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratoriesand participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborativeresearch relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of highereducation in the following disciplines including (but may not belimited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computerscience, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics,nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, andstatistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitatethe administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses:

NIST will use the information collected toperform the requisite reviews of the applications to determineeligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure ofthis information is also subject to all the published routine usesas identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1:NIST Associates.

Disclosure:

Furnishing this information is voluntary. Whenyou submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent forNIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.By applying to a CHIPS-funded PREP opportunity, you alsoacknowledge that participation in the project requires signing aNon-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) prior to beginning any work.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximumsalaries for this position and is based on Johns HopkinsUniversity's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not allcandidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range.The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may varyand will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may includethe successful candidate's geographic location, skills, workexperience, internal equity, market conditions, education/trainingand other factors, as reasonably determined by theUniversity.

Total Rewards

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports ouremployees' health, life, career and retirement. More informationcan be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity forits faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university doesnot discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status,pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age,disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity orexpression, veteran status or other legally protectedcharacteristics. The University is committed to providing qualifiedindividuals access to all academic and employment programs,benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability,performance and merit without regard to personal factors ordemographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the programinvolved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with Johns HopkinsUniversity and require special assistance or accommodation duringany part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HRBusiness Services Office at [e-mail] . ForTTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For moreinformation about workplace accommodations at Johns HopkinsUniversity for disabilities, medical conditions (including medicalconditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), accessibility, orreligious reasons, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu .

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longerrequires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This changedoes not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must befully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proofof vaccination status.

We still require all faculty, staff, andstudents to receive the seasonalflu vaccine.

Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine (forSOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerelyheld religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude themfrom receiving the vaccine. Requests for an exception must besubmitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additionalinformation, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas,laboratories, working with research subjects, or involvingcommunity contact requires documentation of immune status againstRubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella(chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received theTdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may includedocumentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicellavaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratorytesting. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases areordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except forthose candidates who provide results of blood tests or immunizationdocumentation from their own health care providers. Anyvaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no costin our Occupational Health office.

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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement