Assistant Research Scientist (PREP0005263)

Johns Hopkins University; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University is seeking a PREP Research Associate to support the NIST GenAI evaluation program. You will develop AI evaluation infrastructure, design databases, and work on deepfake related projects while collaborating with a broad research team.

The role involves building and maintaining software for AI/ML experiments, handling big data, and delivering evaluation results that align with program goals. U.S. citizen preferred for some tasks.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in one or more mainstream programming languages used in scientific and networking domains.
• Familiarity with REST-based applications and networking basics.
• Shell scripting (Bash, Zsh, etc.) is a plus.
• Experience with virtualization and cloud stacks (Docker, Kubernetes, AWS).

Responsibilities

• Install, develop, and deploy software for AI/ML based systems on a GPU cluster.
• Conduct AI evaluation series across text, audio, image, video, and code modalities.
• Design experiments and curate datasets for robust evaluation.
• Develop baseline algorithms for generative AI and improve existing infrastructure.
• Contribute to reports aligning with GenAI program objectives.

Skills

Python

Java

JavaScript

Ruby

R

C

C++

Rust

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

REST APIs

Job description

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

Salary: $20-$24 per hour

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

Description

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 collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual 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

Computer Scientist ZP-II/NIST GenAI program

The work will entail

This position involves providing development support for various activities in the Information Access Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Specifically, the work will support NIST GenAI evaluation series ( https://ai-challenges.nist.gov/genai ).

The candidate will contribute to the development of AI evaluations that support evaluation series in various modalities (such as text, voice, image, video, and code) under the NIST GenAI program. This role includes contributing to implementation of an evaluation infrastructure, designing a database schema, and performing related evaluation tasks. The candidate will also provide technical expertise in activities related to deepfakes (image, audio, and video), which include creating a project plan, developing and distributing specialized tools, generating evaluation data, and conducting evaluation series. Additionally, they will contribute to reports that align with the program's objectives. The candidate will actively participate in NIST measurement science and engage in cutting-edge research and evaluation in the field of Generative AI technologies.

U.S. citizen preferred

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to

• Installing, developing and deploying software for executing AI and ML based systems, with a large dataset on a GPU-accelerated cluster
• Conducting image/audio/video evaluation series in advancing generative AI technologies
• Conducting experimental design and dataset curation
• Developing baseline algorithms in generative AI
• Upgrading, maintaining, and continuously developing existing NIST GenAI software and evaluation infrastructure
• Managing data, such as querying and translating data formats/specifications
• Designing and deploying agentic AI evaluation metrics and frameworks to assess agent performance, dynamic planning, tool use accuracy, and error recovery behaviors in complex multi-step workflows as well as multi-agent systems
• Developing standardized baseline agent architectures to serve as control benchmarks within the NIST GenAI framework

Qualifications

• Strong proficiency in a mainstream programming language used in scientific and networking domains such as Python, Java, JavaScript, ruby, R, C, C++ or Rust.
• Basic proficiency with networking technologies and REST based applications
• Proficiency in shell scripting (Bash, Zsh, etc.)
• Basic proficiency with virtualization and cloud technology stacks (f.e. docker, compose, kubernetes, AWS)
• Computer Vision and Signal Processing fundamentals (f.e. audio pre-processing, morphological filters)
• Scientific Data Visualization and Analysis fundamentals
• Practical experience with agentic design patterns and modern orchestration frameworks
• Familiarity with structured output enforcement (JSON Schema), dynamic tool interfaces, and emerging interoperability standards (e.g., Model Context Protocol / MCP)
• Familiarity with agentic evaluation frameworks and benchmarks for autonomous performance
• Mastery of the principles, practices, methods in a specialty of a technical professional field (in science, computer science, software engineering, information technology, mathematics, or related field)

Background Checks

After receiving a conditional offer, the successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification. When deciding whether a candidate's conviction history is job-disqualifying, the University considers the nature and gravity of the offense, the time that has passed since the conviction, and the nature of the job being sought.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The University is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards

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

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. The University is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors or demographic characteristics that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at [e-mail]. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations at Johns Hopkins University for disabilities, medical conditions (including medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), accessibility, or religious reasons, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/employees-job-applicants

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine.

Exceptions to the seasonal flu vaccine or COVID-19 vaccine (for SOM) requirement(s) may be provided to individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs or medical conditions that preclude them from receiving the vaccine. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. For additional information, 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 involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those candidates who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.