Associate Research Scientist (PREP0004940)

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Johns Hopkins University in Maryland seeks an experienced Data Scientist / Computer Scientist to support the NIST PREP program. The role focuses on standardizing AI-ready datasets for AI-RAN, surveying data repositories, and contributing to guidelines and standards.

The candidate will work across multimodal data collection campaigns, data pipelines, and reporting through a NIST Technical Note. Requirements include a Master’s or PhD in a related field and 1+ years of experience with Python, ML

Qualifications

• Masters or PhD in data science, CS, CE, EE, or related field.
• 1+ years designing and processing large-scale multi-modal datasets for wireless or AI/ML.
• Experience with Python and ML frameworks (PyTorch/TensorFlow) for data capture, labeling, and analysis.
• Familiarity with RF signal processing concepts (I/Q samples, CSI, power-delay profiles).
• Strong written and oral communication for reports and standards documents.

Responsibilities

• Survey wireless data repositories and standards activities to assess AI-readiness.
• Support ISAC measurement campaigns to capture and label RF, LiDAR, and camera data.
• Develop data processing pipelines to compare dataset formats for AI/ML applications.
• Co-author a NIST Technical Note on AI-ready RAN datasets.
• Develop contributions to standards bodies and disseminate outputs via proper NIST processes.

Skills

Python

PyTorch/TensorFlow

MATLAB

Data engineering

RF signal processing

Education

Master’s or PhD in data science/CS/CE/EE or related field

Tools

NVIDIA GPUs

CuPy/CUDA/C++

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

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:

Data Scientist / Computer Scientist – Standardized AI-Ready DatasetFrameworks for AI-Based Radio Access Networks (AI-RAN)

NIST seeks an experienced researcher to support the development of standardized frameworks for "AI-ready" datasets in the Radio Access Network (RAN), in support of U.S. leadership in 6G standardization. The successful candidate will survey existing wireless data repositories and relevant standard activities, participate in multi-modal measurement campaigns, and develop technical guidelines for AI-ready RAN dataset creation. The candidate is expected to convey the results of their work through a NIST Technical Note and contribute to standards bodies such as the AI-RAN Alliance, O-RAN Alliance, and 3GPP.

U.S. Citizen Preferred

Key responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

• Survey existing multi-modal wireless data repositories and standards activities to assess AI-readiness and identify gaps, limitations, and potential enhancements.
• Support Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) measurement campaigns to capture, synchronize, and label RF, LiDAR, and camera data.
• Develop data processing pipelines to evaluate and compare dataset formats for AI/ML applications.
• Co-author a NIST Technical Note on guidelines for creating standardized AI-ready RAN datasets.
• Develop contributions to standards bodies and industry consortia, and ensure outputs are publicly disseminated through proper NIST processes.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. degree in data science, computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or a closely related field.
• 1+ years of relevant experience in the design, collection, and processing of large-scale multi-modal datasets, preferably in wireless communications or AI/ML applications.
• 1+ years of relevant experience with modern data engineering tools and frameworks (e.g., Python, PyTorch/TensorFlow, MATLAB, or similar) to enable data acquisition, storage, labeling, and analysis.
• Familiarity with wireless communications systems, including RF signal processing concepts such as I/Q samples, channel state information (CSI), and power delay profiles.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to contribute to technical reports and standards documents.

Additional Desirable Skills, Expertise and Qualifications:

• Experience with multi-modal sensing systems, including LiDAR, camera, and radar data collection and synchronization.
• Familiarity with the Findable Accessible Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR) data principles, public data repositories, data schemas, versioning, and open dataset documentation practices.
• Experience with GPU-accelerated hardware platforms and software engineering including NVIDIA GPUs and CuPy/CUDA/C++ programming.
• Familiarity with 5G/6G wireless standards and AI/ML integration frameworks being developed by 3GPP, O-RAN Alliance, or the AI-RAN Alliance.
• Experience with Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) use cases such as object detection, human detection, or drone tracking. Experience in authoring research publications and presentations documenting results of experiments, modeling, and analysis research.

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C.§ 272(b) and (c)

Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor’s degree holders, graduate students, master’s degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1:NIST Associates.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purposes stated.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

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.

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.

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 changed 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-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional vaccine requirements may apply,depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring department for more 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.