Data Science/Cognitive Science/Computer Science Graduate Assistant - Spring 2027 - SEAL

Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI); Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) seeks a Graduate Assistant to join the C3D team for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. The GA will assist Research Scientists in cognitive science and AI-related research, and help with data analysis and reporting under mentorship.

This 25% appointment (10 hours/week) provides hands-on experience in human-centered AI, cognitive modeling, and simulation, including Python-based work and computational analysis for research projects.

Qualifications

• Pursuing a Master's or PhD at Georgia Tech in CS, Cybersecurity, HCI, Psychology, Public Policy, or International Affairs.
• Registered for at least 3+ credit hours with your university.
• 2.5+ cumulative GPA.
• Ability to apply foundational cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and/or cognitive psychology principles to applied research.
• Experience contributing to academic research and ability to complete CITI training on onboarding.
• Experience with programming languages or data analysis software (R, SPSS, SAS, Java, Python, C++).
• Good academic writing and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Perform exploratory research to address sponsor interests.
• Conduct and report on computational science/data analysis.
• Coordinate with researchers to develop software for research testbeds and gaming platforms.
• Contribute to technical reports and presentations.

Skills

Python

R

SPSS

Java

C++

AI/ML concepts

CITI training

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/Cybersecurity/HCI/Psychology/Policy/International Affairs

3+ credit hours registered

GPA 2.5+

Tools

MS Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint)

Job description

Overview:

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry.GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Job Description

This GTRI Graduate Assistant (GA) position offers you extensive opportunities to participate in diverse scientific and technological endeavors, use state-of-the-art equipment and rapidly improve your technical and leadership skills. This position is for one semester (Spring 2027) of a quarter-time (25%) graduate assistantship.

Georgia Tech Research Institute's Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory (SEAL) seeks a GRA to join our Command, Control, and Communications (C3D) team for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. Students will assist Research Scientists in various Cognitive Science and Computer/Data Science related research tasks. Students should be interested in learning about C3 operations, design and development of human-centered artificial intelligence, cognitive modeling, and simulation. Students should also be capable of helping to conduct research under the direction of Research Scientists, participating in computational analysis using standard analysis packages such as R, SPSS, or others used in scientific research, and competently reporting the results of such analysis according to professional publication standards. Computing student applicants should have software engineering and AI/ML experience, ideally with past work/project experiences developing in Python. Psychology/Social Science applicants should have research experience such as guided literature reviews, research proposals, research design, data collection, data analysis and visualization, and research reporting.

Due to the nature of the work at GTRI, job duties will depend upon contract and sponsor needs. Students could participate in the following projects/tasks:

• Perform exploratory research (or human subjects research if applicable) to address sponsor interests
• Conduct and report on computational science/data analysis
• Coordinate with other research scientists/engineers to develop software for research testbed and experimental gaming platforms
• Contribute to technical reports and presentations

Required Minimum Qualifications

Graduate Assistant

• Pursuing a Master's or PhD degree at Georgia Tech in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Human Computer Interaction, Psychology, Public Policy, or International Affairs
• Must be registered for at least 3+ credit hours with your university
• 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA
• Ability to apply foundational cognitive science, artificial intelligence, and/or cognitive psychology principles and concepts to applied and exploratory research in artificial intelligence and human machine teaming
• Experience in contributing to academic research, ability to complete CITI training (as applicable) upon onboarding
• Experience with common programming languages or data analysis software packages for computational data science (e.g., R, SPSS, SAS, Java, Python, C++)
• Good academic writing and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with office applications including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas
• Ability to quickly learn new software applications and tools
• Ability to explore and quickly learn computational analysis and/or qualitative analysisapproaches
• Experience with common programming languages for software development to support the construction of basic AI/ML applications (e.g., Java, Python)
• Experience with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch/Tensorflow
• Knowledgeable about or able to quickly learn video gaming concepts and environments
• Ability to learn human systems engineering/human-centered design approaches with mentor guidance

Hours per Week

10 hours per week

U.S. Citizenship Requirements

Due to our research contracts with the US federal government, candidates for this position are required to be US Citizens.

Clearance Type Required

None

Housing and Relocation

Housing and relocation assistance are not available for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The Institute is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and Institute policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia ("USG") and Georgia Tech. Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of an individual's race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.