Junior Security Analyst

Biological Sciences Division at the University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 33,062 - 42,705; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

The Center for Translational Data Science (CTDS) at the University of Chicago is seeking a highly motivated Junior Security Analyst who is passionate about information security. In this hands‑on, entry‑level role, you will support the protection of multi‑petabyte scale data on platforms like GDC and Gen3 data commons while actively collaborating with cross‑functional teams.

Your eagerness to learn is just as important as your current skill set.

Qualifications

• Vocational training or equivalent experience in related field.
• Less than 2 years of work experience in related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day security operations and triage incoming security tickets.
• Support the vulnerability management lifecycle to help identify, track, and remediate risks.
• Assist the team with basic incident response, monitoring, log analysis and reporting.
• Write and maintain basic Python scripts to help automate routine security tasks.
• Contribute to ongoing security projects, such as our transition to a zero-trust network access model.
• Provide necessary support for pulling supporting Governmental reporting paperwork and compliance documentation.
• Under close supervision, performs basic technical support procedures to ensure the safety of information systems.
• Learn fundamental security penetration tests to identify system vulnerability against malicious code, system exploitation using SQL injection, cross-site scripting, buffer overflows, parameter tampering, hidden field manipulation, cookie poisoning, and web services manipulation.

Skills

Security fundamentals

Python scripting

Incident response

Log analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Associate or bachelor's degree in progress in cybersecurity or CS

Tools

Python

Job description

About The Department

The Center for Translational Data Science (CTDS) at the University of Chicago is a research center whose mission is to develop the discipline of translational data science to impact problems in biology, medicine, healthcare, and the environment. We envision a world in which researchers have ready access to the data needed and the tools required to make data driven discoveries that increase our scientific knowledge and improve the quality of life. We architect ecosystems of large-scale commons of research data, computing resources, applications, tools, and services for the broader research community to use data at scale to pursue scientific inquiry and accelerate discovery.

Job Summary

The Center for Translational Data Science (CTDS) is seeking a highly motivated Junior Security Analyst who is passionate about information security. In this hands‑on, entry‑level role, you will support the protection of multi‑petabyte scale data on platforms like GDC and Gen3 data commons while actively collaborating with cross‑functional teams. Your eagerness to learn is just as important as your current skill set. We are committed to mentorship, fostering your growth as a well‑rounded practitioner who moves beyond administrative tasks to provide meaningful security support, stays up to date on emerging threats, and advocates for the improvement of CTDS’s products and services. If you are ready to soak up knowledge and make a tangible impact on the security of critical data science initiatives, we want to hear from you.

This at‑will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Responsibilities

• Support day‑to‑day security operations and triage incoming security tickets.
• Support the vulnerability management lifecycle to help identify, track, and remediate risks.
• Assist the team with basic incident response, monitoring, log analysis and reporting.
• Write and maintain basic Python scripts to help automate routine security tasks.
• Contribute to ongoing security projects, such as our transition to a zero‑trust network access model.
• Provide necessary support for pulling supporting Governmental reporting paperwork and compliance documentation.
• Under close supervision, performs basic technical support procedures to ensure the safety of information systems. Identifies potential hardware and software deficiencies on systems such as web servers, mail servers, routers, firewalls and intrusion detection systems.
• Learn fundamental security penetration tests to identify system vulnerability against malicious code, system exploitation using SQL injection, cross‑site scripting, buffer overflows, parameter tampering, hidden field manipulation, cookie poisoning, and web services manipulation.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Vocational training, apprenticeships or equivalent experience in related field (four‑year degree not required).
• Knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Associate or bachelor's degree in progress within cybersecurity, computer science, or a related field.

Experience

• Foundational understanding of basic security principles and IT operations.
• Familiarity with Python and a genuine interest in improving your scripting abilities.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong willingness to learn, ask questions, and adapt to new challenges.
• Ability to respond to changing priorities and operate effectively in a dynamic demand‑based environment, requiring extreme flexibility and responsiveness.
• Ability to build trust and work effectively with cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to present information in a consistent and concise manner.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to foster collaborative working relationships.

Working Conditions

Hybrid office/remote.

Compensation and Benefits

• Hourly pay: $24.04 - $31.25
• Weekly hours: 40
• Benefits eligible: Yes – health, retirement, paid time off, and other resources as per the Benefits Guidebook.

Additional Information

The University of Chicago uses AI‑assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes, but AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Legal and Compliance

The University of Chicago is an equal‑opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773‑702‑5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

Annual Security & Fire Safety Report

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.