Part-Time Research Assistant-Zhu

Penn State University; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Penn State University’s Smeal College of Business invites applications for a part-time instructional research assistant to support an AI-enhanced teaching project in RM 412 (Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics – Advanced Topics) under Dr. Nan Zhu.

Duties include developing and testing custom AI learning agents, organizing course materials, creating benchmark cases, comparing AI platforms, and documenting results to inform agent design and student feedback.

Qualifications

• Completed RM 412 or an equivalent upper-level actuarial mathematics course.
• Familiarity with actuarial modeling and quantitative problem solving.
• Interest in generative AI applications for education.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with the development and testing of custom AI learning agents for RM 412.
• Preparing and organizing course-specific reference materials for AI implementation.
• Developing benchmark cases and testing AI-generated feedback for accuracy and consistency.
• Comparing AI implementations across platforms (e.g., BoodleBox and ChatGPT Custom GPTs).
• Documenting testing results and recommending improvements to agent design and student feedback.

Skills

Actuarial modeling

Quantitative problem solving

Interest in AI for education

Education

Completed RM 412 or equivalent upper-level actuarial mathematics course

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

The Risk Management Department at the Smeal College of Business seeks to hire one individual to serve as a part-time instructional research assistant for Dr. Nan Zhu in support of an AI-enhanced teaching project for RM 412 (Long-Term Actuarial Mathematics – Advanced Topics).

Duties will include, but are not limited to:

• Assisting with the development and testing of custom AI learning agents for RM 412
• Preparing and organizing course-specific reference materials for AI implementation
• Developing benchmark cases and testing AI-generated feedback for accuracy and consistency
• Comparing AI implementations across platforms (e.g., BoodleBox and ChatGPT Custom GPTs)
• Documenting testing results and recommending improvements to agent design and student feedback

Requirements and Qualifications

• Completed RM 412 or an equivalent upper-level actuarial mathematics course
• Familiarity with actuarial modeling and quantitative problem solving
• Interest in generative AI applications for education

Background checks/clearances

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

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