UWT Junior Researchers
The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is looking to hire three (3) Junior Researchers at the University of Maryland, College Park. These are full‐time positions, with an initial term of 12 months (starting immediately) with a possibility of contract extension, contingent on the availability of funds. U.S. citizenship is required for this position. Any applications submitted through Handshake will automatically be denied.
Responsibilities:
START’s UWT has a diverse array of ongoing research projects focused on addressing our nation’s counter weapons of mass destruction and improvised threat network (CWMDITN) challenges. UWT’s research contributes to our understanding of state and non-state actor behavior in the spaces of decision-making, emerging technology, improvised threat, and unconventional/conventional weapons use/choices from human and social systems perspectives. The Division is looking to fill:
- One (1) Junior Researcher position who has experience in researching violent non-state actor behavior and a working knowledge of biological weapons technology;
- One (1) Junior Researcher position who has experience in researching violent non-state actor behavior and developing probabilistic violent non-state actor behavior models; and
- One (1) Junior Researcher position who has experience in researching violent non-state actor behavior, red team scenario generation in the CBRNe weapons space, and conducting horizon scan of emerging threat technologies in the CBRNe weapons space.
The positions are open with respect to academic disciplines within the social and natural sciences as well as relevant computer science and engineering fields. Successful candidates will be expected to work initially on DARPA and DTRA sponsored research projects with potential for assignment to other sponsored research projects based on the candidates’ interests and levels of effort availabilities. All candidates are also expected to execute the duties and responsibilities of a UWT research team member commensurate with his/her position.
These duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
For Faculty Assistant appointment
- Basic data collection
- Collecting background research
- Identifying source materials
- Routine monitoring of online participation (for educational opportunities)
- Provide routinized programming and/or IT support and maintenance in support of research
- Participate in research meetings
- Contribute to project reports
For Faculty Specialist appointment
- Data collection and processing
- Assist with analysis
- Prepare initial drafts of conference posters and/or presentations
- Contribute to project reports
- Supervise interns and hourly research assistants on basic tasking
- Monitor applications to or participation in education/training programs
- Provide support for developing materials for education/training programs
- Provide non-routinized programming or IT system maintenance in support of research
- Participate in project meetings
Required Qualifications:
For Biological Weapons Technology Position
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant biology or biodefense fields
- Demonstrated knowledge in biological warfare and weapons
- Demonstrated knowledge in biological agents and associated methods/technologies
For Probabilistic Behavior Model Position
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant social or natural sciences, computer science, or engineering fields
- Demonstrated knowledge in applying probabilistic modeling methodology to violent non-state actor decision making processes
For Red Team/Horizon Scan Position
- Bachelor’s degree in relevant social science or engineering fields
- Demonstrated knowledge in CBRNe red team scenario generation
- Demonstrated knowledge in horizon scan research methodology
For all positions
- Ability to work independently and as part of a small team
- Ability to handle pressure and meet deliverable deadlines
- Flexibility to switch topic areas and tasks as the project requires
Preferred Qualifications:
For Biological Weapons Technology Position
- Master’s degree in relevant biology or biodefense fields with 1+ year experience
- Demonstrated research experience in biological warfare and weapons in a fast-paced research center environment
- Demonstrated research experience in biological agents and associated methods/technologies in a fast-paced research center environment
For Probabilistic Behavior Model Position
- Master’s degree in relevant social or natural sciences, computer science, or engineering fields with 1+ year experience
- Demonstrated research experience in applying probabilistic modeling methodology to violent non-state actor decision making processes in a fast-paced research center environment
For Red Team/Horizon Scan Position
- Master’s degree in relevant social science or engineering fields with 1+ year experience
- Demonstrated research experience in CBRNe red team scenario generation in a fast-paced research center environment
- Demonstrated research experience in CBRNe horizon scan in support of a sponsored research program
For all positions
- Ability (not necessarily demonstrated) to supervise interns and/or hourly research assistants
- Demonstrated open source research experience to support sponsored research
- Demonstrated research experience in researching violent non-state actor behavior in a research center environment
- Demonstrated research experience in researching violent non-state actor pursuit, acquisition, development, and deployment of weapons of mass destruction/disruption in a research center environment
- Superior writing and presentation abilities
Note
The annual salary for these positions will be in the range of $45,000‐$55,000, depending on education and experience. Application submission deadline is 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time on Friday, August 30, 2019, and an anticipated start date at earliest possible date after appointment (to be negotiated with the successful candidates).
Please submit application materials by email with the subject line “UWT/START Junior Researcher – [state the position you are applying for]” to search committee coordinator Salma Bouziani at bouziani@umd.edu. Any applications submitted through Handshake will automatically be denied. The application materials should include:
- a cover letter,
- resume/CV with contact information for three references, and
- 2‐ to 3-page writing sample demonstrating expertise(s) in violent non-state actor behavior decision making or implications of emerging technology on violent non-state actor behavior.
The University of Maryland, College Park, actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, gender, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, national origin, or political affiliation. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.