The Center for Social Organization of Schools is seeking a Research Assistant for AI Development to support the creation of an AI-supported tool that helps educators explore information and receive guided insights. The role involves building interactive features, shaping system behaviors, and supporting core development tasks across the application.

The Research Assistant oversees data collection, data organization, and/or data management or similar functions/tasks for research study(ies) in support of a PI or a research team.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Run routine and ad hoc reports.
• Use standard tools and computer programs to review data.
• Assist with data cleaning measures to ensure accuracy of data and preparation of tables.
• Lead basic activities such as data collection and data entry.
• May lead specific tasks and develop processes to ensure study activities occur effectively and efficiently.
• May conduct literature searches to support faculty in research efforts.
• May design and format papers/publications.
• May assist PIs in writing summaries of papers for release as policy briefs or other channels.
• Other duties as assigned.

In addition to the duties described above

• Develop and test application features within an interactive conversational system.
• Implement logic that supports proactive guidance and responsive system behaviors.
• Build and refine components that track user activity and support ongoing improvements.
• Work with APIs to integrate external services into the application.
• Translate design ideas into functional prototypes through close collaboration with the research team and participate in iterative testing and refine features based on feedback.

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Strong programming skills (e.g. Python, Java Script)
• Experience working with APIs
• Strong debugging and problem-solving abilities
• Clear communication and the ability to collaborate with a research team
• Experience designing or building AI conversational agents or interactive dialogue systems

• Experience working with database management

• Experience deploying applications using common platforms or tools

• Familiarity with user flow design, system logic, or lightweight tracking mechanisms

• Interest in intelligent interfaces or human-computer interaction

Technical Skills and Expected Level of Proficiency

• Analytical Skills - Awareness
• Attention to Detail - Awareness
• Data Management and Analysis - Awareness
• Formatting and Layout Proficiency - Awareness
• Information Gathering - Awareness
• Oral and Written Communications - Awareness
• Organizational Skills - Awareness

The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.

Classified Title: Research Assistant 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Research Assistant for AI Development (Center for Social Organization of Schools)   
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/03/CD  
Starting Salary Range: $17.20 - $30.30 HRLY (Commensurate w/exp.) 
Employee group: Casual / On Call 
Schedule: 5 days a week 
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: Remote 
Department name: CSOS Programs  
Personnel area: School of Education