Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement:
The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland is a University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC) dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and technology transition to improve decision making for U.S. national security. ARLIS combines deep scientific expertise with operational insight to address challenges in intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum science, and human-machine teaming. Researchers, scientists, engineers, and analysts at ARLIS collaborate with government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions to deliver actionable insights and transformative solutions through research and development. Employees at ARLIS work on projects of critical importance, contribute directly to the nation’s security, and are supported by a culture that values integrity, collaboration, and professional growth.

ARLIS is seeking qualified candidates with expertise in biological and antipersonnel threats, computational approaches to predicting and understanding biothreats, experience working with the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community (IC), novel approaches to multilingual and regional analysis, stakeholder communications, and complex program execution to join our multidisciplinary team of research professionals.

This is an evergreen requisition. We invite applicants at all experience levels whose research interests, skills, and backgrounds align with ARLIS’s mission of supporting U.S. national security through intelligence-informed research on human performance, biotechnology, and readiness threats for government sponsors.

Successful candidates will contribute to a portfolio of government-sponsored projects addressing emerging challenges in areas such as biological and bio-adjacent threats (including directed energy and other critical technology areas), human performance and readiness, emerging and disruptive biotechnologies, health-security issues, and the integration of multilingual and regional analysis into threat assessment and warning. Positions may include a focus on research and analysis, computational modeling of biothreats, analytic-methods and tool development, experiment and wargame design, and stakeholder engagement with IC, DoW, and allied partners. Final appointment title, level, and responsibilities will be based on candidate qualifications and matched to programmatic needs.

In your cover letter, please indicate the career track (Research Specialist, Research Scientist, or Research Engineer), level, and specialization areas of greatest interest to you.

Must be able to obtain a US security clearance. If selected, must meet the requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to a government security clearance investigation that includes criminal and credit history checks, as well as verification of U.S. citizenship, birth, education, employment, and military history. Final offer is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to successfully obtain the necessary interim Secret security clearance, as determined by ARLIS, prior to commencing employment.

This posting is used to build a continuous pipeline of qualified candidates. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis against current and anticipated programmatic needs. You may be contacted for an interview shortly after applying, or weeks to months later when a matching need arises. Applying to this requisition keeps your candidacy active for consideration across multiple ARLIS programs.

Qualifications by Career Track and Level:

Track A: Research Specialist / Faculty Specialist
Entry Level (Faculty Specialist)
• Bachelor’s degree. Preference given to degrees in biology, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, human factors, public health, bioengineering, technology-focused security or intelligence studies, regional/area studies, linguistics, science and technology policy, or a closely related field.
• Approximately 2 years of demonstrated experience in biothreats or health-security analysis, human-performance research, intelligence or security-related research, computational analysis, or language-enabled regional analysis through work, volunteer, or extracurricular activities.
• Demonstrated potential for excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs.
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team in a matrixed, collaborative organization.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise briefings and written products for non-technical audiences.
• Excellent analytical skills, including structured problem-solving and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative information.

Mid-Level (Senior Faculty Specialist)
• Master’s degree in biology, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, human factors, public health, bioengineering, technology-focused security or intelligence studies, regional/area studies, linguistics, science and technology policy, or a closely related field and 3+ years of experience in a technical, analytic, or project management role supporting defense, health-security, or intelligence programs; OR Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience with emerging biothreats or biotechnology assessment, systems-level analysis of human performance and readiness, and/or planning and executing multi-stakeholder analytic projects, experiments, or wargames with scheduled deliverables.
• Experience communicating and interfacing with government customers, including preparing and delivering briefings or written reports.
• Knowledge of Intelligence Community, DoW, or federal health/research organizations and processes preferred.
• Ability to engage key client stakeholders and work in a matrixed, collaborative organization.

Track B: Research Scientist
Assistant Research Scientist
• Ph.D. in biology, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, human factors, public health, bioengineering, technology-focused security or intelligence studies, regional/area studies, linguistics, science and technology policy, or a closely related field
• Evidence of sound scholarly or analytic production, such as peer-reviewed publications, IC or DoW reports, or equivalent high-quality products on biological threats, human performance, health-security, or related technology and regional issues.
• Ability to perform R&D at a level comparable to Assistant Professor.
• Expected to begin applying as PI on single-investigator proposals and serve as co-PI on larger proposals.
• External recognition through awards, invited conference talks, participation in high-visibility IC/DoW/health-security exercises or panels, or equivalent.
• Willingness to contribute to ARLIS and UMD citizenship (committees, internal forums, mentoring) and professional service (reviewing publications, proposals, organizing workshops).

Associate Research Scientist
• Ph.D. in biology, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, human factors, public health, bioengineering, technology-focused security or intelligence studies, regional/area studies, linguistics, science and technology policy, or a closely related field plus 5 years of research experience at the Assistant level or equivalent.
• Significant research accomplishments with promise of continued productivity in areas such as biological and antipersonnel threats, human performance and readiness, biotechnological emerging threats, IC-focused analytic methods, or multilingual/regional analysis in support of health and readiness security.
• Ability to propose, develop, and manage research projects at a level comparable to Associate Professor.
• Expected to identify funding opportunities and serve as PI or co-PI on large proposals.
• Growing reputation for preeminence in their specialization with commensurate external recognition.
• Significant professional service contributions, including review panels for funding agencies where possible.
• Regular interaction with sponsors and customers, including leading briefings and technical discussions.

Full Research Scientist
• Ph.D. in biology, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, human factors, public health, bioengineering, technology-focused security or intelligence studies, regional/area studies, linguistics, science and technology policy, or a closely related field plus 10 years of experience leading and performing research.
• Pursues funding opportunities and serves as PI or holds primary responsibility for a significant part of a multi-investigator project.
• Leads engagements with sponsors and customers, including high-level IC, DoW, and interagency stakeholders working on biotechnology, human performance, and readiness threats.
• Serves in leadership roles at ARLIS and drives key initiatives and business development to grow the program.
• National or international recognition as a subject matter expert with prestigious research recognitions in biothreats, human performance, biotechnology and health-security, or related domains.
• Mentors students and less experienced researchers.

Track C: Research Engineer

Assistant Research Engineer
• Master’s or Ph.D. in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, systems engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, or a related engineering field, with demonstrated interest in national security, biothreat modeling, human-performance measurement, or analytic tools for biotechnology and health-security, OR a Bachelor’s degree with equivalent relevant experience.
• Evidence of ability to apply engineering methods to the design, prototyping, or evaluation of analytic tools, decision-support systems, simulation/wargaming environments, or platforms for analyzing biological and human-performance data.
• Demonstrated ability to work on interdisciplinary teams and contribute to technical reports, prototypes, or experiments.
• Willingness to support proposal development and customer engagement as part of a research team.

Associate Research Engineer
• Ph.D. plus 5 years of research experience; OR Master of Science plus 10 years of engineering research experience including success capturing and leading large projects; OR Bachelor of Science plus 15 years of relevant experience with a record of significant engineering achievement.
• Initiates new projects with long-term research goals, leads work on multiple concurrent projects, and manages cross-functional engineering teams.
• Serves as PI or holds primary responsibility for a significant part of a project.
• Expected to identify funding opportunities and serve as PI on large proposals.
• Generates significant intellectual property that may be licensed by third parties.
• Mentors junior staff and participates in Professional Track promotion sub-committees.
• Recognized as an authoritative subject matter expert.

Full Research Engineer
• Ph.D. with at least 10 years of doctoral-level research experience; OR at least 20 years of engineering research experience including success capturing and leading large projects.
• Established national reputation for outstanding engineering practice, design, and development.
• Pursues funding opportunities and serves as PI or holds primary responsibility for a significant part of a multi-investigator project.
• Leads the design and implementation of large, multi-component projects (subcontractors, teams).
• Leads engagements with sponsors and customers; builds new research programs and mission areas.
• Holds leadership positions within ARLIS, on campus, or on professional committees.
• Proven ability to tackle problems of considerable scope and complexity requiring novel approaches and sophisticated research techniques.
• Mentors students and less experienced researchers.

Physical Demands: Sedentary work performed in a normal office environment; exerts up to 10 pounds of force occasionally to move objects. Extended periods of computer-based work. Ability to attend meetings both on and off campus.

Preferences: active clearance a plus and may be required for specific project


Licenses/ Certifications: N/A

Minimum Qualifications

The appointee shall hold a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant area and show potential for excellence in the administration and/or management of academic or research programs. Faculty Specialists are expected to engage in activities such as developing curriculum and/or innovative means for delivering curriculum, supervising the non-research activities of graduate or post-doctoral students, serving as grant writers or authors of other publications for an academic or research program, conducting specialized research duties or other such duties that would generate intellectual property to which the faculty member shall retain the rights. Appointments to this rank are typically one to three years and are renewable.

Additional Job Details

Department

VPR-Applied Research Lab for Intelligence & Security

Worker Sub-Type

Faculty Regular

Salary Range

$90,000 - $210,000

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization.  Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice

Resources

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