APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.

• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Part-Time Research Assistant

Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Digital Trust Research

The Black School of Business at Penn State Behrend seeks a part-time Research Assistant to support the development and execution of an emerging research program at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, digital literacy, and technology adoption.

This position will contribute to a multidisciplinary initiative exploring how AI-enabled systems can support cybersecurity awareness, decision-making, risk reduction, and technology engagement among diverse populations. The successful candidate will work closely with the Principal Investigator to design, develop, evaluate, and disseminate innovative research examining the role of AI in addressing contemporary cybersecurity and digital trust challenges.

This role offers an opportunity to participate in all phases of the research process, including technology development, human-centered design, research methodology, compliance activities, data collection, analysis, publication, and grant development.

Research and Technology Development

The successful candidate will:

• Assist in the design, development, and evaluation of AI-enabled systems intended to support cybersecurity awareness, digital literacy, risk mitigation, or technology engagement
• Explore and evaluate emerging technologies including conversational AI, large language models, voice interfaces, intelligent agents, decision-support systems, and related technologies
• Participate in prototyping, testing, refinement, and documentation of research technologies
• Assist with system architecture documentation, technical reporting, and research reproducibility efforts
• Evaluate the effectiveness and usability of AI-supported interventions through structured research methodologies

Human Subjects Research and Compliance

The successful candidate will:

• Work with the Principal Investigator on research study design and implementation
• Assist in the preparation of Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions and supporting materials
• Support participant recruitment, informed consent processes, data collection protocols, and compliance requirements
• Complete required human subjects research training and ma