General Description

Salary: $60,000-$80,000 a year

PREP Research Associate 2

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.

RESEARCH TITLE

Emergency Response Robot Standards Development

JOB DESCRIPTION

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is leading an international initiative to develop standardized test methods for ground-based robotic systems and small unmanned aircraft systems. This work is being carried out through the ASTM International Standards Committee on Homeland Security Applications--Response Robots (ASTM E54.09).

NIST invites collaboration on research and development efforts aimed at advancing standardized testing for robotic systems. The scope of this collaborative research includes:

• Designing test apparatuses, performance metrics, and data collection tools to evaluate system capabilities and remote operator proficiency.
• Validating testing protocols, modeling and simulation tools, and reference materials.
• Analyzing experimental data to establish average and best-in-class performance benchmarks, enabling responders to assess and compare their systems using standardized metrics.
• Analyze sensor data and draw suitable conclusions for improving the robot's efficiency
• Conduct research to improve and innovate robotic technologies, including AI integration, sensor development, and automation processes.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to integrate robotics solutions into existing systems and workflows.
• Test, evaluate, and troubleshoot robotic systems to ensure optimal performance and compliance with industry standards.
• Maintain accurate documentation of designs, processes, and results, and prepare technical reports for stakeholders
• Provide technical support and guidance to other engineers and stakeholders involved in robotics projects.

Collaborative work will take place at NIST facilities, and at designated field exercises or data collection events. Testing will involve representative robotic systems to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the test methods for public safety applications.

EXPECTATIONS/RESPONSABILITIES

-         The researcher is expected to be able to work independently.

-         They must be able to communicate their goals, needs, and project updates clearly.

-         They will be expected to document their work well and be prepared to present findings.

-         They will conduct experiments, analyze data, and report/document results through technical publications.

Qualifications

Required experience:

-         Must be a US Citizen

-         Must have or the ability to obtain a Part 107 remote pilot certificate.

-         Strong background in engineering or engineering technology or related field.

-         Must have strong 3-D modeling experience in SketchUp or similar software

-         Programming in Python, C++ or equivalent.

Preferred experience:

-         Strong communication and technical writing skills

-         Strong working knowledge of video editing software; adobe premier

-         Strong working knowledge of all Microsoft office products (excel, word, powerpoint)

-         Strong working knowledge of indesign

Application Instructions

Please upload the following with your application:

-         CV/Resume

*Please limit C.V to 3 pages only and ONLY include a valid email address for your contact info. Please DO NOT include telephone numbers, home address or photos on your resume. 

Privacy Act Statement

Authority:  15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose:  The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the  Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.  

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses:  NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices:  NIST-1: NIST Associates. 

Disclosure:  Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.

About Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University remains committed to its founding principle, that education for all students should be grounded in exploration and discovery. Hopkins students are challenged not just to learn but also to advance learning itself. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and entrepreneurship are all encouraged and nourished in this unique educational environment. After more than 130 years, Johns Hopkins remains a world leader in both teaching and research. Faculty members and their research colleagues at the university's Applied Physics Laboratory have each year since 1979 won Johns Hopkins more federal research and development funding than any other university. The university has nine academic divisions and campuses throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Education and the Carey Business School are based at the Homewood campus in northern Baltimore. The schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing share a campus in east Baltimore with The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Peabody Institute, a leading professional school of music, is located on Mount Vernon Place in downtown Bal...timore. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies is located in Washington's Dupont Circle area.

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