Research Computing - AI Engagement Specialist

Duke University | Office of Information Technology (OIT) | Research Computing

At Duke, you'll join a community dedicated to advancing research, discovery, and innovation. Research Computing provides the advanced computing infrastructure, expertise, and services that empower researchers across disciplines to tackle complex challenges and accelerate scientific breakthroughs.

Working closely with AI Engineers, Data Engineers, and Research Computing teams, this role ensures that AI capabilities are accessible, practical, and aligned with real research needs, complementing platform and application development efforts by focusing on adoption, usability, and impact.

• Provide one-on-one consultations, embedded support, AI support office hours to help research groups adopt AI-enabled workflows.
• Help researchers use, adapt, and build with AI tools, including large language models (LLMs), copilots, APIs, notebooks, Model Context Protocol (MCP) integrations, and emerging AI technologies for coding, data analysis, documentation, and scientific discovery.
• Translate research objectives into practical AI-assisted workflows using high-performance computing (HPC), cloud services, and data platforms.

• Collaborate with Research Computing and AI engineering teams to develop, improve, secure, and support AI services, including LLM services, shared training datasets, and utilities for common research tasks.
• Identify reusable tools and components from research engagements and contribute them to a centralized tools repository.
• Create clear, accessible documentation, tutorials, and example workflows that support AI adoption across disciplines and research use cases.
• Contribute to institutional guidance on responsible and effective AI use in research, including reproducibility, data handling, and model limitations.

• Serve as a primary liaison between researchers and OIT's AI, data engineering, and Research Computing teams, identifying opportunities where AI can accelerate research.
• Facilitate collaboration with Duke data science and research support groups, including Duke Libraries and the Office of Research, connecting researchers with subject matter experts and best-practice guidance.
• Support workshops and other institutional AI education efforts.
• Gather researcher feedback to inform AI Platfroms, services, tools, and support offerings, and align engagement activities with institutional support models and service tiers.

• Bachelor's degree in a quantitative, scientific, computational, or related field.
• Strong proficiency in scientific data management, programming and analysis using languages such as Python, MATLAB, R, C, or C++, with experience supporting, using, or developing computational research workflows.
• Experience working in high-performance computing (HPC) environments.
• Familiarity with a broad range of AI and machine learning tools and methods, including model training and inference and practical applications in research, such as data analysis, exploration, and coding, with experience using GPUs and scaling workflows on local or HPC systems.
• Familiarity with IT service development and security best practices for enterprise services.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, teaching, and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage effectively with researchers and technical colleagues.
• Ability to work independently on complex problems while coordinating effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

• Advanced degree in a computational, mathematical, engineering, or scientific field.
• At least five years of relevant experience, which may include professional work, doctoral research, or postdoctoral appointments.
• Experience developing or supporting enterprise technology services.

This position is based in Durham, North Carolina and is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Team members are generally expected to participate in periodic on-site meetings, workshops, training events, and researcher engagements.

Occasional evening or weekend availability may be required to support university programs and events.

At Duke, you'll have the opportunity to work at the intersection of cutting-edge research and emerging AI technologies while supporting one of…