COSMOS - Graduate Research Assistant (ML​/AI

Graduate Research Assistant

The Graduate Research Assistant will develop machine learning and artificial intelligence (ML/AI)-driven socio-computational models to analyze social media data, particularly video-based social media data. The work includes content and network analysis of text, multimedia, and metadata and the development of predictive models of socio-technical behaviors. The position is on-campus and reports to Dr. Nitin Agarwal, Maulden-Entergy Endowed Chair and Distinguished Professor and Director, COSMOS Research Center at UA-Little Rock.

• Conduct research applying machine learning and AI methods to social media data.
• Assist with video‑based online information environment analysis.
• Assist with data collection, cleaning, preprocessing, analyze findings, write research findings, and present at conferences and program reviews.
• Assist in preparing reports and publications.
• Coordinate meetings and lead discussions.
• Perform other tasks as needed.

• Required:
  
  Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Regular admission to or good standing in a graduate degree program.
• Ability to work required hours (FT‑50% – 20 hours/week or PT‑25% – 10 hours/week) with regular attendance.
• Preferred:
  Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Science, or related discipline.
• Experience in computer programming and data management.
• Experience with graph theory and graph libraries such as Gephi or Network
  
  X.
• Experience with crawling web data.
• Familiarity with UNIX‑based systems such as Linux.

• Extensive knowledge of R or Python, including data analysis and graphing libraries such as Pandas, Matplotlib, Plotly, and ML libraries such as SK‑Learn, Tensor Flow.
• Experience with machine‑learning techniques and models such as classifiers, transformers, clustering, etc.
• Knowledge of DB systems and SQL language.
• Knowledge of computational social science and social network analysis.
• Ability to interact with people of diverse ethnic backgrounds.
• Strong communication, writing, and public speaking skills.
• Effective organizational skills.

$11,250 – $13,500

• Resume

Fadime Ledford (faledford) – Grant Manager, COSMOS Research Center

No Background Check Required

• Constant Physical Activity:
  Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding; repetitive motion; sitting; standing; talking; walking.
• Frequent Physical Activity:
  Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding; repetitive motion; sitting; standing; talking; walking.
• Occasional Physical Activity:
  Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding; repetitive motion; sitting; standing; talking; walking.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Federal law prohibits the University from discriminating on these bases.

Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.