Part-Time Research Assistant - Farooque​/Saha - AI in Education Project

Job Overview

We are seeking a part‑time research assistant to join an innovative project at the intersection of artificial intelligence and education. The project, led by Dr. Mahfuza Farooque in the School of EECS at Penn State, focuses on developing a personalized recommendation engine for microlearning content. The RA will play a key role in leveraging student performance data to deliver tailored learning experiences, contributing to cutting‑edge research that can enhance student learning outcomes.

• Anticipated
  
  Start Date:
  
  10th April
• End Date: 30th June
• Weekly
  
  Hours:
  
  Maximum 15 hours per week per student
• Compensation: $18 per hour
• Location: Flexible (in‑person at University Park, remote, or hybrid arrangement)

• Data Analysis: Assist in collecting and analyzing student performance data to inform the recommendation engine.
• Algorithm Development: Contribute to designing, prototyping, and testing algorithmic models for personalized content recommendations.
• System Evaluation: Support the evaluation of the recommendation engine's effectiveness (e.g., running experiments or user studies to assess learning outcomes).
• Documentation: Help document the system design, development process, and experimental results for project reports or publications.
• Collaboration: Work closely with the project lead and team, participating in regular meetings and brainstorming sessions.

• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Familiarity with artificial intelligence/machine learning techniques and data analysis. Experience with programming (Python or similar) and handling educational data is a plus.
• Other
  
  Skills:
  
  Self‑motivated with good communication skills. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team.

To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter detailing your background, relevant experience, and interest in this project in Work Day. Your cover letter should briefly explain how your skills align with the project and what you hope to accomplish in this role.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814‑865‑1473.