ARLIS Biotechnology, Human Performance & Multilingual Intelligence Research Professional

Job Description Summary

• Organization's Summary Statement:
• The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland is a University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC) dedicated to advancing research, innovation, and technology transition to improve decision making for U.S. national security. ARLIS combines deep scientific expertise with operational insight to address challenges in intelligence analysis, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and machine learning, quantum science, and human-machine teaming. Researchers, scientists, engineers, and analysts at ARLIS collaborate with government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions to deliver actionable insights and transformative solutions through research and development. Employees at ARLIS work on projects of critical importance, contribute directly to the nation’s security, and are supported by a culture that values integrity, collaboration, and professional growth.

ARLIS is seeking qualified candidates with expertise in one or more of these technical areas to join our multidisciplinary team of research professionals: biological and antipersonnel threats, computational approaches to predicting and understanding biothreats, experience working with the Department of War and Intelligence Community (IC), novel approaches to multilingual and regional analysis, stakeholder communications, and/or complex multidisciplinary program execution.

This is an evergreen requisition. We invite applicants at all experience levels whose research interests, skills, and backgrounds align with ARLIS’s Human Performance and Readiness Augmentation mission of supporting U.S. national security through intelligence-informed research on human performance, biotechnology, and readiness threats for government sponsors.

Successful candidates will contribute to a portfolio of government-sponsored projects addressing emerging challenges in areas such as biological and bio-adjacent threats (including directed energy and other critical technology areas), human performance and readiness, emerging and disruptive biotechnologies, health-security issues, and the integration of multilingual and regional analysis into threat assessment and warning. Positions may include a focus on research and analysis, computational modeling of biothreats, analytic-methods and tool development, experiment and wargame design, and stakeholder engagement with IC, DoW, and allied partners. Final appointment title, level, and responsibilities will be based on candidate qualifications and matched to programmatic needs.

In your cover letter, please indicate the career track (Research Specialist, Research Scientist, or Research Engineer), level, and specialization areas of greatest interest to you.

Must be able to obtain a US security clearance. If selected, must meet the requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to a government security clearance investigation that includes criminal and credit history checks, as well as verification of U.S. citizenship, birth, education, employment, and military history. Final offer is contingent upon the candidate’s ability to successfully obtain the necessary interim Secret security clearance, as determined by ARLIS, prior to commencing employment.

This posting is used to build a continuous pipeline of qualified candidates. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis against current and anticipated programmatic needs. You may be contacted for an interview shortly after applying, or weeks to months later when a matching need arises. Applying to this requisition keeps your candidacy active for consideration across multiple ARLIS programs.

Qualifications by Career Track and Level:

• Track A: Research Specialist / Faculty Specialist
• Entry Level (Faculty Specialist)
• •Bachelor’s degree. Preference given to degrees in biology, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, human factors, public health, bioengineering, technology-focused security or intelligence studies, regional/area studies, linguistics, science and technology policy, or a closely related field.
• •Approximately 2 years of demonstrated experience in biothreats or health-security analysis, human-performance research, intelligence or security-related research, computational analysis, or language-enabled regional analysis through work, volunteer, or extracurricular activities.
• •Demonstrated potential for excellence in the execution, administration, and/or management of research or academic programs.
• •Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team in a matrixed, collaborative organization.
• •Strong oral and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise briefings and written products for non-technical audiences.
• •Excellent analytical skills, including structured problem-solving and synthesis of qualitative and quantitative information.

• Mid-Level (Senior Faculty Specialist)
• •Master’s degree in biology, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, human factors, public health, bioengineering, technology-focused security or intelligence studies, regional/area studies, linguistics, science and technology policy, or a closely related field and 3+ years of experience in a technical, analytic, or project management role supporting defense, health-security, or intelligence programs; OR Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of equivalent relevant experience.
• •Experience with emerging biothreats or biotechnology assessment, systems-level analysis of human performance and readiness, and/or planning and executing multi-stakeholder analytic projects, experiments, or wargames with scheduled deliverables.
• •Experience communicating and interfacing with government customers, including preparing and delivering briefings or written reports.
• •Knowledge of Intelligence Community, DoW, or federal health/research organizations and processes preferred.
• •Ability to engage key client stakeholders and work in a matrixed, collaborative organization.

• Track B: Research Scientist
• Assistant Research Scientist
• •Ph.D. in biology, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, human factors, public health, bioengineering, technology-focused security or intelligence studies, regional/area studies, linguistics, science and technology policy, or a closely related field
• •Evidence of sound scholarly or analytic production, such as peer-reviewed publications, IC or DoW reports, or equivalent high-quality products on biological threats, human performance, health-security, or related technology and regional issues.
• •Ability to perform R&D at a level comparable to Assistant Professor.
• •Expected to begin applying as PI on single-investigator proposals and serve as co-PI on larger proposals.
• •External recognition through awards, invited conference talks, participation in high-visibility IC/DoW/health-security exercises or panels, or equivalent.
• •Willingness to contribute to ARLIS and UMD citizenship (committees, internal forums, mentoring) and professional service (reviewing publications, proposals, organizing workshops).

• Associate Research Scientist
• •Ph.D. in biology, biomedical sciences, neuroscience, human factors, public health, bioengineering, technology-focused security or intelligence studies, regional/area studies, linguistics, science and technology policy, or a closely related field plus 5 years of research experience at the Assistant level or equivalent.
• •Significant research accomplishments with promise of continued productivity in areas such as biological and antipersonnel threats, human performance and readiness, biotechnological emerging threats, IC-focused analytic methods, or multilingual/regional analysis in support of health and readiness security.
• •Ability to propose, develop, and manage research projects at a level comparable to Associate Professor.
• •Expected to identify funding opportunities and serve as PI or co-PI on large proposals.
• •Growing reputation for preeminence in their specializatio