Research Assistant

About the Opportunity

Description

PI Ruben van Genugten is hiring a research assistant for a project developing AI tools for memory research. We build natural language processing methods that automatically score research participants’ autobiographical memories, quantifying how much and what kind of content people recall (for example, episodic detail versus general knowledge, and finer categories such as perceptual, spatial, temporal, emotional, and event content). By removing the burden of manual scoring, these automated tools make large-scale and longitudinal studies of memory possible, including in aging and dementia populations.

This position is for someone to work on the technical side of this problem. A large part of the role is building a free, user-friendly web platform where researchers can upload participants' written memory responses and receive automated scores in return, without writing any code. The platform is designed to host a range of scoring models (both the models we develop, and models contributed by other research groups) so that it can serve as a central, shared resource for automated memory scoring. Alongside the platform, you will help build and curate datasets and fine-tune the language models that power the scoring. This role is ideal for someone looking to get hands-on experience building tools for the scientific community. The position is full time (40 hours per week) and can be done remotely, though an eastern-time-zone schedule is required for ease of communication.

Primary Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities include software development, coding, and data analysis. One focus will be designing and building the web platform: an interface where researchers upload their data and get automated scores back, a system that can host and serve multiple scoring models (ours and those from other research groups), and the documentation and tutorials people need to use it. The other focus will be on the modeling side: we will build and curate datasets, fine-tune language models to score memory content, and evaluate how closely the models' scores match expert human ratings. Administrative tasks, writing, and other work may be included in the position.

Qualifications

• Strong Python skills and experience with data manipulation
• Basic machine learning knowledge (equivalent to at least an introductory course)

Additional skills (nice-to-haves)

• Experience with website development, model hosting, deep learning, LLM fine-tuning experience (e.g., with huggingface transformers and parameter-efficient methods such as LoRA/QLoRA), model evaluation experience. (Please briefly mention any of these skills in your cover letter.)
• Experience fine-tuning language models is not a prerequisite; it is more important that you are a competent programmer and comfortable working with data.
• Basic knowledge of cognitive psychology or memory research is a plus but not expected.

How to Apply

To apply, please include the following materials as a single PDF: a cover letter (a brief description of your research or work experiences, interests in the work, and long-term goals — two paragraphs is sufficient; include your GitHub link if you have one); your resume or CV; and your transcript (unofficial copies are fine). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. This work is scheduled to begin in early July.

About the PI

Ruben van Genugten is a Research Scientist at the Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University. Before joining EAI, he received his Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University in 2022. He uses machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) to study cognition, the brain, and behavior. He conducts neuroimaging experiments, develops NLP tools for the memory research community, and collaborates with clinical colleagues to study psychopathology using computational methods.

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

This job is for a current or anticipated job vacancy.

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