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Job Description
Position Type:
Limited-Term Job Number:
SA81224
Fair Labor Standard Act Classification Non-Exempt Anticipated Pay Range:
$18.00 - $20.00 Pay Range Information Chapman University is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this position. This range takes into account a variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Salary offers are determined based on the final candidate's qualifications and experience, as well as internal equity and other internal factors. The anticipated pay range is not a promise of a particular wage. Job Description Summary Under the direction and supervision of the Principal Investigator, the Research Assistant will provide research support to ongoing projects and grants related to mechanistic interpretability of large language models and its connections to neuroscience. Responsibilities include construction of datasets required to study language models and implementation of novel methodologies for parsing the internals of AI systems. The Research Assistant will also conduct literature reviews on AI alignment, explainability, and safety. Additional responsibilities include interacting with high performance compute resources to produce benchmarks for proposed methodologies. This position also involves collaborative software development and research documentation; possibly assisting with preparation of presentations, grant materials, and academic manuscripts; and supporting collaborative research activities within an interdisciplinary team. Responsibilities Research Activities Independently perform research-related activities supporting projects in mechanistic interpretability of large language models. Assist with implementation of algorithms related to AI explainability. Interact with compute resources to validate and iterate upon proposed methodologies. Analyze advanced AI systems with respect to intentions, deception, alignment faking, and related phenomena. Conduct literature reviews and synthesize findings relevant to AI alignment, explainability, and safety. Research Documentation and Dissemination Construct technical documentation for software and proposed machine learning methods. Utilize source control software for collaboration and reproducibility of research work. Assist with preparing presentations, research reports, grant materials, and academic manuscripts when needed. Compile and organize research findings for internal and external dissemination. Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to support ongoing research initiatives. Required Qualifications Baseline proficiency with concepts surrounding neural networks and large language models. Minimal level of prior research experience, including knowledge of research methods and terminology Analytical skills including the ability to define problems through research and fact finding Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing Ability to work collaboratively as a supportive member of an interdisciplinary research team Ability to work independently and manage research tasks with minimal supervision Desired Qualifications High School Diploma or GED and/or equivalent combination of education and work experience in machine learning, mathematics, computer science, psychology, neuroscience, or related fields Working knowledge of LaTeX for typesetting technical documentation and academic manuscripts Experience using PyTorch and NumPy to implement AI systems Experience with source control software for collaborative software development Prior work or research experience in mechanistic interpretability of large language models Special Instructions to Applicants Chapman University is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all individuals, regardless of their protected characteristics. All qualified applicants and employees are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Applicants for Staff and Administrator positions must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The offer of employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion and outcomes of a criminal background screening and returning to the Office of Human Resources a signed original acceptance of the Chapman University Agreement to Arbitrate.
