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The School of Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University has a Project Scientist opening to work on an interdisciplinary project focused on the development and evaluation of Privacy Technology for Smart Cities. This opening can be a particularly good match for a post-doctoral candidate, though applicants are not required to have a PhD. The project builds on the Internet of Things Privacy Infrastructure developed by Prof. Norman Sadeh at Carnegie Mellon University and involves developing, piloting and refining extensions of this technology in collaboration with the City of Long Beach. Today the infrastructure already hosts over 100,000 IoT resource descriptions and the IoT Assistant app has been downloaded by tens of thousands of users. The project involves deployment in the City of Long Beach as well as the design and piloting of new functionality, including GenAI functionality.
Candidates are expected to be capable of working under limited supervision, be well organized and have strong communication skills. They are also expected to have experience collaborating with others in the context of large-scale research and software projects. Actual work is expected to involve a mix of conceptual design, development, and empirical evaluation with actual end users in Long Beach. This will include running human subject studies to evaluate new functionality and understand overall acceptance of our technology., The successful candidate will be expected to work closely with the PI, Prof. Norman Sadeh, and publish papers in top-tier conferences and journals, help supervise more junior team members and interact with end-users.
Core Responsibilities
- Development, piloting, evaluation and refinement of novel user-oriented privacy enhancing technologies (e.g. nudging functionality, notification functionality, dashboards, AI-driven conversational functionality).
- Responsible for helping coordinate the research team at CMU and helping interact and coordinate with project partners in Long Beach.
- Responsible for helping report progress to sponsor
- Responsible for helping support existing and prospective users of the IoT Privacy Infrastructure (both portal users and IoT Assistant app users) and helping identify opportunities for enhancing user experiences, increasing engagement and overall usefulness.
- Responsible for helping identify and motivate communities of volunteer contributors.
Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. We are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in computer science or related discipline required. Doctorate degree preferred.
- 1-3 years of research experience required.
- Research experience in relevant areas with multiple peer-reviewed publications at top tier academic venues required.
- Strong background in privacy and security, and Human Computer Interaction, including human-centered design required.
- Candidates who have done research in usable privacy and security or closely related areas are highly preferred.
- A combination of education and proven experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.
Requirements:
- Successful completion of a pre-employment background check
Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.
Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insurance as well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance.
Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!
For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.
At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.
Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!
Location
Pittsburgh, PAJob Function
Engineering, Research and Project ScientistsPosition Type
Staff – Fixed Term (Fixed Term)Full Time/Part time
Full timePay Basis
SalaryMore Information:
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Click here to view a listing of employee benefits
Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.
Statement of Assurance
Skills Required
- Master's degree in computer science or a related discipline
- 1-3 years of research experience
- Research experience in relevant areas with multiple peer-reviewed publications at top-tier academic venues
- Strong background in privacy and security
- Experience with human-computer interaction and human-centered design
- Research experience in usable privacy and security or closely related areas
- Doctorate degree
- Successful completion of a pre-employment background check
Carnegie Mellon University Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Carnegie Mellon University and has not been reviewed or approved by Carnegie Mellon University.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support is positioned as a standout, with automatic employer contributions to a TIAA-administered plan at 8% of base salary (and 9.78% for 9‑month academic appointments), plus optional employee deferrals. Vesting after three years is clearly specified, which helps set expectations for long-term value.
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Parental & Family Support — Parental and family support is strengthened by 100% paid parental leave for six weeks and 100% paid maternity leave for 6–8 weeks (delivery-type dependent), effective July 1, 2024. Childcare support is also referenced through a Cyert Center subsidy up to $5,000 per family, alongside no-cost EAP access.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle benefits include free Pittsburgh Regional Transit access and access to fitness classes and facilities, adding recurring non-cash value to the overall package. Pittsburgh’s relatively affordable cost of living can further increase the perceived adequacy of a given salary compared with higher-cost coastal hubs.
Carnegie Mellon University Insights
What We Do
Carnegie Mellon University founder Andrew Carnegie said: "My heart is in the work." No statement better captures the passion and drive of our people to make a real difference. At Carnegie Mellon, we're not afraid of the work. Our educational environment creates problem solvers, drivers of innovation and pioneers in technology and the arts. Employers in every field say our graduates are ready to hit the ground running the day they graduate. So, join us. Whether you're looking for a career or an education. Or both.
