Assistant Research Scientist; PREP

Salary: $20-$30 per hour

PREP Research Associate

This project focuses on documenting the Assessing Risks and Impacts of AI (ARIA) dataset, which is used to evaluate risks as part of a NIST ARIA Program. The student will assist in the design and development of a comprehensive dataset card aligned with emerging standards for AI, including the principles of transparency, reliability, and reproducibility. This work supports the advancement of rigorous, standardized data documentation practices consistent with federal and international frameworks.

AI Dataset Documentation

• Collaborate with AI researchers to develop a dataset card documenting the technical and operational parameters of datasets used in AI evaluations and emerging AI standards.
• Identify and describe the dataset's technical parameters, including intended use, limitations, collection methods, and risk-relevant features.
• Conduct quality assurance checks to detect anomalies, inconsistencies, and completeness issues in the dataset.
• Assist in the preparation of the dataset for public release, including metadata curation, file organization, and access provisioning.
• Apply and assess data anonymization techniques to ensure privacy compliance and mitigate re-identification risks.

• A dataset card following relevant documentation standards.
• A finalized version of the dataset curated for public release, with accompanying metadata.
• A report summarizing identified data limitations, anonymization procedures applied, and mitigation strategies for potential risks.
• A checklist-based audit log of quality assurance checks performed.

• Background in Data Science, Computer Science, Information Science, HCI, or a related field.
• Education level: graduate student
• Familiarity with dataset documentation standards and risk assessment frameworks (e.g., NIST AI Risk Management Framework)
• Strong written communication skills for technical documentation.

Please upload the following with your application:

• CV/Resume
• Self portraits
• Phone number
• Home address/Country
• Citizenship status
• Languages spoken
• Sex/Gender

Authority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)

Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.

PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.

Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.

Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.