Temporary Research Assistant - 527163

Pay Grade/Pay Range:  Minimum: $10.00 (Hourly N0)

Department/Organization: 214231 - Civil Const and Env Engineering

Normal Work Schedule: Varies

Job Summary: The Temporary Research Support assists in research work in support of a major research project which may include duties such as gathering, tracking and entering data, preparing support material, etc.

Additional Department Summary: Works directly with the Principal Investigator (Dr. Qiuhua Duan) to support the NOAA-CIROH funded project, “Flood Resilience Education through GPT-Guided Gaming with Multi-Scale Built Environment Data.” Contributes to software development, data modeling, and game design efforts while collaborating with a cross-disciplinary team of experts in hydrology, AI, architectural engineering, and environmental communication. Incorporates built environment data into flood simulation models using the Godot game engine, integrating AI techniques for dialogue-driven content, and deploying data analytics to evaluate educational outcomes. Assists with data processing, machine learning model development, technical scripting, stakeholder engagement, and platform deployment.

Required Minimum Qualifications: High School diploma or GED and some experience related to the responsibilities of the assignment(s).

Skills and Knowledge: Advanced programming skills in Python and SQL. Ability to integrate, clean, analyze, and visualize large multi-source datasets. Familiarity with research methodologies for evaluating educational interventions end user engagement. Strong organizational and project management skills. Excellent verbal and written communication abilities. Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience with game development or interactive visualization platforms such as Unity. Experience in backend data systems and web API development. Familiarity with GPT-based dialogue systems or large language models. Experience in developing AI-driven simulations or educational technologies. Background in working with geospatial or environmental data (e.g., flood simulation, built environment modeling). Knowledge of AWS Cloud environments and web application deployment practices.

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.