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Current Openings

Research Associate/Senior Research Associate

The Center for National Security Initiatives at CU Boulder is encouraging applications for Research Associates and Senior Research Associates in multiple domains, who will support the growth of the campus's National Security research enterprise. These positions will report to leadership within the Center for National Security Initiatives (NSI), within RIO. You will be responsible for developing groundbreaking research associated with the National Security enterprise, identifying new sponsored research opportunities with Department of Defense (DoD) and Intelligence Community (IC) partners, and preparing and executing strategic proposals in collaboration with other CU Boulder faculty and NSI researchers. Candidates will be focused on the strategic development of a nationally recognized research program, with an emphasis on applied research in the National Security space. New positions are available in the following focus areas:

Autonomous Systems: Requires expertise relevant to the areas of field robotics, assured algorithms, control theory, computer vision, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML). The candidate will address challenges including swarming, networked autonomy, human-machine teaming, and perception and localization.

Cybersecurity: Requires applied research expertise associated with the design, attack, and defense of cyber systems, such as networks, information systems, AI/ML and information/data analytics, computer architecture, human-machine teaming and automation, applied cryptology, computer aided design (CAD) of digital and analog devices/circuits, and semiconductor materials, fabrication, and devices. The candidate will develop solutions focused on ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information stored on and transmitted across U.S. space assets, critical infrastructure, and global communications systems.

Energy Collection and Storage. Requires expertise relevant to experimental or computational advancement of emerging material systems to efficiently capture and store energy of interest to the U.S. defense and intelligence systems. The candidate is expected to leverage adjacent CU Boulder strengths in campus research and in CU’s Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI).

Environment and Climate: Requires expertise in the characterization and forecasting of natural environments that are key to national security operations such as rising sea levels, changes in navigability or terrain conditions, and sustainable energy operations. We have particular interest in the Arctic (i.e., coastal erosion, melting ice, thawing permafrost) as related to national security needs, but also will consider expertise in other regions. The candidate will build effective collaborations with established environmental and climate scientists at CU Boulder to rapidly develop relevant capabilities.

Geospatial Data Analytics: Requires expertise in applying analytics to terrestrial and space data sets, including fusing disparate and large data sets to produce actionable information. The candidate will develop algorithms and applications by applying AI/ML, computer vision and state-of-the-art techniques to create models that support decision making tools in the national security arena.

Human Performance / Human Factors: Requires specialization in areas including human-machine teaming, human-machine interfaces, virtual augmentation of human performance, training, and education, all within a national security context.

Hypersonics: Requires expertise in the development and application of computational tools for analysis of various aspects of hypersonic vehicle performance and phenomena including aerothermodynamics, material, structures, propulsion, signatures, and mission design.

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR): Requires understanding of the application of space-based ISR to find, fix, and track both friendly and hostile forces, as well as to complete battle damage assessment (BDA). The candidate will address key challenges in automation, sensor fusion, latency, and data analytics.

Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT): Requires expertise in the science and instrumentation of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), algorithms for assured PNT, and the development of technologies for GPS limited/denied environments. The candidate will develop high precision, low SWaP-C solutions for resilient operations in relevant DoD environments.

Quantum Technologies: Requires expertise in the development of quantum-based capabilities for sensing, computing, and/or communications, for national security applications in all domains (land, sea, air, space, cyber). The candidate will build effective collaborations with established quantum scientists and engineers at CU Boulder to accelerate the transition of quantum products.

Radiofrequency (RF) Engineering: Requires expertise in RF communications, spectrum operations, and/or electronic warfare (EW) to address DoD challenges in SWaP-C, bandwidth, loss/efficiency, integration, and/or stealth. The candidate will develop solutions associated with power amplification, filter design, integrated circuit design, apertures, and/or configurable RF.

Space Domain Awareness: Requires specialization in areas including astrodynamics, sensor tasking, state estimation, guidance/navigation/control (GNC), and space weather. The candidate will address key challenges in information fusion, perception, and activity interference with emphasis on space operations and anomaly identification and characterization.

Research Associates must have a customer-centric, results-focused mentality with the ability to operate in a sophisticated and dynamic environment to attain the strategic goals of the rapidly growing CU Boulder national security portfolio.