New

Part Time - Student - Research Assistant AI Agent Hourly (Tan)

The Pennsylvania State University
remote work
United States, Pennsylvania, Malvern
Mar 17, 2026
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants. JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS Research Assistant AI Agent (Hourly) Penn State Brandywine & Penn State Great Valley (Yang) Penn State Brandywine and Penn State Great Valley faculty, Xianfang (Sharon) Tan, Ph.D., Luna Yang, Ph.D., and Satish Mahadevans, Ph.D. Research Assistants to support projects that streamline talent-market insight pipelines and develop agentic AI agent architectures. These roles offer hands-on experience in data engineering, applied analytics, and responsible AI. Position Details Hours: Part-time, 5-20 hours per week (flexible scheduling) Pay: $12/hour Appointment type: Hourly Job Duties Typical Responsibilities (May Include) Data pipeline development: Build and document data-cleaning protocols, QA checks, and reproducible workflows (ETL, versioning, data dictionaries). Data integration: Organize and harmonize datasets across institutional and external sources (e.g., advising, curriculum, learning platforms, labor-market data), including secure handling and anonymization when needed. AI/agentic system support: Assist with prototyping and evaluation of multi-agent workflows (e.g., information retrieval, semantic search, recommendation logic, human-in-the-loop processes). Programming and implementation: Contribute code in Python (and/or C++/JavaScript), work with APIs, and support cloud-based workflows (Google Cloud/Azure experience is a plus). Documentation and communication: Maintain clear technical documentation, meeting notes, and progress updates; support presentations, posters, or reports as needed. Other duties as assigned by the supervising faculty member. Requirements and Qualifications Preferred Qualifications (Not Required) Python proficiency (e.g., pandas/polars; data cleaning; visualization). Experience with databases (SQL), APIs, Git/GitHub, or cloud platforms. Interest in responsible/ethical AI, education analytics, or labor-market analytics. Why apply? Student roles in Academic Affairs provide professional growth, mentorship, and opportunities to build portfolio-ready skills while contributing to impactful research and applied projects. How to Apply For full consideration, please submit a completed application. A resume and cover letter are not required. Contact Xianfang (Sharon) Tan with any questions at (xmt5028@psu.edu). BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here. EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473. Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines