Undergraduate Research Assistant - Dr. Ranganathan

Salary/Position Classification

• $15.00 hourly, Non-Exempt (Eligible for overtime)
• 10-20 hours per week hours per week
• 100% Remote Work Availability: No
• Hybrid Work Availability (requires some time on campus): No

Purpose of Position

This is a part-time, non-benefited position. Only UND students are eligible to be hired in this position.

The Undergraduate Research Assistant (URA) will support applied research projects in machine learning, data analysis, and image-based intelligence under the supervision of faculty in the Center for Cyber Security Research. The student will work on real-world datasets drawn from cybersecurity, autonomous systems, energy infrastructure, and computer vision applications. This role is designed to provide hands-on research experience and prepare students for graduate school or advanced technical careers.

Duties & Responsibilities

• The student will contribute to research in one or more of the following areas:
  • Machine Learning & Modeling
  • Implement and test machine learning models (e.g., classification, regression, anomaly detection)
  • Train and evaluate models using Python-based ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-Learn)
  • Perform hyperparameter tuning and performance analysis
  • Data Analysis & Feature Engineering
  • Clean, preprocess, and label datasets
  • Perform exploratory data analysis and statistical summaries
  • Extract features from structured, time-series, and image data
  • Generate plots, tables, and reports summarizing results
  • Image & Signal Classification
  • Develop and test image classification models (e.g., CNNs, transfer learning)
  • Process sensor, image, or video data
  • Assist with labeling, augmentation, and model validation
  • Research Support
  • Document experiments, datasets, and results
  • Assist in preparing figures and technical content for papers, reports, and presentations
  • Participate in weekly research meetings

Minimum Requirements

• Able to work in-person.
• Enrollment as an undergraduate student in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Data Science, or related field
• Basic programming skills in Python
• Familiarity with statistics, linear algebra, or machine learning concepts
• Ability to work independently and meet research deadlines
• Successful completion of a Criminal History Background Check

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the US and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. This position does not support visa sponsorship for continued employment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with machine learning libraries (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-Learn)
• Experience with image processing (OpenCV, PIL, torchvision)
• Familiarity with Jupyter notebooks, Git, or Linux
• Prior coursework in AI, ML, data science, or computer vision

To Apply

For full consideration, applications must be received by the closing date and include the following materials:
• Resume & Class Schedule

Please include in the application if you are currently or have in the past 12 months been employed with the University of North Dakota, the North Dakota University System or any other North Dakota State agency. If so, include which agency/department, as well as how many hours you work a week.

Career Services is here to help students looking for student employment positions at UND by offering individual sessions that include resume, cover letter reviews, and interview preparation. Please schedule an appointment through Hawk Central or email us at und.careerservices@und.edu.