Today
Unspecified
Early Career (2+ yrs experience)
Intelligence
University of Maryland, MD (On/Off-Site)
Senior Faculty Specialist
Location
College Park, MD
Unit: Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), University of Maryland
Clearance: U.S. Citizenship Required; Eligibility for Security Clearance
Schedule: Full-Time; Hybrid Work Eligible
Job Description Summary
ARLIS at the University of Maryland is seeking a Senior Faculty Specialist with a strong background in behavioral science, forensic psychology, or data-informed social research, with excellent academic writing and project organization skills. The successful candidate will contribute to national security-related behavioral science research that informs policy, operational decision-making, and risk mitigation.
This position is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of research, policy, and real-world impact, and is motivated to support federal agencies, law enforcement, and the intelligence community.
Organization Summary Statement
The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) is a University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC) sponsored by the Department of Defense. ARLIS conducts mission-driven research in social and behavioral sciences, AI, cybersecurity, human systems integration, and counterintelligence to address urgent and emerging national security challenges. Faculty specialists at ARLIS are valued as collaborators, analysts, and trusted research partners to government and academic stakeholders.
Physical Demands
- Standard office environment
- Prolonged periods of computer use
- Occasional travel for site visits, briefings, or workshops (up to 10%)
- Participation in hybrid meetings (on-site and virtual)
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct original and applied research on behavioral risk, insider threats, counterintelligence, and/or decision-making in high-stakes environments
- Lead or co-author research papers, technical reports, funding proposals, and government briefings
- Design and execute qualitative and mixed-methods research (e.g., interviews, surveys, case analyses)
- Translate complex psychological and social research into policy-relevant recommendations
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including behavioral scientists, data scientists, defense analysts, and government sponsors
- Support the development and evaluation of risk frameworks and educational tools
- Maintain research compliance, data security, and administrative documentation
- Contribute to research project planning, team coordination, and mentoring of junior staff
Security Clearance Requirements
- Required: U.S. Citizenship
- Required: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret or Top Secret security clearance
- Candidates must successfully pass a federal background investigation
Preferences
- Prior experience in a Department of Defense, law enforcement, or intelligence research setting
- Experience with topics such as insider threat, violent extremism, security risk assessment, or applied psychology
- Familiarity with qualitative analysis tools (e.g., NVivo, Dedoose) or data science tools (e.g., Python, R)
- Experience drafting and presenting technical information to both expert and general audiences
- Academic conference participation or peer-reviewed publications
- Interest in pursuing further research training or certifications relevant to national security
Licenses/Certifications (Preferred but not Required)
- OSINT or HUMINT-related certifications
- TRAP-18 or similar behavioral threat assessment tools
- CITI Program or equivalent research ethics training
- Psychological First Aid or trauma-informed care coursework
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Psychology, Behavioral Science, Forensic Psychology, Criminology, Data Science, or related discipline
- Minimum 2 years of experience in research design, data analysis, or academic/public sector research
- Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality academic or technical writing
- Exceptional organizational skills with experience supporting multi-stakeholder projects
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong foundation in behavioral or psychological theory and applied research methods
- Ability to synthesize literature and produce concise, policy-relevant findings
- Familiarity with U.S. security, intelligence, or defense challenges
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite; familiarity with qualitative or statistical tools is a plus
- Effective communication skills for diverse professional audiences
- Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment
Additional Job Description
This is a hybrid-eligible position based in College Park, MD. Some on-site presence may be required for sponsor engagement, classified work, or collaborative meetings. The role offers opportunities for professional development, conference participation, and long-term growth within the UARC structure.
Salary
58,656 - 134,925
Location
College Park, MD
Unit: Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), University of Maryland
Clearance: U.S. Citizenship Required; Eligibility for Security Clearance
Schedule: Full-Time; Hybrid Work Eligible
Job Description Summary
ARLIS at the University of Maryland is seeking a Senior Faculty Specialist with a strong background in behavioral science, forensic psychology, or data-informed social research, with excellent academic writing and project organization skills. The successful candidate will contribute to national security-related behavioral science research that informs policy, operational decision-making, and risk mitigation.
This position is ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of research, policy, and real-world impact, and is motivated to support federal agencies, law enforcement, and the intelligence community.
Organization Summary Statement
The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) is a University-Affiliated Research Center (UARC) sponsored by the Department of Defense. ARLIS conducts mission-driven research in social and behavioral sciences, AI, cybersecurity, human systems integration, and counterintelligence to address urgent and emerging national security challenges. Faculty specialists at ARLIS are valued as collaborators, analysts, and trusted research partners to government and academic stakeholders.
Physical Demands
- Standard office environment
- Prolonged periods of computer use
- Occasional travel for site visits, briefings, or workshops (up to 10%)
- Participation in hybrid meetings (on-site and virtual)
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct original and applied research on behavioral risk, insider threats, counterintelligence, and/or decision-making in high-stakes environments
- Lead or co-author research papers, technical reports, funding proposals, and government briefings
- Design and execute qualitative and mixed-methods research (e.g., interviews, surveys, case analyses)
- Translate complex psychological and social research into policy-relevant recommendations
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including behavioral scientists, data scientists, defense analysts, and government sponsors
- Support the development and evaluation of risk frameworks and educational tools
- Maintain research compliance, data security, and administrative documentation
- Contribute to research project planning, team coordination, and mentoring of junior staff
Security Clearance Requirements
- Required: U.S. Citizenship
- Required: Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret or Top Secret security clearance
- Candidates must successfully pass a federal background investigation
Preferences
- Prior experience in a Department of Defense, law enforcement, or intelligence research setting
- Experience with topics such as insider threat, violent extremism, security risk assessment, or applied psychology
- Familiarity with qualitative analysis tools (e.g., NVivo, Dedoose) or data science tools (e.g., Python, R)
- Experience drafting and presenting technical information to both expert and general audiences
- Academic conference participation or peer-reviewed publications
- Interest in pursuing further research training or certifications relevant to national security
Licenses/Certifications (Preferred but not Required)
- OSINT or HUMINT-related certifications
- TRAP-18 or similar behavioral threat assessment tools
- CITI Program or equivalent research ethics training
- Psychological First Aid or trauma-informed care coursework
Minimum Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Psychology, Behavioral Science, Forensic Psychology, Criminology, Data Science, or related discipline
- Minimum 2 years of experience in research design, data analysis, or academic/public sector research
- Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality academic or technical writing
- Exceptional organizational skills with experience supporting multi-stakeholder projects
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Strong foundation in behavioral or psychological theory and applied research methods
- Ability to synthesize literature and produce concise, policy-relevant findings
- Familiarity with U.S. security, intelligence, or defense challenges
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite; familiarity with qualitative or statistical tools is a plus
- Effective communication skills for diverse professional audiences
- Comfortable working independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment
Additional Job Description
This is a hybrid-eligible position based in College Park, MD. Some on-site presence may be required for sponsor engagement, classified work, or collaborative meetings. The role offers opportunities for professional development, conference participation, and long-term growth within the UARC structure.
Salary
58,656 - 134,925
group id: 91122244
