Junior Specialist For the Department of Public Health Sciences-Informatics Division

NATURE AND PURPOSE
The position of Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment or with social science research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. The Specialist stays apprised of emerging issues and problems and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Specialist is expected to provide leadership, facilitate teamwork and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and to supply input into the planning of research and educational programs. Normally, Specialists do not have Principal Investigator (PI) status but may obtain permission by exception and/or collaborate with a PI in preparing research proposals for extramural funding. The Specialist is evaluated for merit and promotion using three basic criteria outlined below.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DESIGNATED AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED AREAS (90% EFFORT)
A. AI and Pilot Data Research Support

• Assist with the identification and evaluation of generative AI and NLP tools for research applications.
• Support the development of pilot datasets and research materials used for workflow development, training, and evaluation activities.
• Assist with data organization, quality review, and documentation of data sources and generation methods.
• Participate in meetings with research staff and collaborators to gather information regarding project requirements and use cases.

B. Clinical Research Informatics Support

• Assist in documenting user requirements and workflows for clinical research informatics and AI-related projects.
• Support the collection and organization of information from clinical and research stakeholders.
• Help prepare summaries, reports, and documentation related to system requirements and research objectives.
• Assist with identifying opportunities for integration with existing research systems and tools.

C. Model Evaluation and Dataset Development

• Assist with the development and maintenance of datasets used for model evaluation and research studies.
• Support annotation, labeling, and curation activities for AI and NLP research projects.
• Participate in testing and evaluation of language models and related technologies.
• Assist with data analysis, preparation of evaluation summaries, and documentation of research findings.
• Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts, presentations, posters, and reports.
• Participate in weekly research meetings, journal clubs, and project discussions.

D. AI Technology Assessment

• Assist in reviewing and comparing AI models, tools, and platforms relevant to research objectives.
• Support testing of prompts, retrieval methods, and model configurations under supervision of senior project personnel.
• Maintain records of model performance, observations, and experimental results.
• Assist with preparation of comparative summaries of technologies and research tools.

E. Literature Review and Research Support

• Conduct literature searches related to artificial intelligence, NLP, health informatics, and clinical research.
• Summarize findings from peer-reviewed publications and technical reports.
• Maintain organized records of relevant publications, software tools, and research resources.
• Present literature summaries and project updates to the research team as requested.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (8% EFFORT)

• Complete and maintain required training, including Human Subjects Research, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Responsible Conduct of Research, and University cybersecurity requirements.
• Participate in regular meetings with the PI and research team to discuss project progress and research activities.
• Develop technical skills and knowledge relevant to project objectives.

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (2% EFFORT)

• Participate in departmental, school, and university activities as appropriate.
• Assist with training and mentoring undergraduate student assistants and interns working on project activities.
• Contribute to collaborative and team-based research efforts within the program.

The estimated salary range for a Junior Specialist is $27.30/hour at step one or $29.08/hour at step 2.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they are legally authorized to work in the United States. The University will not offer sponsorship of a visa for this position.

Bachelors of Science degree in Health Informatics or a related field.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they are legally authorized to work in the United States. The University will not offer sponsorship of a visa for this position.

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Cover Letter

• Statement of Research (Optional)

• Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.

UC Davis is also a national leader in inclusive practice. There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.