Research Fellow - Full Stack Development

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued-and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

Job Description

The Center for Data Science (CDS) in the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) is seeking a research fellow to join our data science research team. In this role, you will design and implement technical systems that support our data science and machine learning initiatives, software applications, and science gateways, bridging research concepts with practical, scalable software implementations. You will work closely with researchers and stakeholders to transform complex data science requirements into functional, efficient front end and back end systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop technical research frameworks and infrastructure for data collection, processing, and analysis.
• Implement and maintain web-based research interfaces and visualization tools.
• Create and optimize database structures to efficiently manage large research datasets.
• Develop programmatic interfaces connecting various research components and systems.
• Build scalable cloud-based architectures to support computational research needs.
• Document technical implementations and research methodologies to facilitate collaboration and reproducibility.
• Collaborate with researchers, faculty, and non-technical stakeholders to align technical solutions with research goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher (preferably in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field).
• Strong programming expertise in Python and JavaScript/TypeScript.
• Experience with web-based research interfaces and visualization frameworks.
• Proficiency in database design and implementation for large-scale complex research applications.
• Knowledge of cloud-based deployment environments (e.g., AWS).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and solve complex technical challenges.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with research-oriented web framework implementation.
• Experience with full stack development including Django.
• Experience with UI/UX design and implantation.
• Familiarity with automated system deployment and testing methodologies.
• Background in machine learning or data science research.
• Prior experience in academic or research-focused settings.

Additional Information

Annual salary range: $70,000 - $110,000. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

The initial appointment will be for one (1) year. Reappointment is contingent upon satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

Application Instructions

Along with the application, please submit a CV, cover letter, and the names and contract information for three (3) professional references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.