Part-time Research Assistant – Advancing AI Education with Foundation

Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelor's Degree

Responsibilities

• Dr. Kaidi Xu in the Computer Science department in the College of Computing & Informatics seeks a motivated part-time research assistant to join a project that explores the role of foundation models in transforming AI education
• This research investigates how large-scale models can support teaching, personalize learning experiences, and automate assessment in AI and machine learning coursework
• Support the design and adaptation of foundation models (LLMs, vision-language models) for educational applications
• Prepare, clean, and organize diverse datasets (text, image, code) tailored for instructional use
• Conduct experiments involving model fine-tuning, evaluation, and prompt optimization
• Summarize experimental outcomes and contribute to writing research articles, technical reports, and presentation materials
• Collaborate regularly with faculty, researchers, and peers through meetings and project updates

Full Description

Job Summary

Dr. Kaidi Xu in the Computer Science department in the College of Computing & Informatics seeks a motivated part-time research assistant to join a project that explores the role of foundation models in transforming AI education. This research investigates how large-scale models can support teaching, personalize learning experiences, and automate assessment in AI and machine learning coursework.

Essential Functions

• Support the design and adaptation of foundation models (LLMs, vision-language models) for educational applications

• Prepare, clean, and organize diverse datasets (text, image, code) tailored for instructional use

• Conduct experiments involving model fine-tuning, evaluation, and prompt optimization

• Summarize experimental outcomes and contribute to writing research articles, technical reports, and presentation materials

• Collaborate regularly with faculty, researchers, and peers through meetings and project updates

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience adapting foundation models for education, edtech, or learning analytics contexts

• Knowledge of prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), or model evaluation metrics

• Background in AI/ML education, human-computer interaction (HCI), or cognitive science

Location

• Hybrid/Flexible Work Arrangement

Additional Information

This is a Part-Time temporary position classified as Non-Exempt. The offered pay is based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

For information about benefits, please review Drexel’s Per Diem/Casual/Temporary Benefit Fact Sheet .

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application.

A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.