ALERT | Awareness and Localization of Explosive-Related Threats

Job Opportunity: United States Coast Guard November 29, 2018

November 29, 2018

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) Research and Development Center (RDC) is looking for a qualified candidate to fill the job opening of “Interdisciplinary Position: General Research Engineer/ Physical Research Scientist/Operations Research Analyst” in New London, Connecticut. The chosen candidate will serve as a member on project teams that have the ultimate goal of helping the Coast Guard improve its effectiveness and efficiency through the introduction of innovative technologies, tools, methods, and concepts of operations. The deadline to apply for this position is December 6, 2018.

For more information about the position, please visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/517688300

Fundamentals of Explosives Course at University of Rhode Island – May 1-3, 2018 January 29, 2018

January 29, 2018

ALERT researcher, Dr. Jimmie Oxley of the University of Rhode Island, will be holding a “Fundamentals of Explosives” course for professionals working in the Homeland Security Enterprise from May 1-3, 2018, with the option of taking a “Laboratory Analysis and Safety” or “Field Instrumentation and Testing” course on May 4, 2018.

The “Fundamentals of Explosives” course examines the chemistry of explosives, the physics of detonation waves, and their initiation, and the issues involved in safe handling and characterizing these. Explosive output and coupling to surroundings with specific application to structural response will be discussed. The course will also address terrorist bombings, the gathering, analysis, and interpretation of evidence, improvised explosives, and explosives detection. Lecturers are internationally known experts. More information about the available courses and registration can be found here.

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 10/20: ALERT Professional Development Award September 22, 2017

ALERT Students, the deadline for the ALERT Professional Development Award has been extended to Friday, October 20, 2017. This award provides up to three students with financial support to attend a conference or visit an ALERT or DHS affiliated lab as part of their research experience.

Apply Today!

Postdoctoral Position Available at Tufts University September 19, 2017

Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in the Tufts Information and Networked Systems (TINS) lab in collaboration with the recently established Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences (CABCS) at Tufts University and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center at Natick, MA. This appointment would be for 12-18 months with an estimated start date of October 2017.

The primary project is entitled “Real time prediction of individual and team performance metric from neurophysiological measurements and team interaction data.” Under this project, the fellow will work with Tufts ECE faculty, Dr. Shuchin Aeron and Dr. Eric Miller, as well as CABCS scientists to develop supervised and semi-supervised machine learning algorithms that are capable of predicting cognitive state (e.g., stress level and alertness) and task performance metrics (e.g., target identification and marksmanship) from a wide assortment of physiological sensor data (both labeled and unlabeled) including information collected continuously as a function of time (EEG, FNIRS, Heart Rate) as well as data at a relatively few points in time before, during, and after a specific task (saliva and urine samples).  In addition to assessing individuals, data will be collected to support the characterization of team and intergroup dynamics. We anticipate the effort will require the use of several classical as well as recent developments in machine learning and in particular recursive neural networks, manifold learning, and social network analysis.

While previous experience in theoretical and applied machine learning would be ideal, we welcome applicants with significant experience in related fields including information theory, statistical signal processing, sparse signal or image processing, compressive sensing, and distributed convex optimization.

Interested applicants should send a cover letter detailing their research interests and career goals, CV, and names and contact information of 3 references to Dr. Shuchin Aeron ([email protected]).

Job Opportunities at ALERT December 19, 2016

The ALERT DHS Center of Excellence at Northeastern University is currently seeking to fill the following job positions:

Administrative Assistant

Provide general administrative office support and manage the front desk operations for the Bernard M. Gordon Center for Subsurface Sensing & Imaging Systems (Gordon-CenSSIS), ALERT and its affiliates. Greet and assist visitors, answer telephones, respond to inquiries as appropriate. Track and order supplies, maintain filing systems, manage the office calendars and room/equipment reservations, assist with special projects and perform other related duties as assigned. Assist in maintaining Center databases, updating center outputs and personnel lists for annual and periodic reporting requirements, maintain distribution listservs, prepare minutes and correspondence, order supplies and catering, and process travel arrangements. Provide administrative support for the Center Directors, Gordon Center faculty and staff.

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Performs research in video analytics, with focus in activity recognition and human re-identification. Assists the supervisor in the interpretation and publication of results and grants. Maintains the laboratory and may exercise functional supervision over supporting research staff. Primary responsibility is ensuring that the research is complete. The appointment generally does not extend beyond two years.

Web Applications Developer

The Web Applications Programmer designs, codes, tests and deploys applications, systems, and new technologies that facilitate and expand the ability of administrative staff, faculty and researchers of Gordon-CenSSIS, ALERT and affiliates to enter, process and access research and administrative data. Application needs include web-based collection and reporting systems for funders, collaborative web-based workspaces for staff and researchers, dynamic access and processing of center and research data, event registration and processing. Existing applications require in-depth knowledge of ASP.NET. All database implementation work will be done on MSSQL.

Senior Grants Administrator

The Awareness & Localization of Explosive Related Threats Center (ALERT) is seeking a Senior Grant Administrator who will perform work activities in a fast pasted, complex, detailed and multifaceted environment. Responsibilities include ownership and management of multiple complex grants and operating accounts that require accurate and sophisticated interpretation of university, state and federal guidelines. The incumbent provides information that ensures accurate administration of pre-award, post-award, and close-out activities.
This position will assist with pre-award grant submissions and will independently manage post-award grant administration. The responsibilities for this position include participating with preparation of grant applications and progress reports, preparation and execution of sub-awards and contracts, account set-up, expenditure tracking, account reconciliation, revenue and expense projections, purchasing, invoice processing, expenditure reimbursements, prepare all required DHS financial reports, provide monthly reports of the Centers’ expenditures, as well as work closely with all of the Centers’ Directors and faculty to manage and track expenses, monitor accounts for accuracy of charges, identify and manage deadlines, prepare Payroll Distribution Change forms and journal entries when needed.

RAND 2017 Graduate Student Summer Associate Program November 30, 2016

DHS’s new Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), the Homeland Security Operations Analysis Center (operated by Rand) sponsors a Graduate Student Summer Associate Program at RAND. All applications are due January 5, 2016.

This program provides a great opportunity for graduate students across the Centers of Excellence to explore a career serving the Homeland Security Enterprise through FFRDC research and analysis. The program is designed for full-time students who have completed at least two years of graduate work leading to a doctorate or professional degree. Further details about the program and eligibility criteria are described on our Graduate Student Summer Associate Program website.

This year’s application instructions are listed on the program website.

The 2017 DHS Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) November 1, 2016

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) are now seeking application for the 2017 DHS Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). Participating teams will spend the summer of 2017 working with researchers at various DHS research centers. Faculty at MSIs can submit their applications to ORISE by December 19^th, 2016.

For more information, please visit: http://www.orau.gov/dhseducation/faculty

The DHS 2017 Summer HS-STEM Internship Program November 1, 2016

The Department of Homeland Security 2017 HS-STEM Internship Program is now accepting applications until December 7, 2016.  This program is sponsored by The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate Office of University Programs, and runs for 10-weeks during the summer. It is geared towards students majoring in homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (HS-STEM) disciplines.  The program provides students with quality research experiences at federal research facilities located across the country and allows students the opportunity to establish connections with DHS professionals. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students in a broad spectrum of HS-STEM disciplines and DHS mission-relevant Research Areas.

ALERT / Gordon-CENSSIS Scholar Application Reminder September 19, 2016

The ALERT / Gordon-CENSSIS Scholar Application deadline is quickly approaching. All applications are due by Wednesday, September 28^th. The program will run from October 2016 – April 2017.

The ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS Scholars Program is designed to provide freshmen engineering students the opportunity to get involved in ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS research projects, K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) outreach programs, and professional development training and seminars, such as Leadership Skills, Research Ethics, and Presentation and Poster Building Skills.

Visit the General Information Page for more about the Scholars Program.

The Application Form can be downloaded here: Application Form.

Submit applications to Melanie Smith via email to [email protected]. Please use the subject line: “ALERT and Gordon-CenSSIS Scholars Application Submission.”

REMINDER: White Paper Submissions Due 7/1/2016 June 30, 2016

REMINDER: ALERT White Papers are due TOMORROW. Submissions will be accepted until July 1, 2016, 11:59pm local time.

Pursuant to the goals of DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate, Office of University Programs (OUP), the ALERT Center of Excellence (COE) is accepting white paper submissions for research and transition projects in 2016 and beyond. The COE seeks end-user focused projects that conduct transformational research, develop technology, and provide educational development to improve effective characterization, detection, mitigation and response to explosives-related threats facing the country and the world.

This call will consider white papers for projects ranging from fundamental research through transition to the security enterprise (government, private sector). Submissions must document the problem, describe the gaps that exist, and how their project will address the gaps to protect the public from explosives-related threats. ALERT plans to fund approximately four awards for up to two years at $60,000 to $100,000 per year.

The Call for White Papers is available here: https://alert.northeastern.edu/?p=4738.

Any questions should be directed to [email protected].

Feel free to forward this announcement to others.