Artificial Intelligence Applications Developer Associate

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position. In your cover letter, please provide examples of how your skills and experiences meet the requirements of this position. To apply for this position, please submit your cover letter and resume as one document on the University of Michigan Careers at the U site.  

The Institute for Social Research (ISR) is the world's largest academic social science survey and research organization. With scholars from a wide range of disciplines, ISR acts as a national laboratory for the social sciences' advancing public understanding of human behavior through rigorous, wide-ranging research.

The part-time Artificial Intelligence Applications Developer Associate will design, build, and maintain scripts and integrations that connect ISR's internal systems with AI models and services such as UM-GPT, OpenAI, Claude, and locally hosted research models. The position focuses on developing automation and data workflows using Python, JavaScript, SQL, and Bash while supporting internal research infrastructure and contributing to documentation, testing, and continuous improvement of ISR's AI development environment.

• Develop and maintain Python, JavaScript, and Bash scripts for automating and integrating APIs with AI platforms (UM-GPT, OpenAI, Claude, and local models).
• Build and support data workflows and internal tools that enhance ISR's AI research infrastructure.
• Write and optimize SQL queries and interact with databases such as PostgreSQL and SQLite3, along with structured file types (CSV, JSON, Parquet, etc.).
• Implement and maintain automation pipelines using GitHub workflows, agent frameworks, and MCP (Model Context Protocol) integrations.
• Collaborate primarily with ISR staff and IT personnel, providing secondary support to faculty-led projects.
• Create and maintain documentation, including code repositories, environment setups, and workflow diagrams.
• Perform unit testing, debugging, and version control using GitHub to ensure code reliability and reproducibility.
• Participate in meetings, provide technical updates, and contribute to planning discussions for AI-related projects.

We'd like to hear from you if you have:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Science, Data Science, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency in Python, JavaScript, SQL, and Bash for scripting, automation, and data manipulation.
• Experience working with APIs, data pipelines, and workflow automation.
• Familiarity with GitHub, version control practices, and collaborative development.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly and collaborate effectively with staff and faculty.

We'd especially like to hear from you if you have the required qualifications and these:

• Experience working with AI or machine-learning frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, or Hugging Face.
• Familiarity with Model Context Protocol (MCP), agent frameworks, or retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) workflows.
• Experience developing integrations with services such as OpenAI, Claude, or UM-GPT.
• Knowledge of database systems (PostgreSQL, SQLite) and basic Linux system scripting.
• Understanding of accessibility, security, and data-privacy best practices in research environments.

The statements included in this description are intended to reflect the general nature and level of work assigned to this classification and should not be interpreted as all-inclusive.

This is a part time, 50% position with a pro-rated annaul salary of $27,500 to $32,500.

The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan seeks to create a community of respect and authentic collaboration by recruiting and retaining individuals that represent a variety of voices as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.

Benefits at the University of Michigan

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and any eligible family members, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting upon meeting eligibility requirements
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

 Learn more about U-M benefits.  

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.