University of Arizona

Posting Number
req27247
Department
Computer Science
Department Website Link
<a href="https://www.cs.arizona.edu/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.cs.arizona.edu/</a>
Location
Tucson Campus
Address
Tucson, AZ USA
Position Highlights
The University of Arizona's department of Computer Science invites you to apply to the role of Research Professional I. Under general supervision, the employee will implement existing Monte Carlo Tree Search based reinforcement learning algorithms and evaluate it in popular, publicly-available benchmarking suite, and compare it with other non-Monte Carlo Tree Search based baselines.
The University of Arizona’s Department of Computer Science offers a collaborative environment focused on high-quality research and instruction, where undergraduate and graduate students benefit from the department’s research programs. Established in 1971, the department offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees and has a distinguished reputation for research excellence across areas including algorithms, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, programming languages, security, systems, and visualization. The department is nationally recognized for its research impact and ranks among the top public Ph.D.-granting computer science programs in the nation.
The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs.
Duties &amp; Responsibilities
<ul>
<li>Implement the basic Monte Carlo Tree Search algorithm and evaluate it in publicly-available benchmark reinforcement learning environments such as OpenAI Gym.</li>
<li>Implement basic imitation learning algorithms such as supervised finetuning (SFT) and evaluate them in benchmark reinforcement learning environments.</li>
<li>Implement an reinforcement learning algorithm using the outcomes of tasks 1 and 2, and prepare evaluation reports for this algorithm in benchmark reinforcement learning environments.</li>
<li>Maintaining source code of the training pipelines, such as documentation of the source code, preparing usage manuals, and identification of library dependencies.</li>
<li>Collaborate with internal departments to share information and improve data handling processes.</li>
</ul>
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
<ul>
<li>Skilled in maintaining code for libraries, APIs, deep learning, and reinforcement learning pipelines.</li>
<li>Ability to generate evaluation plots on the performance of algorithms, and visualize the reasoning traces of Monte-Carlo Tree Search agents</li>
<li>Ability to translate technical concepts into clear documentation and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.</li>
</ul>
This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.
Minimum Qualifications
<ul>
<li>Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through experience required.</li>
<li>1 year of relevant work experience is required.</li>
</ul>
Preferred Qualifications
FLSA
Exempt
Full Time/Part Time
Full Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week
40
Job FTE
1.0
Work Calendar
Fiscal
Job Category
Research
Benefits Eligible
No Benefits
Rate of Pay
$47,356-$59,195
Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)
Grade
6
Compensation Guidance
The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.
The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator.
Career Stream and Level
PC1
Job Family
Researchers &amp; Scientists
Job Function
Research
Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)
Number of Vacancies
1
Target Hire Date
10/26/2026
Expected End Date
12/18/2026
Contact Information for Candidates
Chicheng Zhang
Assistant Professor
<a href="mailto:chichengz@arizona.edu" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">chichengz@arizona.edu</a>
Open Date
10/5/2026
Open Until Filled
Yes
Documents Needed to Apply
Resume and Cover Letter
Special Instructions to Applicant
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at <a href="mailto:cleryact@arizona.edu" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">cleryact@arizona.edu</a>.

Research Professional I, Computer Science (Temporary)

Research Professional I, Computer Science (Temporary)

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