Computational Sociologist

Job Overview

This announcement will be accepting candidate submissions until 16 AUG 2024. The Cognition and Modeling Branch of the 711th Human Performance Wing within the Air Force Research Laboratory (711 HPW/RHWEM) seeks to hire a mid-level, DR-02, Computational Sociologist at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

This position supports research aims within the Digital Models of Cognition Core Research Area, which focuses on developing computational models that support quantitative understanding and prediction of sociological phenomena across domains and at different levels of abstraction.

Work includes:

• Applying computational methods and tools to study societal (group) level behaviors, antecedents affecting behaviors, and outcomes.
• Applying sociological methods to establish, validate, and interpret models and theories that explain the complex interrelationship of the individual and society (e.g., social mechanisms for norm compliance; collective behavior and social movements; intergroup relations; patterns of behavior that are characteristic of social groups, institutions, and nations).
• Using interdisciplinary approaches including sociology, computer science, data science, experimental psychology, cognitive science, and statistics to analyze complex societal systems and large-scale social data to gain a deeper understanding of social processes and phenomenon.
• Briefing AFRL S&T leadership and the broader scientific community.

You must be able to cultivate a professional and respectful environment of cooperation. You must be willing to listen and consider the views of others. You must be willing and able to seek opportunities for collaboration with personnel from other functional units (finance, contracting, etc.) and other technical areas of an organization to accomplish work-related activities.

Telework: Yes, this position is eligible for telework opportunities as determined by agency policy.

Maximum Telework Flexibilities: The duty location for this position is listed below, however, this position is eligible for maximum telework flexibilities. Telework options can be negotiated and implemented after entrance on duty.

Remote Work (CONUS): No, this position is not approved for remote work.

The duty location for this position can be at the below Duty Locations. Telework options can be negotiated and implemented after entrance on duty.

Wright Patterson AFB, OH

Telework

Yes, this position is eligible for telework opportunities; as determined by agency policy
Remote Work (CONUS)

No, this position is not approved for remote work.
Required Qualifications

• United States Citizenship
• Males must be registered for Selective Service
• These positions may be filled as a 5-year Flexible Length and Renewable Term Technical Appointment (new government hires, current government term employees, etc.) with the option to later convert to a permanent appointment
• Security Clearance: This position requires possession of or the ability to obtain a Top-Secret security clearance
• These are Acquisition Professional Development Program (APDP) positions and require a Level 1 certification (Foundational). The selectees will have 24 months to meet APDP requirements or a waiver must be obtained
  
  SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Applicants must have at least one (1) year or 52 weeks of specialized experience in this field equivalent to DR-01 (entry level) in the federal service or equivalent in an alternate pay system.
  Applicants must also meet the Basic Qualification requirements for 0101 (Social Sciences Series), 0180 (Psychology Series), 0184 (Sociology Series), 1550 (Computer Science Series), or 1530 (Statistics Series). To view the Individual Occupational Requirements for this position, click on the following links:
  
  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/social-science-series-0101/
  
  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0100/psychology-series-0180/
  
  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/computer-science-series-1550/
  
  https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/1500/statistics-series-1530/

Desired Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Acquisitions (KSAs):

• PhD in Sociology, Computational Sociology/Societal Computing, Computer Science, Experimental Psychology, Statistics, or related fields.
• Big Data Analysis & Machine Learning - Experience mining, combining, and analyzing large structured and unstructured datasets from various sources, including publicly available/social media datasets, qualitative and quantitative survey data, and experimental data, to uncover patterns and insights about human behavior and social interactions. Applying a combination of sociological methods and machine learning algorithms to analyze societal data, make predictions, and identify trends within a social science, theoretically based lens. The ability to verify the validity and reliability of available datasets to answer research questions at various levels of analysis.
• Modeling and Simulation - Creating computational models and simulations to understand and predict social dynamics, such as the spread of information in networks and nations, social influence, and group behavior
• Social Network Analysis - Analyzing social networks to identify causal and correlational relationships and structures within societies, to include how individuals and groups are connected and how connections affect the information flow and influence behavior and outcomes within and across groups
• Text Analysis - Uses Natural Language Processing to analyze textual data to understand public sentiments, discourse themes, and cultural trends
• Computational Experience - Experience with coding languages such as S-Plus/R, Python, Julia. Ability to use databases such as SQL, NoSQL, and Bigtable and packages such as NetworkX and iGraph

When uploading documents, please utilize the naming convention listed below.

Resume: Req No_Last Name_First Name_Resume

Transcripts: Req No_Last Name_First Name_Transcripts

Acceptable file types: .doc,.docx,.pdf

(Requisition No. 53485)

Series

0101

0180

1530

1550