Associate Research Scientist (PREP0003810)
The American Ceramic Society, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
General Description
Salary: $120,579 - $149,315 a year
PREP Research Associate
This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.
Research Title
Evaluating and Advancing Measurement of Real-Time Deepfake Detection and Digital Injection Prevention for Digital Identity Services
U.S. Citizen Preferred
The work will entail
The increased availability of generative AI technology has given rise to fear of these tools being used to disrupt any number of cybersecurity safeguards implemented by US Government and commercial systems. Most notably, identity systems used to enable remote proof of identity and online access have found themselves in the crosshairs of attackers. Many of these use real-time deepfake technology to defeat biometrics and human-supported identity verification systems. They use technical measures to insert (known as injection) modified or forged media (images or videos) into communication channels to defeat matching algorithms, presentation attack detection, or human reviewers. Protections against these attacks focus on two areas: defending against the injection and detecting the deepfakes. The project will focus on providing controls for the first and measurement for tools used in detection. No organization should rely on just one of these methods as it should be assumed that attackers will be able to achieve an injection. This makes accurate detection imperative, while at the same time, all efforts need to be made to deter injections since detection algorithms are nascent and will likely miss well‑crafted deepfakes. Some products currently support detection capabilities, yet there are no well-established metrics, tests, or standards to measure the effectiveness of these technologies in combating real-world threats.
This project will address this gap by evaluating risks posed by emerging injection techniques and real-time deepfakes and establishing a framework for measuring the efficacy of available controls. It will give NIST the foundation for a measurement-based approach to support federal government guidelines and future technology assessments. Ideally this research will set the framework for an ongoing technical evaluation capability like those established by the Face Recognition Technology Evaluation and Face Analysis Technology Evaluation programs.
Job Responsibilities
Generating deepfake artifacts
Proposing a scientific framework for evaluation of different detection and prevention tools
Recommending performance metrics for detection systems
Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders
Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger organization
Assisting in the development of research papers or guidelines
Qualifications
A Doctorate or in a Doctoral program with a focus on Computer Science, Engineering, or Cybersecurity
5-8 years of relevant experience
Expertise in biometric systems and biometric system threats
Ability to work with leading software and hardware to replicate deepfake threats and evaluate detection system performance
Familiarity with multiple scripting languages
Ability to develop deepfake artifacts for testing
Strong oral and written communication skills
Salary Range
The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.
Total Rewards
Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.
Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.
The following additional vaccine requirements may apply, depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring department for more information. The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two MMR vaccines; two Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Salary: $120,579 - $149,315 a year
PREP Research Associate
This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration.
Research Title
Evaluating and Advancing Measurement of Real-Time Deepfake Detection and Digital Injection Prevention for Digital Identity Services
U.S. Citizen Preferred
The work will entail
The increased availability of generative AI technology has given rise to fear of these tools being used to disrupt any number of cybersecurity safeguards implemented by US Government and commercial systems. Most notably, identity systems used to enable remote proof of identity and online access have found themselves in the crosshairs of attackers. Many of these use real-time deepfake technology to defeat biometrics and human-supported identity verification systems. They use technical measures to insert (known as injection) modified or forged media (images or videos) into communication channels to defeat matching algorithms, presentation attack detection, or human reviewers. Protections against these attacks focus on two areas: defending against the injection and detecting the deepfakes. The project will focus on providing controls for the first and measurement for tools used in detection. No organization should rely on just one of these methods as it should be assumed that attackers will be able to achieve an injection. This makes accurate detection imperative, while at the same time, all efforts need to be made to deter injections since detection algorithms are nascent and will likely miss well‑crafted deepfakes. Some products currently support detection capabilities, yet there are no well-established metrics, tests, or standards to measure the effectiveness of these technologies in combating real-world threats.
This project will address this gap by evaluating risks posed by emerging injection techniques and real-time deepfakes and establishing a framework for measuring the efficacy of available controls. It will give NIST the foundation for a measurement-based approach to support federal government guidelines and future technology assessments. Ideally this research will set the framework for an ongoing technical evaluation capability like those established by the Face Recognition Technology Evaluation and Face Analysis Technology Evaluation programs.
Job Responsibilities
Generating deepfake artifacts
Proposing a scientific framework for evaluation of different detection and prevention tools
Recommending performance metrics for detection systems
Presenting results at internal meetings, and occasional meetings with external stakeholders
Ensuring that results, protocols, software, and documentation have been archived or otherwise transmitted to the larger organization
Assisting in the development of research papers or guidelines
Qualifications
A Doctorate or in a Doctoral program with a focus on Computer Science, Engineering, or Cybersecurity
5-8 years of relevant experience
Expertise in biometric systems and biometric system threats
Ability to work with leading software and hardware to replicate deepfake threats and evaluate detection system performance
Familiarity with multiple scripting languages
Ability to develop deepfake artifacts for testing
Strong oral and written communication skills
Salary Range
The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.
Total Rewards
Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.
Vaccine Requirements
Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.
The following additional vaccine requirements may apply, depending upon your campus. Please contact the hiring department for more information. The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two MMR vaccines; two Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.
#J-18808-Ljbffr