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Research Assistant Professor Jobs in Silver Spring, MD

This Professional Track, Assistant Research Professor position will have a primary appointment as a member of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and a secondary appointment in the ...

The Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) is seeking an Assistant Research Professor in the area of process characterization, modeling (digital twin) and control for ...

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Research Assistant Professor information

See Silver Spring, MD salary details

$34.1K

$95.3K

$178.3K

How much do research assistant professor jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for research assistant professor in Silver Spring, MD is $95,306.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,200.00 and $111,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Research Assistant Professor?

A Research Assistant Professor is an academic professional who primarily focuses on conducting research rather than teaching. They usually hold a doctoral degree and work on specific research projects, often funded by grants. Unlike tenure-track professors, Research Assistant Professors are typically on non-tenure-track appointments. Their responsibilities may include designing experiments, publishing scholarly articles, and mentoring graduate students. These positions are often temporary and can serve as a stepping stone to more permanent academic roles.

What is the difference between Research Assistant Professor vs Research Scientist?

AspectResearch Assistant ProfessorResearch Scientist
Required credentialsDoctoral degree (Ph.D.) often requiredMaster's or Ph.D., depending on field
Work environmentAcademic institutions, research labsIndustry, corporate research labs, academia
Employer and industry usageUniversities, research institutesBiotech, pharma, tech companies
Common search intentAcademic research roles, faculty pathwaysIndustry research roles, R&D positions

Research Assistant Professors typically work in academic settings, focusing on research and publishing, often with a pathway toward tenure. Research Scientists are more industry-focused, working in corporate labs or biotech firms, emphasizing product development and applied research. While both roles require advanced degrees, their work environments and career paths differ significantly.

What are some typical challenges faced by Research Assistant Professors when balancing research and teaching responsibilities?

Research Assistant Professors often encounter challenges in managing their time between research projects and teaching duties. While the primary focus of the role is usually on conducting original research and securing funding, they may also be expected to mentor students, assist with departmental tasks, or occasionally teach courses. Navigating grant deadlines, publishing requirements, and student supervision can make effective time management crucial. Open communication with department leadership and collaborators can help clarify expectations and create a manageable workload.

What Is a Research Assistant Professor?

A research assistant professor works in academia as a non-tenure track faculty member in a specified department. This role is somewhat different from an associate professor or an adjunct professor because it is often the first step for a recent Ph.D. graduate and is typically a temporary position within the college or university. In this career, you may work under a fellowship that allows the university funds to pay you for a specified period, as long as you complete research that is under the guidelines of that fellowship. Your additional responsibilities as a research assistant professor may include teaching, student advisement, participation in faculty meetings and votes, and more. However, not all of these roles require you to be an instructor. Some stick to strictly research duties.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Research Assistant Professor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Research Assistant Professor, you need advanced expertise in your academic field, a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent), and a strong record of research publications. Familiarity with specialized research software, laboratory equipment, grant-writing processes, and data analysis tools is typically necessary. Strong written and verbal communication, collaboration, and project management skills distinguish high performers in this role. These qualifications are crucial for producing impactful research, securing funding, and contributing to the academic community.
What are the most commonly searched types of Research Professor jobs in Silver Spring, MD? The most popular types of Research Professor jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:
What are popular job titles related to Research Assistant Professor jobs in Silver Spring, MD? For Research Assistant Professor jobs in Silver Spring, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Research Assistant Professor jobs in Silver Spring, MD look for? The top searched job categories for Research Assistant Professor jobs in Silver Spring, MD are:
What cities near Silver Spring, MD are hiring for Research Assistant Professor jobs? Cities near Silver Spring, MD with the most Research Assistant Professor job openings:
Infographic showing various Research Assistant Professor job openings in Silver Spring, MD as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 73% Full Time, 23% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 98% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $95,306 per year, or $45.8 per hour.
Research Assistant Professor

Research Assistant Professor

George Mason University

Fairfax, VA • On-site

Other

Posted 22 days ago


George Mason University rating

8.3

Company rating: 8.3 out of 10

Based on 19 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

123rd of 612 rated colleges and universities


Job description

Research Assistant Professor
  • 10003688
  • Research Faculty
  • Opening on: Jan 26 2026
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Department: College of Science

Classification: 12-month Research Faculty

Job Category: Research Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Remote

Workplace Type: Remote Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems (CSISS) is an interdisciplinary research center affiliated with the College of Science at George Mason University. The mission of the Center is to conduct world-class research in spatial information science and system and provide state-of-art research training to post-doctoral fellows, Ph.D. and Master students in the field. For more information about the center, please visit http://csiss.gmu.edu/.
George Mason University College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout our STEM community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating an organizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, and civility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, and perspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission and vision.

About the Position:

This position is funded by a USDA-funded research project. The primary purpose of the position is to monitor the conditions of crop, pasture, and their growth environment to support agricultural decision making with advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies.

Responsibilities:

  • Develops advanced Agro-geoinformatic algorithms for monitoring and predicting the conditions of crop, pasture, and their environment with advanced remote sensing and geospatial technologies;
  • Develops and refines algorithms and workflows for crop and pasture monitoring, modeling, prediction, and decision support and automation;
  • Supervises graduate research assistants and student interns working on the project; and
  • Publishes and disseminates research at top-tier journals and conferences.

Required Qualifications:

  • Terminal degree in a related field;
  • One-year post-Ph.D. research experience in related field at the time of appointment;
  • Research experience in agricultural remote sensing, crop and pasture modeling, or agricultural environment monitoring and prediction;
  • Knowledge of remote sensing, geospatial information systems, crop modeling and prediction, Agro-AI/ML, or agricultural digital twin; and
  • Knowledge of relevant programming skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • At least two-years post-Ph.D. research experience in related fields;
  • Track record that demonstrates the ability to work well with an interdisciplinary research team;
  • Excellent publication records;
  • Experience in large-scale earth observation analytics;
  • Experience in integrating multi-source remote sensing data with process-based or data-driven models to characterize agricultural and ecological systems;
  • Experience in applying advanced Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) methods in agriculture (Agro-AI/ML); and
  • Experience in programming with multiple languages (e.g., Java, C/C++, Python) for geospatial information systems, agro-informatic applications, agricultural monitoring and modeling, Agro-AI/ML, or digital twin.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Research Assistant Professor at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and CV for review.

Posting Open Date: January 26, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: February 9, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes


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