Research Faculty

Job Description

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) conducts research to save lives, time, and money and protect the environment. As one of six premier research institutes created by Virginia Tech to solve national challenges, VTTI continually advances transportation through innovation and has influenced public policy on national and international levels. This position provides a hands‑on opportunity to work with cutting‑edge vehicle and roadway lighting technologies through systematic deployment and testing.

Watch this video to learn more about what it’s like to work at VTTI! ()

VTTI seeks a qualified and ambitious researcher with a strong background in either Engineering/Psychology with Lighting or Visibility specialization and Human Factors experience or Engineering/Statistics with safety analysis and/or transportation safety specialization. Candidates may hold degrees in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Human Factors, etc. The ideal candidate is an experienced researcher capable of supporting as a Research Associate or leading research projects as a Senior Research Associate and working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams to improve transportation safety through cutting‑edge research.

Position is open rank for either Research Associate or Senior Research Associate, with rank assigned based on the successful candidate’s experience.

• Assist in the development of proposals and research plans
• Research and assist in the composition of literature reviews
• Help organize, attend, and participate in project meetings
• Assist with the conceptualization and creation of work plans, protocols, and procedures
• Coordinate and collaborate with subcontractors and interface with stakeholders and sponsors as required
• Analyze data including preparing SAS, MATLAB, ArcGIS, and SQL analyses
• Interpret results and develop robust conclusions

• Work with peers, research assistants, undergrad students, technicians and support staff to coordinate project tasks
• Must be able to work effectively independently with oversight as well as within multidisciplinary project teams as appropriate

• Act as Principal Investigator on funded research projects
• Lead the development of proposals, research plans, and composition of literature reviews
• Write, review, and critique proposals, research plans, and final reports
• Organize, attend, and participate in project meetings
• Conceptualize and write work plans
• Manage project activities and execution of research plan
• Respond to requests for proposal and obtain funding with the goal of providing sustainable support for themselves and other researchers
• Maintain existing sponsor relationships, develop new relationships with potential sponsors, and solicit research funding
• Analyze data including preparing SAS, MATLAB, ArcGIS, and SQL analyses
• Present research findings
• Collaborate and participate in industry conferences, seminars and committees
• Collaborate on research studies as needed
• Present and publish research findings

• Independently perform most assignments with instructions as to the general results expected
• Receive technical guidance on unusual or complex problems and supervisory approval on proposed plans for projects
• Supervise students, junior researchers and wage employees as needed

• Research Associate rank: master’s degree in Engineering/Statistics with safety analysis and/or transportation safety specialization, including but not limited to degrees in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Human Factors, etc.
• Senior Research Associate rank:
  PhD in Engineering/Statistics with safety analysis and/or transportation safety specialization, including but not limited to degrees in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, Human Factors, etc. (candidates with an advanced degree and significant experience in lieu of PhD may be considered)

• Excellent communications and organizational skills
• Strong experience in transportation…