Senior Research Associate

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 answer national challenges, VTTI is continually advancing transportation through innovation and has affected 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! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nj4VWviw5JA )

VTTI seeks qualified, ambitious senior researchers with a PhD in Engineering/Psychology with Lighting or Visibility specialization and Human Factors experience (candidates with a lesser degree and significant experience in lieu of PhD may be considered). The ideal candidate will have an aptitude for solving complex problems through applications of advanced research and development techniques, and conduct research and publish results in an ethical manner. Performance at this level requires significant experience in a professional position or equivalent graduate level education. Candidate have shown capabilities in leading research projects and working collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams to improve transportation safety through cutting edge research.

Duties and responsibilities:
• Independently plans, schedules, conducts, or coordinates detailed tasks as part of major transportation related Illumination, Visibility and Human Factors engineering projects.
• Performs work that involves engineering practice but may include a variety of complex features such as conflicting design requirements, unsuitability of conventional technology, and difficult coordination requirements.
• Leads and contributes to research conceptualization, proposal development, and resource acquisition.
• Prepares and/or oversees literature reviews.
• Interprets findings, prepares reports, and presents/publishes research,
• Interfacing directly with sponsors to understand requirements and deliver technical presentations.
• Maintains existing sponsor relationships, develops new relationships with potential sponsors, and solicits research funding.
• Work will primarily consider lighting, visibility and intersection related projects for transportation systems.
• Work requires a broad knowledge of precedents in the specialty area and a good knowledge of and practices of lighting application, visibility assessment and visual requirements.

Assignments include:
• Acting as Principal Investigator on funded research projects.
• Managing sponsor outreach and developing funding channels
• Write, review, and critique proposals, research plans, and final reports.
• Organize, attend, and participate in project meetings.
• Conceptualize and write work plans, protocols, and procedures
• Manage project activities and execution of research plan.
• Analyze data including preparing SAS, Matlab, ArcGIS and SQL analyses.
• Present research findings
• Collaborates on research studies as needed

Directions given and received:
• Independently performs most assignments with instructions as to the general results expected.
• Receives technical guidance on unusual or complex problems and supervisory approval on proposed plans for projects.