Transportation Research Assistant

Updated: 17 days ago
Location: Blacksburg, VIRGINIA
Deadline: ; Open until filled

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)

Job duties include:
• Support the execution of research experiments on VTTI’s Smart Road or other facilities, some of which are conducted in the evenings (~20%)
• Assist with basic data analysis including preparing summary statistics (e.g., averages, minimum and maximum, standard deviations)
• Assist with the design and documentation of research protocols to ensure experiments are completed in a safe and controlled manner
• Work with participants to gather data according to the research protocol
• Prepare the Smart Road or related facilities and vehicles for experiments
• Travel to off-site locations to manage data collection and execute research protocols (5 - 10% travel)
• Assist with project documentation including the development of interim and final reports, PowerPoint decks presented to clients, and grant proposals
• Perform other duties in support of conducting research projects.

Directions Given and Received: This is a fast-paced research environment so excellent candidates must work with little supervision. May eventually supervise, coordinate and train junior experimental staff and students.

This position is unable to support work Visas.