TTI Assistant Research Scientist

Job Title

TTI Assistant Research Scientist

Agency

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Department

Advanced Transportation Operations

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Bryan, Texas

Job Type

Faculty

Job Description

Who are we?

The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) is an agency of the State of Texas and member of The Texas A&M University System. For 70 years, TTI has addressed complex transportation challenges and opportunities with innovation, objectivity, and unmatched technical expertise. Our staff delivers excellence, value and thought leadership to ensure our research sponsors achieve their goals.

Our Mission and Vision

Our Vision - TTI leads in the creation of knowledge that transforms transportation for the benefit of society.

Our Mission - TTI delivers practical, innovative and sustainable solutions to improve the movement of people, data and goods through research, education and technology transfer.

Our Work Environment

Entrepreneurial culture

Affiliation with Texas A&M University students and faculty

Ability to work with nationally recognized experts

Ability to help train the next generation of transportation professionals

Premier office and research facilities and equipment

Accredited laboratories and safety proving ground

Outstanding research support services

Hybrid work environment/telecommuting

Flexible work hours

Family friendly

High staff retention rates

Leadership development and wellness programs

Data allowance and home office equipment reimbursements

Relocation assistance (if eligible)

Tuition reimbursement program (if eligible)

Our Employee Benefits

TTI employees can choose from several health coverage options offered by The Texas A&M University System for themselves and their families, as well as numerous other benefit programs.

https://www.tamus.edu/business/benefits-administration/

What you need to know

• TTI is a Texas based agency. This position has the flexibility of a hybrid remote option with two days in a TTI Texas based office. This can be discussed further during the interview process.

• The salary range for position is commensurate. Final salary will be determined based on the applicant's qualifications and experience.

Job Summary:

This position is expected to serve and contribute as a significant lead in project and proposal work efforts.  Has an understanding of principles of quality and unbiased research. Completes projects on-time with completed deliverables. Conducts research following safety practices and guidelines. Understands rules, policies, and regulation of TTI, TAMUS, and IRB. Participate in technology transfer and implementation. Employee will be responsible for managing current contracts as well as submission of new proposals, composing various reports and white papers, presenting deliverables and study reports, overseeing graduate students and other personnel,  and inter- program coordination and project management. Continued employment in this position is contingent upon availability of funding and satisfactory performance.

Essential Duties:

• Execute oversight and leadership of research projects. (20%)

• Applied research duties, including data collection, analysis, coordination, and supervision: Plan, schedule, coordinate, and report detailed phases of research and development projects. Evaluate and document data collection requirements and activities. Coordinate data gathering activities and gather data needed for research tasks. Assemble, organize, document, and archive datasets. Synthesize data and extract meaningful statistics and trends. Develop and/or run applications to conduct the research. Analyze and develop potential new techniques, policies, procedures, and recommendations. Conduct the necessary literature review and background information search to support techniques and methodologies used, as well as documenting past research for reporting purposes. (40%)

• Actively seek and obtain externally funded research projects, performing work on basic and applied technology problems, and participate in research proposals serving as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI. (10%)

• Report preparation: Compile, document, and present results in formats required for inclusion in reports, technical memoranda, and presentations. Prepare technical documentation, including literature reviews, data collection, analysis, and summaries. Prepare project reports and other deliverables as required. Prepare materials for presentation of research results and other deliverables at technical meetings or other venues and to sponsors. (10%)

• Research presentations: Prepare and give presentations to existing and potential sponsors, academic settings, or conference settings. Prepare, schedule, conduct, and document research meetings. (7.5%)

• Assist with the overall direction and management, which includes the day-to-day supervision, planning, administration, evaluation, and implementation of the division/program's research functions. Manage, communicate, and coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams comprising research staff, graduate and undergraduate students, and support staff to ensure the completion of research objectives and timely delivery of high-quality project deliverables. (2.5%)

• Interact with sponsors and potential clients. (5%)

• Provides oversight and direction to student employees and junior staff. (2.5%)

• Other non-essential duties as assigned. (2.5%)

Required Education and Experience:

• Master’s Degree

• 3 years of related professional experience

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies:

• Quality Research/Technical Work - Must be a recognized expert in area. Must be able to direct research of significant scope. Responsible for selecting team, liaising with sponsor, manage project deliverable schedules, conceptualize deliverables, and ultimately responsible for successful completion of projects.

• Salary Coverage - Must be able to cover own salary plus supervise team members in area of expertise/develop research opportunities for junior team members. Expected to contribute to Program and Division Management expenses. Must be able to maintain a sustainable, focused research program.

• Technical Skills - Keep technical skills relevant/updated and learn new skills. Adapt to changing technology needs/working environment. Author, co-author papers. Able to present work/projects in technical and professional settings. Participate in professional societies - member of TRB committee etc.

• Marketing and Promoting Research/Technical Work - Must be able to identify sponsor opportunities, liaise with sponsors, write proposals. Must have recognition and ability to network to develop multi agency proposals.

• Business Development - Forward thinking and taking initiatives to find opportunities that are coming down the pipeline. Able to see those opportunities and be proactive and leverage those opportunities.  Expands sphere of  influence. Project results impact research mission; results are visible/impactful in peer community.

• Teamwork - Lead and motivate teams/set standards for effective collaboration. Resolves disputes/conflicts in research approaches. Maintains professional collaborative relationships with peers.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PE license in Texas

• High interest in any of the following topics:

  • Autonomous Vehicles

  • Connected Vehicles / Infrastructure

  • New Technologies / Innovation

  • Artificial Intelligence

  • Traffic Signals

  • Real-Time Operations

  • Real-World Pilots and Deployments

  • Simulation

  • Programming

  • Large-scale data analytics

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.