TTI Research Scientist

Job Title

TTI Research Scientist

Agency

Texas A&M Transportation Institute

Department

Travel Analysis Program

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 reserved for an individual whose accomplishments reflect scientific and professional achievement recognized beyond immediate peers/colleagues. Incumbent in this position will perform design, coordination, supervision, evaluation, and quality-control of research projects of significant scope and importance. The incumbent is expected to PI on self-initiated research projects, develop new research initiatives, contribute to strategic research goals, provide coordination and leadership of more junior research staff on specific projects, and obtain and maintain extramurally funded research projects with minimum supervision.  Continuation in this position is contingent upon availability of funding derived from research program or specific projects.

Essential Duties:

Conduct Research and Perform Data Analysis (90%)

• Conduct research on travel surveys, travel demand modeling, transportation planning, and other related areas.

• Process, reduce, and analyze travel survey data, passive probe-based data or other data as needed.

• Coordinate data gathering activities and gather data needed for project tasks.

• Synthesize data and extract meaningful statistics to support travel demand modeling, transportation planning studies and transportation policy analysis.

• Analyze existing techniques/methods and develop potentially new techniques, methods, policies, procedures, and recommendations relative to travel surveys and travel demand modeling.

• Develop and maintain cloud-based tools to support Big Data management, processing, applications and visualization.

• Develop new modeling tools to analyze travel demand and land use.

• Ensure the completion of research objectives and timely delivery of high-quality project deliverables.

• Compile, document, and present results in formats required for inclusion in reports, technical memoranda, and presentations. Prepare technical documentation, including 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. Prepare and give presentations to existing and potential sponsors, academic settings, or conference setting. Schedule, prepare, conduct, and document project meetings with sponsors.

Train and mentor junior research staff (4%) Act as PI. (2%) Business Development (3%)

• Develop and maintain relationships with sponsors, including non-traditional ones.

• Proactively brainstorm, develop and present innovative project ideas and concepts and research needs statements to potential sponsors.

• Identify opportunities to ventures outside the realm of transportation where new business opportunities may exist for TTI.

• Build potential teaming relationships with other partners.

• Lead and assist in effective proposal preparation to potential sponsors.

• Identify and pursue independent research funding opportunities. Independently maintain or contribute to extramurally funded research.

Other non-essential duties as deemed necessary (1%)

Required Education and Experience:

• Masters degree in related field – civil engineering/statistics/urban planning.

• 8 years related work experience. The candidate must have progressively demonstrated experience in transportation modeling and traffic/travel data collection/analysis. Experience in the use of passive data to support travel demand modeling and/or specific stages is a must.

Preferred Licenses or Certifications:

• PE license

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities and Competencies:

Required: Special expertise in one or more areas of the following items:

• Experience in the development, calibration, and application of travel demand, dynamic traffic assignment and traffic simulation models.

• Experience and knowledge in OD analysis.

• Experience with TransCAD, Cube/Voyager, DTALite/DynusT, VISUM/VISSIM and TransModeler.

• Experience with programming languages: Cube/Voyager, GISDK, C++, Python, R, and SQL.

• Ability to learn and use HTML to develop web-pages and web-based tools.

• Experience with other engineering applications: ArcGIS, AutoCAD, MicroStation, MATLAB.

• Experience with Big-Data research and applications in transportation areas.

• Strong skills in statistics and data analytics.

• Experience and knowledge of Dynamic Traffic Assignment (DTA) Model Development Using DTALite, DynusT or PTV modeling tool.

• Experience and knowledge of land use data and demographic information development.

• Knowledge of traffic count data collection programs and standards.

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.