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Position Summary:
The Center for Truck and Bus Safety ( CTBS ) within the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute ( VTTI ) seeks qualified, ambitious researchers with a strong interest in transportation human factors engineering.
CTBS projects range in scope including: on-road and static testing of in-vehicle technology, including autonomous driving systems ( ADS ); research support for large-scale naturalistic data collection efforts; analysis of naturalistic data; test and evaluation of systems, methods, and procedures aimed at improving transportation safety; simulator driving studies; driver-health projects; re-analysis of previously collected research data; presentation of findings. The focus of CTBS is on heavy vehicle operations; within this domain, the applicant must be interested in improving transportation safety and be willing to work on multiple projects in a fast-paced research environment.
Candidates should be capable of working independently, and as part of multidisciplinary teams.
Duties and responsibilities will include:
- Independently evaluates, selects, and applies standard human factors research techniques, procedures, and criteria, using judgment in making adaptations and modifications
- Conceives, plans, and conducts research in problem areas of considerable scope and complexity
- Contributes to research conceptualization, proposal development, and resource acquisition
- Receives limited instructions on specific assignment objectives, complex features, and possible solutions
- Serves as a technical specialist In CTBS in the application of advanced theories, concepts, principles, and processes for an assigned area of responsibility (i.e., subject matter expert, evaluation of a function, facility, equipment, or product)
- Keeps abreast of new scientific methods and developments affecting the organization for the purpose of recommending changes in emphasis of programs or new programs warranted by such developments
- Interacts with current and future clients and obtains new points of contact for future research
- Develop new programs and leads new project proposals
- Plans, organizes, supervises, and evaluates the work of other staff, and students.
- Manages multiple projects and budgets
-Most office hours are daytime Monday through Friday, but must be available and willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet project/proposal deadlines
-Travel (estimated to be 25% of time)
Directions given and received:
-Supervision from Center and CTBS Group Leaders, providing support as needed. Expectation is that candidate will serve as a research lead on multiple projects. Candidate will require excellent communication skills to manage staff to ensure successfully execution of project work plans.

Required Qualifications:
-Ph.D. in Human Factors related field (e.g., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Experimental Psychology); M.S. in Human Factors related field, with significant related experience, will be considered. In lieu of degree, an exception for a lesser degree with significant related experience will be considered.
- Experience conducting empirical studies with human subjects and using statistical program packages (e.g., SAS , MatLab, R).
-Strong communication skills (both oral and written), with history of published articles and technical presentations.
-Previous experience with contract research, including proposal development
-Strong organizational skills and proven ability to lead research efforts
- Able to contribute in a leadership role to a fast-paced, flexible research environment

Preferred Qualifications:
Previous experience in transportation research; previous research pertaining to commercial vehicle operations is a plus.



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