Assistant Research Professor, The Larson Transportation Institute

About the role

The Pennsylvania State University's Larson Transportation Institute in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering invites applications for an Assistant Research Professor position focusing on transportation infrastructure sensing, nondestructive evaluation, pavement and railroad infrastructure characterization, infrastructure health monitoring, and data-driven modeling using machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Conduct and lead research on sensing-enabled infrastructure monitoring, pavement and rail material characterization, and AI-based modeling and evaluation.
• Aid the Principal Investigator (PI) in developing competitive research proposals and securing funding from federal agencies, state DOTs, and industry partners.
• Assist in managing and coordinating research activities within the Rail CREST Center, including collaboration with faculty, students, and external partners.
• Supervise and mentor graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and research staff, supporting their technical and professional development.
• Aid the PI in conducting and coordinating multi-institutional research projects funded by NSF, FRA, USDOT, NCHRP, and state DOTs.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary research teams and industry partners to advance project objectives.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations.
• Contribute to outreach, workforce development, and technology transfer activities associated with research projects and center activities.

Requirements

• Term position with an anticipated start date of June 2026.
• Minimum qualifications include a terminal degree in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or a closely related field, demonstrated research experience in transportation infrastructure sensing, pavement, and/or railroad engineering, and infrastructure health monitoring.
• Preferred qualifications include experience in embedded sensing technologies and field instrumentation, pavement and railroad infrastructure monitoring, finite element modeling and mechanistic analysis, machine learning and data-driven infrastructure evaluation, and nondestructive testing.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

• Expertise in transportation infrastructure sensing, nondestructive evaluation, pavement and railroad infrastructure characterization, infrastructure health monitoring, and data-driven modeling using machine learning and artificial intelligence.
• Experience in instrumentation, field monitoring, and nondestructive testing of infrastructure systems.
• Experience with data analysis, machine learning, or artificial intelligence modeling.
• Experience working with state DOT or federally funded research projects.
• Experience supervising students and coordinating research activities.

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. This includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, robust retirement plans, and a 75% tuition discount available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.