Research Scholar, Roadway Safety

About the role

The Research Scholar position will lead and manage multidisciplinary transportation safety research initiatives focused on reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries through data-driven analysis, implementation support, and stakeholder collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Developing and managing project scopes, schedules, budgets, staffing plans, and deliverables.
• Leading or supporting proposal preparation activities, including technical writing, budgeting, coordination with partners, and sponsor engagement.
• Supervising, mentoring, and coordinating the work of research staff, graduate students, and student assistants.
• Conducting and overseeing quantitative analyses using crash data, exposure metrics, roadway inventory data, vehicle telematics, operational data, and related transportation datasets.
• Developing analytical methods, tools, and performance measures to evaluate roadway safety strategies and initiatives.
• Applying rigorous analytical approaches to identify systemic risk factors associated with roadway design, road user behavior, vehicle performance, and post-crash care.
• Supporting implementation of Safe System and Vision Zero principles through evidence-based practice and cross-sector collaboration.
• Coinciding with transportation agencies, local governments, law enforcement, public health professionals, consultants, and other stakeholders.
• Translating technical findings into actionable guidance, recommendations, reports, and presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Evaluating the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost-benefit of proposed safety interventions and operational strategies.
• Supporting the development of technical guidance documents, research publications, training materials, and implementation resources.
• Represent the organization in meetings, workshops, conferences, and professional committees as appropriate.
• Contribute to the strategic growth and development of transportation safety research programs and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, transportation planning, public administration, economics, data analytics, or a related field, along with at least five years of relevant research or professional experience in transportation safety, transportation operations, or related disciplines.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Experience leading or supporting sponsored research projects.
• Experience coordinating multidisciplinary teams and stakeholder groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience supervising or mentoring staff and/or students.
• Technical proficiency in quantitative analysis and transportation data evaluation.
• Experience independently developing technical reports, presentations, and deliverables.
• Experience interacting with clients or external partners.