TREC Research Assistant

Position Summary

The Research Assistant position is responsible for assisting the TREC Director, Research Associates, and Program Managers in carrying out applied research projects, including the following:

• Conducting literature reviews, including identifying and synthesizing existing research from a wide range of sources (academic journals, government reports, websites, etc.)
• Gathering data using a predetermined protocol through a variety of methods, including surveys, observation (in-person and video), interviews, focus groups, and secondary sources.
• Performing basic qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis.
• Gathering materials and information and preparing regular status reports to funding agencies.
• Drafting and editing reports and articles on research projects.
• Managing simple websites for projects that communicate project activities and outputs.
• Gathering materials to assist in preparing research funding proposals.

Essential Job Functions

Assist at large in-person TREC events, including set-up, registration, and clean-up. Staff information table at events.

Other Job Functions

Conduct literature reviews, gather data, perform data analysis, draft and edit reports, manage websites, and assist in preparing research funding proposals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a field directly related to transportation planning, policy, or engineering.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to plan and manage multiple projects to meet critical deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral) with a wide range of people and organizations.
• Collaborative. Ability to work as part of a team.
• Flexible. Ability to adjust work tasks and deadlines to meet changing priorities.
• Experience with Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites, and Calendar; Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; and Adobe Acrobat.
• Knowledge of key multimodal transportation concepts.
• Experience with descriptive statistics and bivariate statistical analysis (e.g., t-tests, Chi-square).
• Experience creating tables and graphs to display quantitative data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in data collection, including survey administration, interviews, and/or focus groups.
• Experience conducting literature reviews for research.
• Experience with data analysis and visualization software, such as R, SPSS, Tableau, etc.

Key Cultural Competencies

• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.
• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.
• Sets opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement.
• Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental Stewardship

Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement

Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be $68,016 at 1.0 FTE, but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR. An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.

Application Instructions

Please provide a writing sample that includes at least one of the following elements: review of existing research; explanation of research methods; analysis of data (qualitative or quantitative); policy evaluation; or historical documentation and analysis. This may be a document written for a university course or in a professional setting. If the sample is co-authored, the applicant should clearly explain what they were responsible for. If AI was used in preparing or editing the writing sample, please explain how. This is an in-person on campus position. Up to one day remote, after training period and with the approval of the supervisor.