How to Apply
Applications are being accepted through the MCareers website at https://careers.umich.edu/. Please submit the following items in one continuous document.
- A cover letter describing why you are interested in the position, the contributions you have made to your publications, any experience developing proposals for research funding, and examples of how you have worked both independently and as a member of a team.
- An academic CV detailing education, experience, publications by type, and presentations. In this document, provide separate lists for (a) peer-reviewed journal articles, (b) conference papers, and (c) other publications.
- A 1-page research statement highlighting your research experience and your goals for future research, including the primary topics you would like to pursue. Address how these align with UMTRI's research activities.
- Names and contact information for three references. If you would prefer to submit them later in the process, please mention this in your cover letter.
- Copies of 1-3 publications that best demonstrate the quality of your work.
Note: Review of applications will be conducted on a rolling basis.
Job Summary
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) is inviting applicants to apply for a full-time research faculty position as an Assistant Research Scientist. This non-tenure-track position offers the opportunity to focus on research in Mcity.
Mcity is an interdisciplinary public-private partnership bringing together industry, government, and academia to transform mobility. As part of the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), Mcity helps advance safe and efficient transportation and mobility solutions for the benefit of society.
The Mcity Test Facility is the world's first purpose-built facility for testing connected and automated vehicles and technologies under controlled, realistic conditions before trying them out in real traffic. It sits on a 32-acre site on U-M's North Campus, with more than 16 acres of roads and traffic infrastructure. The full-scale outdoor laboratory simulates the broad range of complexities vehicles encounter in urban and suburban environments, and provides the connected infrastructure and operating system to serve as a smart city test bed.
Take a quick video tour of the Mcity Test Facility at the following link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oKROZne2SY
What You'll Do
- Conduct Scholarly Research at UMTRI: Conduct scholarly research, perform experiments, coordinate activities, and analyze data related to transportation safety and mobility.
- Collaboration: Work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team that includes engineers, psychologists, statisticians, behavioral scientists and research staff.
- Project Leadership: Lead and manage projects funded by government, industry, and other sponsors, ensuring timely and successful completion.
- Grant Writing and Funding: Write proposals to secure funding for research projects and contribute to the financial sustainability of the research group.
- Publication and Dissemination: Write reports, publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, and present results at scientific conferences and meetings.
- Mentorship and Supervision: Mentor and supervise post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, undergraduate students, and research staff.
- Student Engagement: Student engagement is highly encouraged and may involve supervision of paid student research assistants, participating as mentors in formal U-M student research programs (UROP, SURE, MDP), or other mentoring activities. UMTRI recently initiated a program where faculty can supplement their salary by offering students experiential learning opportunities, as well as accrue additional backstop funding.
- Professional Committees and Affiliations: Many faculty actively participate in professional organizations, and assistant level faculty members are asked to serve on one UMTRI administrative committee.
You will also support Dr. Henry Liu on several key projects including the Smart Intersection Project (SIP) and AACE 2.0.
The Smart Intersections Project (SIP) aims to develop an infrastructure-assisted cooperative driving automation testbed to accelerate connected and automated vehicle (CAV) deployment. You will play a crucial role in this project by developing, integrating, and testing the smart intersection applications to ensure seamless operation and performance. You will also conduct thorough data analysis and derive meaningful performance measures.
AACE 2.0 is a $9.8 million federal grant that will focus on the deployment of cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) technology, enabling a new generation of cars to exchange safety enhancing data with the world around them. This project will update one of the largest connected vehicle pilots in the world with the latest connected vehicle and infrastructure technologies. You will support Dr. Henry Liu on systems engineering and design as well as data collection, management, and analysis.
Who We Are
Michigan Engineers are world-class educators, researchers, students and staff who strive to build a people-first future. As part of a top national public research institution, Michigan Engineering's mission is to provide scientific and technological leadership to the people of the world, develop intellectually curious and socially conscious minds, create collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promote an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
- Generous time off
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
- Maternity and Parental Leave
Required Qualifications*
- A Ph.D. in Civil, Electrical, Industrial, Mechanical Engineering or Computer Science.
- 3-5 years of research experience related to connected vehicle technology (V2X) or advanced vehicle systems engineering.
- Demonstrated potential for scholarly development, an academic record of peer-reviewed publications in which they are a primary author or co-author, and provide evidence of participation in relevant academic or professional meetings.
- Demonstrated potential to develop successful proposals for research funding, from government, foundation, and industry sponsors.
- Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams.
- Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.
*Some funding sources are subject to export control restrictions. Please note that these projects will require US Citizenship or permanent residency to work with export-controlled material.
Desired Qualifications*
- Previous experience or interest in requirements and/or evaluation methods; cooperative and autonomous driving, vehicular networks; sensor networks; cloud computing; wireless networks and communications; system use impacts on safety or efficiency; interdisciplinary collaboration; and/or data science including AI.
- Interest in providing hands-on experiential learning opportunities for students.
- Research experience in an area of relevance to UMTRI's mission. Prior research at UMTRI has addressed, among other areas: driver behavior and performance, crash data analysis, occupant protection, automated vehicle technologies, driver trust/acceptance of assistance technology, human body modeling, traffic modeling, connected vehicles, transportation policy and legislation, and occupant ergonomics (see http://umtri.umich.edu/). We also welcome expertise in other mobility topics with research growth potential.
- A record of both independent and collaborative research based on extramural funding.
Modes of Work
This position is classified as onsite. Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
Located in southeast Michigan, Ann Arbor is a vibrant university town, technology and innovation hotspot, and culinary center with an active downtown scene. Frequently voted the best place to live in Michigan, Ann Arbor blends the charm of the U.S. midwest with multicultural influences from around the globe. Ann Arbor is approximately a 45 minute drive from Detroit, a 4 hour drive from Chicago, and is in close proximity to the North American Great Lakes, which are beautiful and popular spring, summer, and fall destinations.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.