Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025 | February 1, 2026
Funding Amounts: Base stipend approximately $80,000 per year plus $4,000 travel allowance; supplements based on experience; typical tenure 2-3 years.
Summary: Fellowship opportunity to develop data mining and analysis tools for connected and automated vehicle traffic data to improve traffic modeling and simulation.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-U.S. citizens; postdoctoral and senior researchers eligible; located at FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, McLean, VA.
Description
This fellowship supports a Research Associate to develop advanced data mining, analysis, and visualization methodologies and tools for large trajectory datasets collected from Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Automated Driving Systems (ADS). These datasets, gathered from multiple locations including Northern Virginia, Ohio, Chicago, and Washington, DC, contain rich vehicle trajectory data capturing interactions between human drivers and Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs).
The research aims to improve understanding of human-CAV interactions, which are critical for advancing traffic flow theory and enhancing Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation (AMS) tools. The fellow will work independently and collaboratively with FHWA staff at the Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory (STOL) within the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, VA.
Key research goals include:
- Conducting literature reviews on data needs for AMS research focusing on human and CAV driving behaviors such as car following, lane selection, and lane changing.
- Developing frameworks for data mining and visualization of existing large-scale datasets.
- Applying conventional and emerging analytics to create derivative datasets.
- Creating data mining techniques and predictive models to evaluate causal relationships in human-CAV vehicle interactions.
- Integrating findings into practical analysis methodologies and tools for broader use.
Candidates with expertise in highway safety, data science, statistical modeling, geospatial data analysis, and AI/ML techniques applied to large-scale text, video, or trajectory data are highly encouraged to apply. Proficiency in statistical software such as R, SAS, and programming languages like Python and Matlab is desirable.
Due Dates
- February 1, 2025 (Early March review)
- May 1, 2025 (Early June review)
- August 1, 2025 (Early September review)
- November 1, 2025 (Early December review)
Note: If a deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it is moved to the next business day.
Funding Amount
- Base stipend: Approximately $80,000 per year
- Travel allowance: $4,000 annually
- Experience-based supplements available for postdoctoral and senior researchers
- Typical fellowship duration: 2-3 years
- Additional benefits include relocation assistance for those living more than 50 miles from the host lab and access to group health insurance for awardees and dependents in the U.S.
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-U.S. citizens (subject to agency-specific security clearance requirements)
- Education: Applicants must have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent research doctorate before starting tenure
- Career stage: Open to postdoctoral researchers (within 5 years of doctorate) and senior researchers (5+ years post doctorate or established investigators)
- Prior or current employment at the sponsoring agency or contractor may disqualify applicants; collaboration without direct affiliation is generally acceptable
- Applicants must not have current or recent prior postdoctoral fellowships sponsored by the agency
Application Process
- Identify the research opportunity and contact the Research Adviser (John Hourdos: john.hourdos@dot.gov) to discuss research plans and funding availability
- Prepare application materials including:
- Research proposal (max 10 pages) detailing problem statement, background, methodology, expected results, and significance
- Curriculum vitae, transcripts (postdocs only), and list of publications/presentations
- Letters of recommendation (minimum 3, including dissertation adviser for postdocs)
- Submit application via the NRC Research Associateship Programs online portal (Apply Now)
- Applications are reviewed by expert panels; scoring above 70 typically leads to award recommendations
- Applicants receive reviewer feedback approximately one week after review finalization
Additional Information
- The fellowship is hosted at the Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean, VA
- Research focuses on leveraging large-scale vehicle trajectory datasets to enhance traffic modeling and safety analysis
- Awardees gain access to state-of-the-art facilities and mentorship from FHWA staff
- Relocation and health insurance benefits are provided
- Security clearance may be required depending on applicant status and agency policies
External Links
Contact Information
For general questions about eligibility and application procedures, contact the NRC Research Associateship Programs office at rap@nas.edu.