Title: Associate Research Scientist or Research Scientist
Position Description:
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) seeks to hire a special individual to take a leadership role in the Infrastructure Investment Analysis program and, thereby, a leadership role in developing innovative transportation funding solutions.
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute, created in 1950, is the world’s largest university-based transportation research institute with more than $52 million in annual sponsored research. The Infrastructure Investment Analysis (IIA) program within TTI is just one year old but has already become the preeminent source of information and analysis for policymakers on transportation funding and finance issues and the economic impact of transportation investments. Within the past year alone, the IIA program has taken a lead role in major analysis projects involving financial, funding, and economic impact analysis of highways, high speed passenger rail, freight rail, port expansion, the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway, and airports. In addition, the IIA program provides ongoing analysis for key legislative committees in the areas of transportation funding and finance, economic impact assessment, and policy. Further, the Texas Legislature recently funded the Transportation Policy Center as a part of TTI to provide policy and analytical support to members of the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate in general and the House Transportation and Senate Homeland Security and Transportation Committees specifically. Transportation finance is one of the five major analytical areas of the Center and will be led primarily by the IIA program.
The successful candidate will have demonstrated ability to conduct policy and financial analysis in support of various forms of transportation finance and funding methods including public/private partnerships, equity finance, traditional public finance, road pricing, managed lanes, toll facilities and other road user fees.
Essential to this position is the ability to work in a team environment along with skills necessary to develop the independent conception, design and implementation of research projects within a major, multifaceted research program. The successful candidate will provide oversight and leadership of self-initiated research projects, author or co-author of reports, proposals, and scholarly publications based on original research. Continued employment in this position is contingent upon availability of funding and satisfactory performance.
Essential Duties:
- Serve as a key member of the Infrastructure Investment Analysis Program team. Help lead research efforts in the areas of transportation funding and finance, public/private partnerships in transportation, equity finance of transportation projects, and the socio-economic impact of transportation projects. IIA research constituents typically include the Texas Legislature, state departments of transportation, regional and local public transportation planning agencies, state and federal agencies, and the private sector.
- Timely and accurate response to IIA constituents is a must.
- Prepare written reports and other correspondence.
- Interaction with sponsors and potential clients.
- Develop and deliver presentations.
- Proposal preparation.
- Other duties as assigned.
Position Requirements:
The position requires a Master’s degree (Doctorate preferred) in macro-economics, finance, business, policy analysis or related field. Must have infrastructure-related experience in public finance, transportation finance, or policy analysis.
General familiarity with demographic, economic, and financial forecasting techniques is important. Must have critical and creative thinking skills to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Must be detail orientated and thorough in completing work tasks.