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Research Associate for JTL Urban Mobility/Transit Lab
  • Job Number: 21855
  • Functional Area: Research - Other
  • Department: Urban Studies & Planning
  • School Area: Architecture & Planning
  • Employment Type: Part-Time
  • Employment Category: Exempt
  • Visa Sponsorship Available: Yes
  • Schedule:


Posting Description

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE FOR JTL URBAN MOBILITY/TRANSIT LAB, Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) (2 openings), to manage and run sponsored research programs and advise graduate students on related projects.  Responsibilities include managing the research group’s contracts and deliverables with research sponsors (e.g., public transit agencies, industry consortia); writing and publishing industry reports and academic papers; leading the development of proposals for funding internal and external to MIT; advising undergraduate and graduate students; and performing other duties as needed. 

The JTL/Urban Mobility/Transit Lab is an interdisciplinary research group that brings data analytics, behavioral science, and transportation technology together to shape travel behavior, design mobility systems, and improve transportation policies. A particular focus of the group is public transit agencies around operations, data analytics, customer behavior, policy, and planning. Professor Jinhua Zhao leads the research group as well as the wider MIT Mobility Initiative, which facilitates innovative mobility-focused research collaborations across the institute.  

Job Requirements

REQUIRED: at least three years’ experience in civil/transportation engineering, urban planning, computer science, operations research, or a related field by the start of the appointment; master’s degree or higher in civil/traffic engineering, urban planning, computer science, operations research, or a related field; experience with spatial and network analysis, optimization, machine learning, statistical, econometric, or other relevant methods; ability to scop and deliver projects in or for public-sector transportation agencies; research interests focused on transit-centric topics, including transit policy, planning and operations improvement strategies, and/or complementary active mode or new mobility services; and experience presenting research findings at industry conferences or through academic publications.  Job #21855


revised 6/28/23