Assistant Research Professor, The Larson Transportation Institute
Transportation Infrastructure Sensing, AI, and Material Engineering
The Pennsylvania State University
The Larson Transportation Institute in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for an Assistant Research Professor, The Larson Transportation Institute in transportation infrastructure engineering. The successful candidate will have expertise in transportation infrastructure sensing, nondestructive evaluation, pavement and railroad infrastructure characterization, infrastructure health monitoring, and data-driven modeling using machine learning and artificial intelligence. The candidate will contribute to multidisciplinary research projects funded by NSF, USDOT, FRA, NCHRP, and state DOTs, and will assist in research coordination activities within the Rail Center for Research Enhancing Shortline Transportation (Rail CREST).
The anticipated start date is June 2026.
Minimum Qualifications
Candidates should meet the following requirements:
Terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D.) in Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering, or a closely related field
Demonstrated research experience in transportation infrastructure sensing, pavement, and/or railroad engineering, and infrastructure health monitoring
Experience in instrumentation, field monitoring, and nondestructive testing of infrastructure systems
Experience with data analysis, machine learning, or artificial intelligence modeling
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams
Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates with experience in:
Embedded sensing technologies and field instrumentation
Pavement and railroad infrastructure monitoring
Finite element modeling and mechanistic analysis
Machine learning and data-driven infrastructure evaluation
Nondestructive testing (FWD, GPR, sensors, etc.)
Experience working with state DOT or federally funded research projects
Experience supervising students and coordinating research activities
Key Responsibilities
The Assistant Research Professor will:
Conduct and lead research on sensing-enabled infrastructure monitoring, pavement and rail material characterization, and AI-based modeling and evaluation. Assist the Principal Investigator (PI) in developing competitive research proposals and pursuing funding opportunities from federal agencies, state DOTs, and industry partners. Assist in managing and coordinating research activities within the Rail CREST Center, including collaboration with faculty, students, and external partners. Supervise and mentor graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and research staff, supporting their technical and professional development. Assist the PI in conducting and coordinating multi-institutional research projects funded by NSF, FRA, USDOT, NCHRP, and state DOTs. Collaborate with interdisciplinary research teams and industry partners to advance project objectives. Prepare high-quality technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations. Contribute to outreach, workforce development, and technology transfer activities associated with research projects and center activities.
Application Materials
Interested candidates should submit:
Curriculum Vitae Statement of research interests and career goals
Three sample publications demonstrating the applicant’s most relevant and recent research experience
Names and contact information for at least three references
Candidates are encouraged to contact:
Dr. Shihui Shen
Pennsylvania State University
Email: szs20@psu.edu
Please include " Assistant Research Professor, The Larson Transportation Institute " in the subject line.
