Role Snapshot
Lead multidisciplinary transportation research initiatives at the Kentucky Transportation Center, directing complex projects that support local, state, and federal transportation agencies. Provide technical expertise, secure external funding, and mentor research staff to advance evidence-based solutions for transportation challenges.
Key Responsibilities: Design and oversee complex transportation research projects, supervise research scientists and technicians, develop grant proposals and secure external funding, manage data collection and analysis, and maintain relationships with transportation agency clients. Coordinate project administration, author technical reports and publications, and represent KTC at professional conferences and industry forums.
Skills & Tools: Strong leadership and personnel management abilities with exceptional technical and scientific writing skills. Proficiency with advanced research software (ArcGIS, JMP, Stata, or SAS), expertise in research design and methodology, and demonstrated ability to secure external funding with strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
Qualifications: Doctoral degree required with minimum 3 years of related research experience. Experience in transportation research, grant development, and multidisciplinary team leadership preferred.
Location: Hybrid
Compensation: $180K–$280K/yr (estimated)
Job Description
Lead Multidisciplinary Transportation Research and Advance Innovation Through Strategic Project Leadership
The University of Kentucky is seeking a Research Scientist Principal/KTC to join the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC).
This position serves as a technical specialist leading multidisciplinary transportation research initiatives that support local, state, and federal transportation agencies. The role provides leadership across multiple research projects, supervises research staff and technicians, develops innovative research methodologies, secures external funding, and strengthens partnerships with transportation organizations and clients.
What You'll Do
The University of Kentucky is seeking a Research Scientist Principal/KTC to join the Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC).
This position serves as a technical specialist leading multidisciplinary transportation research initiatives that support local, state, and federal transportation agencies. The role provides leadership across multiple research projects, supervises research staff and technicians, develops innovative research methodologies, secures external funding, and strengthens partnerships with transportation organizations and clients.
What You'll Do
- Lead the design, execution, and oversight of complex transportation research projects across a variety of subject areas.
- Supervise research scientists, technicians, and graduate students, including conducting performance reviews and providing professional guidance.
- Develop and author research reports, grant proposals, technical documentation, and academic publications.
- Lead efforts to secure external funding and manage proposal development activities.
- Oversee complex data collection, analysis, interpretation, and synthesis of research findings.
- Collaborate with research engineers and multidisciplinary teams on funded projects and new research opportunities.
- Manage client relationships and facilitate interactions between KTC and external transportation agencies and organizations.
- Coordinate project administration activities, including budgets, timesheets, travel documentation, invoices, and purchase orders.
- Represent KTC at professional conferences, research forums, and industry organizations.
What You'll Bring
- Strong leadership and personnel management skills.
- Ability to delegate responsibilities, provide direction, and hold team members accountable for performance.
- Exceptional professional, technical, and scientific writing abilities.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience developing grant proposals and pursuing external research funding.
- Expertise in research design, methodology development, data interpretation, and knowledge transfer.
- Proficiency with at least one advanced research software package such as ArcGIS, JMP, Stata, or SAS.
- Strong interpersonal, presentation, and client relationship management skills.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with researchers from multiple disciplines and backgrounds.
Minimum Requirements
- Doctoral degree
- 3 years of related research experience
What's In It for You
- Opportunity to lead impactful transportation research that helps shape transportation systems at the local, state, and national levels.
- Hybrid work eligibility, with approval.
- Professional development support, including conference attendance, training opportunities, and specialized courses.
- Access to the University of Kentucky Employee Education Program, providing tuition waivers for eligible coursework.
- Competitive healthcare, retirement, and paid time off benefits.
- Collaborate in a collegial, research-focused environment that supports innovation and professional growth.
- UK's Exceptional Benefits
Why Now?
The Kentucky Transportation Center continues to support a growing portfolio of transportation research projects that address infrastructure, safety, operations, environmental, and policy challenges facing transportation agencies. This role provides critical scientific leadership to ensure projects deliver meaningful, evidence-based outcomes for clients and stakeholders.
As KTC expands research opportunities and external partnerships, the Research Scientist Principal will play a key role in securing funding, mentoring research staff, advancing technical expertise, and strengthening the Center's reputation as a leader in transportation research and innovation.
Internal Employee Being Considered