RESEARCH ASST PROFESSOR/ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST

How to Apply

Applications are being accepted through the MCareers website at https://careers.umich.edu/. Submissions can only be accepted as one continuous PDF document.

• A cover letter describing which rank(s) you are interested in applying for, Research Assistant Professor or Assistant Research Scientist, and why you are interested in the position(s). The cover letter should also include the contributions you have made to your publications, any experience developing proposals for research funding, and examples of how you have worked both independently and as a member of a team.
• An academic CV detailing education, experience, publications by type, and presentations. In this document, provide separate lists for (a) peer-reviewed journal articles, (b) conference papers, and (c) other publications.
• A 1-page research statement highlighting your research experience and your goals for future research, including the primary topics you would like to pursue. Address how these align with UMTRI's research activities.
• Names and contact information for three references. If you would prefer to submit them later in the process, please mention this in your cover letter.
• Copies of 1-3 publications that best demonstrate the quality of your work. Be sure these are attached with items 1-4 above as one continuous PDF document.

Note: Review of applications will be conducted on a rolling basis.

Who We Are

At Michigan Engineering, we develop the talent and technologies that move society forward and serve our state and national interests. Through discovery and innovation, we create the foundational knowledge and practical technologies to solve not only today's most pressing challenges, but also power industries and change lives. Our programs and community are designed to promote personal well-being and achievement - enabling everyone to unlock their potential and contribute with confidence.

Job Summary

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) is inviting qualified applicants to apply for a full-time open-rank research faculty position. Candidates will be considered for appointment as a Research Assistant Professor or an Assistant Research Scientist, based on qualifications and experience. Final appointment rank, title, and salary will be determined at the time of offer and will be commensurate with the candidate's credentials, including academic background, research accomplishments, publication record, funding experience, and alignment with UMTRI and University of Michigan appointment criteria.

This non-tenure-track position offers the opportunity to focus on research in the Engineering Systems Group (ESG) at UMTRI. The position is supported by the Mcity 2.0 Project and will work closely with the PI on developing an agentic world model to advance autonomous vehicle (AV) testing and evaluation. The role includes co-supervision and mentorship of students and postdoctoral researchers in the Mobility Transformation Lab, contributing to research direction, project execution, and research dissemination. The successful candidate will bring deep expertise in generative AI and foundation models, with a strong focus on their application to AV safety, scenario generation, and safety validation methodologies for autonomous driving systems.

We are seeking individuals who are interested in a long-term commitment to UMTRI and who will contribute to the excellence and diversity of our research efforts. The successful candidate would be required to live in or relocate to Southeastern Michigan.

Follow the link below to learn more about the projects and research conducted at UMTRI:

https://www.umtri.umich.edu/research/

Responsibilities*

• A Ph.D. in Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, Industrial, Transportation or Automotive Engineering
• Deep technical expertise in generative AI and foundation AI models
• Demonstrated experience with working with autonomous vehicle testing and safety validation of autonomous vehicles.
• Track record of collaboration on multi-stakeholder research projects (e.g., industry/government/academic consortia).
• Evidence of scholarly impact in relevant areas (e.g., peer-reviewed publications in AI/ML, robotics, AV testing/validation, or safety).
• Mentoring and/or supervisory experience with graduate students and/or postdoctoral researchers (co-supervision in a lab setting preferred).
• Strong programming and prototyping skills (e.g., Python) and fluency with modern ML tooling (e.g., PyTorch/JAX, experiment tracking, distributed training basics).
• Knowledge of autonomy stacks and AV simulation ecosystems (e.g., CARLA, LGSVL/SVL, SUMO, ROS2) and/or equivalent internal platforms.
• Ability to lead research directions and translate open-ended goals into executable plans (roadmaps, deliverables, timelines).
• Strong communication skills for research dissemination (papers, presentations, proposals) and cross-disciplinary teamwork.
• Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States.

Additional criteria for the Research Assistant Professor rank includes a strong local and growing national scholarly reputation on the basis of research productivity and contributions over several years, a record of peer-reviewed publications, and participation in relevant academic or professional meetings.

Additional criteria for the Assistant Research Scientist rank includes potential for scholarly development, possibly as part of a larger research program, a record of peer-reviewed publications, and participation in relevant academic or professional meetings.

• Some funding sources are subject to export control restrictions. Please note that these projects will require US Citizenship or permanent residency to work with export-controlled material.

What You'll Do

As a research faculty member at UMTRI, you will:

• Conduct Scholarly Research at UMTRI: Conduct scholarly research, perform experiments, coordinate activities, and analyze data related to transportation safety and mobility.
• Collaboration: Work collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team that includes engineers, psychologists, statisticians, behavioral scientists and research staff.
• Project Leadership: Lead and manage projects funded by government, industry, and other sponsors, ensuring timely and successful completion.
• Grant Writing and Funding: Write proposals to secure funding for research projects and contribute to the financial sustainability of the research group.
• Publication and Dissemination: Write reports, publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, and present results at scientific conferences and meetings.
• Mentorship and Supervision: Mentor and supervise post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, undergraduate students, and research staff.
• Student Engagement: Student engagement is highly encouraged and may involve supervision of paid student research assistants, participating as mentors in formal U-M student research programs (UROP, SURE, MDP), or other mentoring activities. UMTRI recently initiated a program where faculty can supplement their salary by offering students experiential learning opportunities, as well as accrue additional backstop funding.
• Professional Committees and Affiliations: Many faculty actively participate in professional organizations, and assistant level faculty members are asked to serve on one UMTRI administrative committee.

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Maternity and Parental Leave

Modes of Work

This position is classified as having an ONSITE mode of work. Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

Located in southeast Michigan, Ann Arbor is a vibrant university community known for its thriving downtown, dynamic arts and culture scene, renowned culinary offerings, and growing technology and innovation ecosystem. Consistently recognized among the best places to live in Michigan, Ann Arbor combines the warmth and accessibility of the Midwest with rich multicultural influences from around the world. The city is conveniently situated about 45 minutes from Detroit and four hours from Chicago, with easy access to the Great Lakes, an exceptional regional destination for recreation and travel through all seasons.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

278715

RESEARCH ASST PROFESSOR/ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST

RESEARCH ASST PROFESSOR

Ann Arbor Campus

Onsite

Full-Time

Regular

Exempt

College Engineering

CoE UMTRI-Engineering Systems

6/15/2026 - 6/22/2026

Primary