Postdoctoral Scholar-Fixed Term

Position Summary

The positions will be under the direction of Dr. Peter Savolainen and Dr. Timothy Gates. The Postdoctoral Scholar will work as part of a multidisciplinary research team with primary emphases in the areas of traffic safety, operations, highway design, and the application of statistical and econometric methods to transportation data. The successful applicants will serve in a project manager role, helping to coordinate day-to-day activities on a variety of research projects funded by a diverse range of public and private agencies. These individuals will also have the opportunity to be involved in a leading role in a range of quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis activities. They will also have opportunities to mentor both graduate and undergraduate students. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. Application review will begin on August 18, 2026 and the search will continue until the position is filled.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Doctorate - Civil and Environmental Engineering or a closely related field.

Minimum Requirements

• Doctorate in Civil and Environmental Engineering or a closely related field by the start date.
• Excellent qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis skills.
• Record of scholarly productivity.
• Strong oral and written communication skills. 
• Ability to work well both independently and in a team environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with traffic operations data, including probe vehicle data, connected vehicle data, and microwave vehicle detection system (MVDS) data.
• Experience with speed data collection using lidar and radar in a field setting.
• Experience with advanced statistical and econometric methods of data analysis, particularly in the domain of traffic safety and operations.
• Experience in the review and analysis of police-reported crash data and surrogate safety measures.

Required Application Materials

1. Research Statement
2. Teaching Statement
3. Cover Letter
4. Curriculum Vitae
5. Names and contact information for three references. 

Review of Applications Begins On

08/18/2026

Website

https://www.egr.msu.edu/cee/

Department Statement

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is organized to create a welcoming/inclusive campus community for students by collaborating with faculty, staff and students to develop programs and resources that will support curricular and co-curricular success and to prepare students to succeed academically and professionally. The CEE Department is centered around civil engineering and environmental engineering degree programs. Some specialized disciplines include structures, pavements, geotechnical, environmental, transportation, water resources, and energy/sustainability. MSU enjoys a park-like campus with some outlying research facilities and natural areas. The campus is adjacent to the city of East Lansing, adjacent to the capital city of Lansing. The Lansing metropolitan area has a diverse population of approximately 541,000. Local communities have excellent school systems and place a high value on education. For more information about University Health and Wellbeing, please visit: https://uhw.msu.edu/ 

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.