"Research Associate-Fixed Term"

Position Summary

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Michigan State University invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate position in Dr. Ryan’s research group in the area of transportation engineering. In this role, the individual will collaborate and mentor students, lead tasks related to crash analysis and transportation safety data investigation, support the research mission of the Ryan Research Group, and write research papers and proposals. The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal contingent on demonstrated research productivity and funding availability.

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 -Engineering or a closely related field

Minimum Requirements

• A Ph.D. in a relevant discipline
• Academic excellence and research achievement
• Strong oral and written communication
• Ability to work in a team environment and high self-motivation

Desired Qualifications

• Expertise in data analysis (R, Python)
• Crash analysis experience
• Paper writing experience
• Project management experience

Required Application Materials

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Contact Information for three references

Special Instructions

For questions, please contact the search committee chair, Dr. Alyssa Ryan (ar@msu.edu). Applicants will begin to be reviewed starting October 22nd. Applications will be reviewed on a continuing basis thereafter until the position is filled

Review of Applications Begins On

10/22/2025

Website

https://engineering.msu.edu/about/departments/cee

Department Statement

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://healthpromotion.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.

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world’s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better—from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation’s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world—on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we’re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.