Transportation Research Scientist, Career Track

Overview

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is hiring a Transportation Research Scientist within the Energy Analysis division. You will support various passenger and freight transportation system modeling and analysis projects to identify and quantify energy, environment, and mobility implications from changes to the transportation system using interdisciplinary methods that combine engineering, economics, human behavior, technology, and computer science. We are seeking candidates with specific interests in the design and development of integrated transportation models at various scales and levels of resolution, including agent-based simulation models of future transportation systems that have greater shares of shared, connected, automated and electrified travel modes, with the goal of identifying new opportunities to reduce energy costs while increasing mobility and efficiency.

In this role, you will creatively develop new methods to understand the behavior of complex socio-technical systems given substantial uncertainty and limited data. The successful candidate should have a technical/quantitative background (engineering or economics) and strong experience conducting engineering assessments and/or economic analysis. Some background in emissions modeling, air quality modeling and/or supply chains is strongly preferred.

You will play a supporting role in our goal to address global challenges and bring science solutions to the world.

Exceptional health and retirement benefits, including pension or 401K-style plans. A culture where you’ll belong – we are invested in our teams. In addition to accruing vacation and sick time, we also have a Winter Holiday Shutdown every year. Parental bonding leave (for both mothers and fathers). Pet insurance for anyone that is eligible for Full benefits.

• Collaborate on the development of new models within ETA’s transportation research initiative to develop a portfolio of high impact research.
• Apply advanced principles, theories, and concepts to contribute to research concepts and projects from funders, such as the U.S. DOE Vehicle Technologies Office and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration – in coordination with other national lab researchers.
• Lead more junior technical modelers in the development and implementation of agent-based transportation system models.
• Design, develop and improve transportation system models for DOE-VTO and other agencies. This includes agent-based models and microscopic or macroscopic transportation system and network models.
• Collaborate closely with other researchers in ETA who work in areas that connect to transportation, including the electricity grid, energy storage, and building and urban science.
• Develop methods to assess the energy, economic, and environmental benefits and costs of large-scale transportation electrification or system design changes in the U.S.
• Develop transportation system models into public-facing software packages for broad research use.
• Conduct data collection, cleaning, quality assurance, analysis, and model validation activities.
• Develop and manage collaborations with researchers working on Transportation Systems at UC Berkeley, other national laboratories, and in the international research community.
• Assist the PI in, and eventually act as PI in, developing grant proposals in the areas of integrated transportation modeling and simulation, travel behavior analysis, freight and supply chain efficiency and management, emissions modeling, and electrified transportation.
• Write reports and journal articles and present research work to scientific audiences and the general public.
• Participate in reporting to funders and present results to key stakeholders.
• Work collaboratively with industry and academic partners involved in projects.
• Proactively engage in discussions with other research groups to gather data and insights necessary to complete interdisciplinary research.
• Keep and maintain accurate and detailed records of all research performed.

• Advanced degree in engineering, science, or economics discipline with a strong quantitative focus or equivalent education and…