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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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. 

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/

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.

About University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A great university is made so by its faculty and staff, and Michigan is recognized as one of the best universities to work for in the country. The Michigan culture is known for engaging faculty and staff in all facets of the university to create a workplace that is vibrant and stimulating.For two consecutive years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has placed U-M in its "Great Colleges to Work For" survey. In particular, the university earns high marks for strong relations between faculty and administrators, a collaborative system of governance, strong pay and benefits, and a healthy work/life balance.

Connections working at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor