Trainee Short Line Railroad Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants.

This is a term position; length of the term will be discussed during the interview process. Continuation past the termlengthdiscussed willbebasedonuniversityneed,performance,and/oravailabilityoffunding.

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Rail Center for Research Enhancing Short-line Transportation (Rail CREST) at Penn State Altoona invites applications for a Research Scientist/Post-Doc position. Rail CREST is a federally funded research center supported by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) through the CRISI program. The center focuses on developing affordable technologies, workforce development programs, and safety innovations for the U.S. short-line railroad industry.

The Research Scientist will play a key leadership role in supporting the strategic growth and daily operation of Rail CREST, working closely with the Center Director, partner universities, industry partners, and federal stakeholders. The successful candidate will help coordinate research activities across multiple institutions while contributing technically to projects focused on rail infrastructure monitoring, sensing technologies, data analytics, and intelligent transportation systems.

Responsibilities

• Support the strategic planning and daily operation of the Rail CREST Center.

• Coordinate research activities across multiple partner universities and industry collaborators.

• Assist with the development of new research proposals and technology transfer initiatives.

• Lead and contribute to research projects related to rail infrastructure sensing, structural health monitoring, instrumentation systems, data analytics, and artificial intelligence applications in rail transportation.

• Manage or oversee field deployments, laboratory testing, and instrumentation development.

• Assist with industry-facing testing, demonstrations, and commercialization activities related to rail technologies.

• Supervise research staff, graduate students, and project teams.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Railroad Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.

• Demonstrated research expertise in rail infrastructure, structural health monitoring, sensing systems, instrumentation, or transportation infrastructure analytics.

• Experience working with data-driven technologies such as sensor networks, machine learning, or AI-enabled infrastructure monitoring.

• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to coordinate multi-institutional research projects.

• Ability to work effectively with industry partners, government agencies, and academic collaborators.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with railroad infrastructure systems including track, bridges, or railway operations.

• Experience deploying or managing field instrumentation systems or sensing networks.

• Experience working with federally funded research programs (e.g., FRA, USDOT, NSF).

• Interest in technology transfer and industry collaboration.

About Rail CREST

Rail CREST is a national research center dedicated to enhancing the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of short-line railroads in the United States. The center focuses on developing affordable sensing technologies, intelligent infrastructure monitoring systems, and workforce training programs that directly support the needs of regional and short-line railroads. The center brings together multiple universities, industry partners, and railroad operators to advance applied research and technology deployment in the rail sector.

Appointment

This is a Research Scientist/ Post-Doc position, depending on qualifications and experience. The appointment is expected to be 12-month, renewable based on performance and funding availability.

Application

Please visit Penn State's Human Resources website https://hr.psu.edu/careers, and submit the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae

• Cover letter describing relevant experience and interest in the position

• Contact information for three professional references

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.

For more detailed information, please visit ourBenefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

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