Postdoctoral Scholar - Research Associate

The METRANS Transportation Consortium is establishing a postdoctoral fellowship in urban freight as part of the MetroFreight Center of Excellence, funded by the Volvo Research and Education Foundation. 

The Postdoctoral Fellowship

This postdoctoral fellowship seeks to advance the capacities of early-career scholars and researchers to conduct interdisciplinary research on goods movement in the urban environment.  Large metropolitan areas are the economic engines of the global economy. They are simultaneously financial and knowledge centers, gateways for international merchandise trade, and logistics hubs in the global freight network. As places of large populations and economic activity, they are also vast local producers and consumers of goods. Large metro areas are therefore dependent upon an efficient goods movement system.  At the same time, goods movement generates serious externalities in the form of air pollution, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, congestion, crashes, and noise. 

Urban freight activity is growing and will continue to grow because of continued globalization and urbanization, rising per capita income, and the growth of e-commerce. Cities are increasingly challenged to effectively manage freight demand and reduce its negative impacts.  The 21st century has been a period of recognizing freight as an urban problem, research to understand urban freight dynamics, and extensive policy experimentation to mitigate urban freight problems.

The Position

The postdoctoral fellow will conduct both independent and collaborative research.  At least 50% of the position will be devoted to research proposed by the fellow, with the remainder on other urban freight projects. Examples of potential research areas include:

• Urban freight modeling and planning

• Decarbonization

• E-commerce and its impacts

• Emerging modes and technologies

• Ports and international trade

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct leading-edge research in urban freight

• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences

• Communicate research findings to policy and academic audiences

• Secure grants and funding for research projects

• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

• The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Qualifications

Candidates must have earned a doctoral degree in a relevant field of study prior to the start of the appointment.  Relevant fields include but are not limited to urban planning, geography, public policy, applied economics, or engineering. The ideal candidate will have background in urban freight research, strong skills in research design, data collection and management, statistics (including spatial statistics), and in mapping and visualization.  The ideal candidate will also have demonstrated capabilities in research project management and the ability to communicate research findings effectively to both policy and research audiences.

Compensation

The annual base salary range for this position is $62,400 - $71,760. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

This position is a hybrid work arrangement, one year fixed-term appointment. Funding source: contract, grant and/or gift. Position is 100% FTE.  The postdoctoral fellow may perform other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

MetroFreight Center of Excellence

MetroFreight is a Volvo Research and Educational Foundations Center of Excellence (CoE) It was established in 2013 as a CoE on urban freight. MetroFreight is a part of the METRANS Transportation Consortium. The MetroFreight vision is to become the global leader in urban freight research, education and outreach, establishing urban freight as a recognized field of international study, building a global network of scholars, and contributing more broadly by widely disseminating data, information, results, and education materials. The MetroFreight mission is to develop solutions for urban freight problems that are collaborative and integrative with larger sustainability goals.

METRANS Transportation Consortium

The METRANS Transportation Consortium was established in 1998 through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) as the first University Transportation Center in Southern California. METRANS is housed in the Sol Price School of Public Policy. METRANS is a partnership of the University of Southern California (USC) and California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). METRANS' mission is to solve transportation problems of large metropolitan regions through interdisciplinary research, education and outreach. METRANS has three primary objectives:1) Foster independent, high quality research to solve the nation's transportation problems, 2) Train the next generation transportation workforce, and 3) Disseminate information, best practices, and technology to the professional community. We accomplish these objectives through a comprehensive and collaborative program of research, education, information dissemination and technology transfer organized around three topical focus areas: 1) Integrated management of freight and passenger systems, 2) Sustainable and efficient urban freight transportation, and 3) Mobility of urban populations

Sol Price School of Public Policy

Ranked among the foremost schools of public policy in the nation, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy generates uncommon knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1929, the Price School is anchored by four departments: Public Policy and Management, Health Policy and Management, Wilbur H. Smith III Department of Estate Development; and Urban Planning and Spatial Analysis. Rigorous academic programs provide students with the knowledge and distinctive opportunities to make meaningful contributions to their professions. Integrating classroom instruction with real-world experience and led by some of the world’s most renowned faculty in their fields, our students establish a clear pathway to successful careers.

The academic programs are augmented by several highly visible research centers and institutes that provide additional research expertise and experiences. Together, these departments and research enterprises provide unmatched breadth and depth to tackle an enormous range of challenges facing our country and the world. Price graduates hold leadership positions across diverse sectors – public, private, and nonprofit – championing the advancement of the common good. They come from around the world and from a variety of cultures and socio-economic backgrounds to create a rich intellectual environment that celebrates, supports and benefits from a variety of backgrounds and opinions.

To Apply for This Position

How to apply

To be considered for this position, applicants should submit the following materials:

• Cover letter (1 page)

• Curriculum Vitae

• Research proposal (up to 2 pages)

• Names and e-mail addresses of 3 references

Consideration of applications and nominations will continue until the position is filled.

Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance:

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

Serves as a research trainee for the purpose of enhancing and developing research competencies.