Graduate Research Assistant - Smart Mobility, Human-Centered Design & Emerging Technology (Waco MPO Smart Corridors Project)

Job Posting Title:

Graduate Research Assistant - Smart Mobility, Human-Centered Design & Emerging Technology (Waco MPO Smart Corridors Project)

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Hiring Department:

IC2 Institute

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

20

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FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Dec 31, 2026

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Under the direction of the Program Manager of Strategy and Engagement, the GRA will work closely with IC² Institute researchers, transportation planners, community stakeholders, and regional partners.

The Waco Smart Mobility Initiative explores how emerging transportation technologies can improve safety, accessibility, mobility, quality of life, and future transportation planning. A major focus of the position will be translating complex transportation and technology concepts into accessible and engaging resources for planners, stakeholders, policymakers, and community members.

This is a temporary benefits-eligible position ending on December 31, 2026, with the possibility of extension depending on funding and project needs.

TRB benefits are available.

Purpose

The Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) will support research, design, and stakeholder engagement activities associated with the Waco Smart Mobility Initiative. The position will focus on quality-of-life research, emerging transportation technologies, educational resource development, qualitative interviews, and the creation of stakeholder engagement tools and future mobility scenarios.

This role is ideal for a graduate student interested in human-centered design, information studies, user experience research, public policy, civic technology, community engagement, or emerging technologies.

Responsibilities

Quality of Life Research & Stakeholder Discovery

• Conduct research on transportation-related quality-of-life indicators.

• Participate in stakeholder interviews and conversations with community organizations, researchers, and planning partners.

• Help identify community priorities, concerns, and opportunities related to transportation and mobility.

• Prepare research summaries, interview memos, and insights reports.

Smart Mobility & Emerging Technology Research

• Conduct literature reviews on smart transportation and emerging mobility technologies.

• Research technologies such as connected infrastructure, AI-enabled transportation systems, sensor networks, real-time analytics, and autonomous mobility.

• Translate technical concepts into clear and accessible language.

• Contribute to development of a Smart Transportation Technology Primer.

Scenario & Engagement Tool Design

• Support development of transportation and mobility scenarios, vignettes, storyboards, and engagement materials.

• Create tools that help stakeholders understand future transportation concepts and provide meaningful feedback.

• Contribute to design of educational and engagement resources.

Research Writing & Knowledge Products

• Develop presentations, briefing documents, literature summaries, policy briefs, and educational materials.

• Assist with project deliverables and stakeholder-facing resources.

• Support preparation of reports and planning documents.

Qualitative Analysis & Synthesis

• Analyze interview notes, stakeholder feedback, and qualitative research findings.

• Identify themes, patterns, and recommendations.

• Support development of findings memos and synthesis reports.

Project Support & Coordination

• Participate in project meetings.

• Support project planning and team coordination.

Required Qualifications

• Current UT Austin graduate student.

• Background in Information Studies, Human-Centered Design, UX Research, Public Policy, Community and Regional Planning, Architecture, Design, Social Sciences, Communications, or related field.

• Strong writing, communication, and synthesis skills.

• Experience conducting or supporting qualitative research, interviews, stakeholder engagement, or user research.

• Ability to communicate complex concepts to non-technical audiences.

• Ability to organize and synthesize information from multiple sources into clear insights.

• Ability to work independently while collaborating across interdisciplinary teams.

• Interest in emerging technologies and their impact on communities and public decision-making.

• Must be authorized to work in the United States and meet all UT student worker eligibility requirements.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate student in the UT School of Information (iSchool) or related program.

• Experience with human-centered design, design strategy, UX research, service design, design thinking, or participatory design.

• Experience creating educational materials, toolkits, guides, visual communications, or stakeholder engagement resources.

• Familiarity with transportation, mobility, AI, civic technology, smart infrastructure, or public-sector innovation.

• Experience developing scenarios, journey maps, personas, storyboards, vignettes, or other design artifacts.

• Experience conducting literature reviews and translating research findings for non-technical audiences.

• Experience with qualitative analysis and stakeholder research methods.

• Graphic design, information visualization, presentation design, or storytelling experience is a plus.

Salary Range

$28,000 (depending on qualifications)

Working Conditions

• Typical office environment

• Remote work environment with occasional in-person meetings

• GRA's will use their own computers

Work Shift

• Monday - Friday, 8 am to 5 pm

• Up to 20 hours per week

• Nominally, in-person at the IC² Institute, however, remote work is currently permitted

• Flexible hours to be arranged with supervisor

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a faculty and at least one reference from a professional/supervisor if available

• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Please confirm your eligibility for this position here: http://www.utexas.edu/hr/student/student_acad_employment.html

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

Students in this position may choose to enroll in the UTSaver voluntary retirement programs.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.