The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is seeking a graduate student to work in the National Operations Center of excellence (NOCoE) during the spring 2017 semester. Questions are due no later than COB December 15, to the attention of Mr. Strat Cavros, AASHTO Manager of Acquisitions, Contracts & Business Development (Contracts Manager), at scavros@aashto.org. AASHTO will strive to answer questions and send those answers by e-mails to prospective interns by December 22. Please send a cover letter and resume to Mr. Cavros no later than 4:00 PM EST December 29. It is expected that AASHTO will make selection no later than January 19.

BACKGROUND

The NOCoE’s origins date from August 2013 when AASHTO, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to complete a business plan for the creation and start-up operations for a National Operations Center of Excellence using the Cooperative Model as defined in NCHRP Report 298. Another MOU between the three associations was signed in April 2014 to outline joint roles and responsibilities, as well as the individual association roles and responsibilities for establishing the NOCoE. The NOCoE was successfully launched in January 2015 at the Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and begins its second year this month. During its first year the NOCOE completed an Outreach and Engagement and Technical Services Plant (TSP) and began the delivery of a broad array of technical services including a series of webinars and peer exchanges.

The key objectives of the NOCoE are as follows:

• Identify, collect, and disseminate best practice information and promote its application with the purpose of improving the operations outcomes of agencies charged with transportation systems management and operations and establishing the NOCoE as the resource for all such information;
• Expand Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSM&O) knowledge and identify research gaps and needs;
• Support TSM&O community building through peer exchanges, communities of practice, and collaboration; and
• Assess the needs of the TSM&O community (both public and private), identify customer and client needs, and encourage collaboration across government, industry, and academic institutions.

The NOCoE office is located adjacent to the AASHTO office in Washington, D.C., and relies on AASHTO for administrative, legal, contracting, and accounting support.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Task 1: Quality Check for Existing Entries

The National Operations Center of Excellence (NOCoE) has over 1100 items within its knowledge database: www.transportationops.org. Although the items have been uploaded, proper tagging is needed to ensure consistent and quality use of the database. An intern will read and briefly scan the many different sources of information available in the knowledge database that may be relevant to their field of study. The following scope of works seeks to have a person document and evaluate the tags that were used and any missing tags based on the items itself. The steps to be completed are as follows:

• Identify item
• Identify existing tags on item
• Briefly scroll through document and identify additional tags for the item
• Update item on EKTS

The person updating the tagging will be supervised by NOCoE staff or designated person and the items will be spot checked to ensure quality and provide feedback.

The intern will have the opportunity to learn and understand TSM&O topics by reviewing the items available within the database. Other opportunities to engage with researchers in areas that the intern is interested is encouraged and will be supported.

Task 2: Upload New Entries into Knowledge Database

Connect with industry sources to search for new items to be uploaded into the knowledge database.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

A graduate student (Masters or PhD) is sought who is obtaining a degree in a transportation-related discipline, which includes (but is not limited to) traffic engineering, maintenance, planning, civil engineering, emergency management, intelligent transportation systems, public administration, and policy. Knowledge of transportation systems management and operations is desired.

TRAVEL

No travel is expected for this position.

EQUIPMENT

Computer equipment will be provided.

LOCATION

The intern is expected to work regularly in the NOCoE office located in the Hall of States Building, 249 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001. The office is walking distance of Union Station.

PAY AND PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Pay will be set at $15 per hour, and the total hours for this assignment will not exceed 200 hours. Work is expected to occur between January 1 and May 31, 2017. We will work with the intern’s class schedule to set working hours. The candidate must be able to legally work in the United States.