Department of Transportation seeking students for roadway research

Students looking for extra money or a r­sum­ boost next fall can apply to conduct research for the department, said John Semmens, project manager for ADOT.

The department is seeking students for the next academic year to work on research projects related to highway planning.

This year, the first year of the project, the department hired two Arizona State University economics students to study the impact of traffic congestion mitigation on air quality, Semmens said.

"The research is a process very common in the working world," said Matt Raul, a former economics graduate student at ASU and one of the project's participant.

"It's good work experience."

In addition to the ASU students, two Northern Arizona University students were hired to investigate the best ways to obtain citizen input on transportation planning.

Martin Nie, a political science doctoral candidate at NAU and project participant, said working on the project helped him acquire a professorship position at a small college in New York.

"It's a great opportunity and I would highly recommend it to students," Nie said.

Semmens said the students conducted surveys and questionnaires concerning their area of research and then compiled a report from the research.

The students worked independently and set their own schedules. Aside from monthly or bimonthly meetings, students can work at a site of their choosing, Semmens said.

After passing an interviewing process, the candidates requested their hourly rates and amount of pay, Raul said.

"It's independent research € they just basically give you a project and you work on it without anyone constantly overseeing your work," he said. "In our work, we were student researchers working alongside professional consultants."

Nie said he and his partner made $5,000 each for their year of work for the department. Raul said he and his partner earned the same amount.

"Not only is it good experience, but your research also gets published. It's helpful to have a publication to show prospective employers," Nie said.

This year's student research projects include work on sub-area planning, highway finance options, intelligent transportation systems and the feasibility of toll roads, Semmens said.

He said that while graduate students are more likely to be chosen for the position because they tend to have more research experience, but undergraduates can apply.

Students can form teams of one or two to do research, or apply alone, Semmens said. He also said that no specific major is being targeted in these projects.

"A lot of it has to do with self-determination," Semmens said.

Students interested can contact the ADOT's Intermodal Transportation Division for more information.