Research Assistantships Available For Graduate Studies in Transportation Engineering at Texas A&M University

The Transportation Engineering Program offers competitive financial packages to graduate students working on research projects through Texas A&M University or the Texas Transportation Institute.  The exact level of funding depends on several factors:

1. There are three degree options in the Transportation Engineering Program and each is funded at a different level.  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) students earn the most, followed by Master of Science (M.S.) students, with Master of Engineering (M.E. - non-thesis) earning the least.  Ph.D. students must have earned a Masters degree prior to entering the Ph.D. program.  The actual stipend for each type of degree depends upon other factors and is indicated below.

2. American Citizens or permanent residents pursuing a M.S. or Ph.D. degree can apply for Transportation Scholars Program (TSP) funding.  This funding provides and additional stipend of up to $650 per month plus tuition and fees are paid by the program.  See this link for details.

Tuition and Fees
Tuition is typically paid for funded graduate students in the Transportation Engineering Program.  The amount of the student’s monthly stipend is determined by how the tuition is paid.  If the research sponsor allows direct payment of fees, the student receives the base stipend.   If the research sponsor does not allow direct payment of fees, the student’s stipend will be increased to compensate for the difference.  This amount is currently $430/month.

Fees are not normally paid for funded graduates students unless the student is in the TSP program.  Fees for TSP students are paid by the TSP program.  Click here to see typical Texas A & M tuition and fee rates.

Salary Rates
The following are the September 2007 salary rates for students who are Graduate Assistants in Research (GARs).  The GAR position requires that you are enrolled as a full time student making satisfactory progress towards your degree and work 20 hours per week on one of Texas A&M's/TTI’s sponsored research projects.

For Transportation Scholars Program students the total monthly stipend (exclusive of tuition and fee payments) can total  $2200 per month, or $26,400 per year!

Students interested in researching value pricing issues such as price elasticity of demand, modeling of HOT lane use, and driver comprehension of dynamic pricing please contact: Dr. Mark Burris at (979)-845-9875 or mburris@tamu.edu  

Students with other transportation engineering  interests should apply to our graduate program as there are many positions available for students with diverse interests.  You may find instructions on how to apply to graduate school on the Department of Civil Engineering web site listed below. Also, I have listed some of the Web sites that I usually recommend to applicants who are interested in pursuing Transportation Engineering graduate work at Texas A&M University:

1) The Transportation Group's Website with course and degree information; http://www.civil.tamu.edu/areas/transportation/

2) Department of Civil Engineering: information on course work and the on-line application process; http://www.civil.tamu.edu/graduate/index.html

3) Texas Transportation Institute: information on current research; http://tti.tamu.edu/

4) TransLink Research Center: information on current research; http://translink.tamu.edu

5) Texas A&M University Institute of Transportation Engineers student chapter: information on student activities. http://ite.tamu.edu/