Pathways to Careers in 

Federal Highway 

Research

https://highways.dot.gov/research/

Consider a career with

Our researchers at the Federal 

Highway Administration’s (FHWA) 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research 

Center are dedicated scientists 

and engineers.

They are experts in more than 100 

transportation-related fields, including 

the following:

• Civil engineering.

• Structural 

engineering.

• Pavement 

engineering.

• Chemistry.

• Safety.

• Mathematics.

• Computational 

development.

• Modeling and 

simulation.

• Information 

technology.

• Hydraulics.

• Aerodynamics.

• Imaging.

• Geometric design.

• Photometry.

• Visibility.

• Human factors.

• Many more.

Look Inside

to find out how you can become 

part of the Turner-Fairbank team!

6300 Georgetown Pike

McLean, VA 22101

https://highways.dot.gov/research

Publication No.: FHWA-HRT-23-115

HRTM-20/12-23(WEB)E

https://doi.org/10.21949/1521446

Notes from reverse:

1. Federal pay grades are locality based and can be found at: 

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salarieswages/2015/general-schedule/.

2. General governmentwide information on hiring individuals with 

disablities under Schedule A can be found at: http://www.opm.gov/

policy-data-oversight/disability-employment/.

Cover image: © Adobestock.com/CoreDESIGN.

Source: FHWA.

←
Summer Transportation Internship 

Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG)

https://highways.dot.gov/careers/summer-transportationinternship-program-diverse-groups-stipdg

This 10-w summer program in 

Washington, DC, provides college 

and university students with hands-on 

experience and on-the-job 

training while working on current 

transportation-related topics 

and issues.

STIPDG provides a stipend, housing, 

and travel expenses to and from 

the Washington, DC, area.

The application period generally 

ends mid-January of each year.

Office of Personnel Management 

Pathways Programs

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/ 

hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/

Positions are posted on 

USAJOBS.gov.

Internship Program: Provides paid 

opportunities for students to work in 

agencies and explore Federal careers 

while completing their education.

Recent Graduates Program:

Provides developmental experiences 

in the Federal Government to promote 

possible careers in the civil service.

Presidential Management Fellows 

Program: Serves as the Federal 

Government’s premier leadership 

development program for advanced 

degree candidates.

FHWA Professional 

Development Program (PDP)

https://highways.dot.gov/careers/professionaldevelopment-program-pdp

See note 1.

Opportunities are posted on 

USAJOBS.gov, usually in February 

and September each year.

This entry-level career development 

program lasts 24 mo and includes 

training and on-the-job experience. 

Participants enter the program at the 

Federal pay grade GS-5, GS-7, or 

GS-9, depending on educational 

degree and grade point average.

PDP Participants are assigned to FHWA 

field offices nationwide and perform 

several rotational assignments. Upon 

completing the program, participants 

are permanently placed based primarily 

on FHWA need.

National Academy of Sciences/ 

National Research Council Research 

Associateship Program

https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/

rap/nrc-research-associateship-programs

This program provides graduate-, 

postdoctoral-, and senior-level 

research opportunities at sponsoring 

Federal laboratories, including FHWA’s 

Turner-Fairbank Highway Research 

Center. Prospective applicants select 

a research project and coordinate 

with their sponsoring organization to 

determine mutual interest. 

Participants are paid a stipend.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation 

Fellowship Program

https://highways.dot.gov/careers/dwight-davideisenhower-transportation-fellowship-program

This program exposes undergraduate 

and graduate students to transportation 

research, development, and technology 

transfer activities at U.S. Department of 

Transportation facilities.

Participants are paid a stipend.

Persons with Disabilities Program

Contact: FHWA Selective Placement 

Coordinator: Joy Liang 

joy.liang@dot.gov, 202-366-0537

People with disabilities can be appointed 

to Federal jobs noncompetitively through 

a process called Schedule A or may also 

apply for jobs through the traditional or 

competitive process. Jobs are posted at 

USAJOBS.gov.

See note 2. 

Veterans’ Recruitment 

Appointment (VRA)

https://www.opm.gov/fedshirevets/

VRA allows Federal agencies to appoint 

eligible veterans without competition to 

positions at any grade level up to and 

including GS-11. After veterans have 

successfully completed 2 yr, the position 

is converted to competitive service.

VRA authority can also be used to fill 

temporary positions. In this case, the 

position will not be converted to 

competitive service after 2 yr.

Pathways to Careers in 

Federal Highway Research https://highways.dot.gov/research/