Graduate Research Award Program on Public-Sector Aviation Issues
2009-2010
A PROGRAM THAT AWARDS RESEARCH STIPENDS TO GRADUATE STUDENTS
SPONSORED BY
Federal Aviation Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
ADMINISTERED BY
AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM (ACRP)
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
PURPOSE
To encourage applied research on airport and related aviation system issues and to foster the next generation of
aviation community leaders. The program is intended to stimulate thought, discussion, and research by those who may
become the future airport managers, operators, designers, and policy makers in aviation. The focus of this research
program is on applied research to help the public sector continue to improve the quality, reliability, safety, and
security of the U.S. civil aviation system well into the foreseeable future.
RESEARCH TOPICS
The applicant selects the topic to be researched with supervision by a faculty member at his or her institution.
Appropriate topics may be drawn from a wide range of subjects of interest to the U.S. public sector aviation
community. A listing of possible subject areas is included as part of this announcement. Other possibilities are
topics included in the TRB Research Needs Database, suggestions proposed by TRB Standing Committees, and additional
research needs identified in previously completed ACRP projects. The TRB Database, information about TRB Standing
Committees, and a listing of previously completed ACRP projects are available on the TRB web site:
http://www.trb.org/ACRP/Public/ACRPProjects.aspx
Applicants are not restricted to these suggested topics as long as their proposals address the stated purpose of the
Graduate Research Award Program.
Major research topic areas of interest include but are not limited to the following:
- Airport capacity and long-term planning
- Airport finance and development
- Airport safety
- Airport and systemwide planning
- Alternative revenue sources for different types of airports
- Cargo capacity and integration into airport operations and intermodal planning
- Economic impacts of airport expansion
- Environmental issues, including sustainability of the aviation system
- Human resources, including all participants in the aviation system
- Multi-modal transportation linkages
- Security and operations
- Technology and its effect on airport operations
View a
detailed list of potential research topics.
In addition, a recent report released by the Airport Cooperative Research Program, “
Research Results Digest 5: Current and Emerging Issues Facing the
Airport Industry,” outlines areas of interest that might suggest possible topics for research papers.
STIPEND
The
Graduate Research Award Program on Public-Sector Aviation Issues will award up to 10 highly qualified
applicants, selected by an ACRP panel of experts, a stipend of $10,000 each for successful completion of a research
paper on a subject chosen by the candidate within the framework of the program’s purpose. Payments will be divided
into four installments during the research, with the final payment contingent on completion and acceptance of the
paper by the panel.
BENEFITS TO THE STUDENT
The research papers produced under this program will be eligible for presentation at the Transportation Research
Board’s Annual Meeting, held in January in Washington, D.C. This meeting is an international meeting attracting
more than 10,000 transportation leaders from the United States and abroad, representing state, local, and federal
agencies as well as private consultants, educational institutions, and many other institutions sharing an interest
in transportation-related issues and research findings.
In addition, the highest-quality research papers will be considered for publication in an annual volume of the
Transportation Research Record, a peer-reviewed journal of the
Transportation Research Board of the National
Academies. To the successful students, participation at the TRB Annual Meeting and potential publication in the
Transportation Research Record provide an opportunity to become engaged in one of the preeminent forums for
frontline transportation leaders, practitioners, and researchers from across the United States and around the world.
The Award Program will also assign two individuals who will serve as mentors to each graduate researcher. Mentors
will review the research approach and draft research paper and work with each researcher and faculty advisor
throughout the program. These individuals will be selected by the ACRP panel of experts.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
These awards will be offered only to persons who, on the date of the application, are both (1) citizens or permanent
residents of the United States, or have a current student visa, and (2) officially enrolled as a full-time student
at an accredited institution of higher learning for the 2009-2010 academic year in a graduate course leading to a
master’s or doctoral degree. Proof of both may be required.
Applicants must submit the prescribed application form fully executed by the due date indicated. Two letters of
reference will be required; one must be from a faculty member or department head who knows the applicant’s work or
interest in the field. Designation and commitment of a faculty research advisor (who may be one of the references)
is also required.
SCHEDULE
The objective of the current research program is to initiate awards by the fall semester, 2009.
|
May 15, 2009 |
Applications due |
|
August, 2009 |
Contracts awarded to recipients |
|
October 1, 2009 |
1st scoping discussion/meeting and review of draft work plan with mentor, advisor, and research
grant recipient |
|
August 31, 2010 |
Research papers due |
|
January 2011 |
Papers presented at TRB’s Annual Meeting, published as part of the Compendium of Papers for the meeting,
and considered for publication in Transportation Research Record |
CONDITIONS OF AWARD
Following selection for an award, each recipient will be offered a contract that will include requirements for
completing the research paper in a timely manner. Compliance with this and other conditions, rules, and regulations
governing this program is expected. Failure to do so will constitute grounds for termination of the
contract.
PURPOSE OF THE AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM
Airports are vital national resources. They serve key roles in the transportation of people and goods and in
regional, national, and international commerce. They are where the nation's aviation system connects with other
modes of transportation and where federal responsibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations
intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports. Research is necessary
to solve common operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce
innovations into the airport industry.
The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP) carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport
operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. The need for ACRP
was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions (March 2003), based on a
study sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP undertakes research and other technical
activities in a variety of airport subject areas including design, construction, maintenance, operations, safety,
security, policy, planning, human resources, and administration.
EVALUATION AND SELECTION OF AWARD CANDIDATES
Applicants for awards will be judged on a number of factors. They include academic qualifications (academic
accomplishments, references, and experience), career goals, and proposed research (quality of concept, approach, and
potential value to the public sector aviation community). Final selection of candidates for awards will be made by
a distinguished panel of experts from aviation and the academic community appointed by the ACRP. Applications will
be judged on the following criteria:
- Quality and completeness of the application and the research proposal;
- Relevance to the purpose of the Airport Cooperative Research Program/Graduate Research Award Program;
- Résumé, including academic and work experience;
- References (including at least one academic reference) available to contact in support of the application;
- Commitment of a faculty advisor; and
- Writing sample submitted with the application.
ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM
The creation of a selection panel, the agreements with the candidates selected, the monitoring of the research
progress, the forum for presentation and publication of the research papers, and other administrative matters are
the responsibility of the ACRP of the Transportation Research Board.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Application forms are available for download: (Update web links to documents)
Two copies of the fully completed application package must be delivered to the following address by the
deadline:
Graduate Research Awards Program
ATTN: Lawrence D. Goldstein
Senior Program Officer
Airport Cooperative Research Program
Transportation Research Board
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
The applicant is responsible for submitting all components of the application to TRB, including
official
transcripts, proposed research plan, reference letters, and writing sample as indicated in the application form.
The writing sample should be submitted with the application. An appropriate writing sample might be a previous
publication, a paper written for a class assignment, a research project report, or similar example of professional
writing. Writing samples that are co-authored must indicate the applicant’s role. Writing samples may not be
longer than 25 pages.
Applications must be received by 4:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time on May 15th, 2009.
To be considered, applications must be complete and include two reference letters plus a commitment letter from the
designated faculty advisor (who may also submit one of the reference letters). Reference letters must be included
with the application in sealed envelopes signed on the back by the referees.
Inquiries should be directed to Mr. Goldstein:
Telephone: (202) 334-1866
E-Mail: lgoldstein@nas.edu (e-mail is preferred)