VTTI conducts studies in various locations across the country, and most studies provide modest compensation. All participation is voluntary and participants may withdraw at any time.
To learn more about participation in our research studies, please call 540-231-1583 and leave a message or complete this form.
Please note that, by completing the form, you are not agreeing to participate in any particular study. You are simply submitting your name and information for contact by a VTTI research team member when recruiting for a study. Any information you provide will remain confidential and will not be shared with others outside of VTTI.
Specific Studies
VTTI is seeking individuals who:
- are aged 60 and up
- have a valid U.S. driver's license
- own/drive an older model vehicle with little to no advanced technology
Total participation time is one visit, during the daytime, lasting about 1.5 hours. Drive a research vehicle, and perform various parking lot and backing maneuvers, on a closed course at the VTTI facility. This project provides compensation of $50 for full participation.
Your data will be kept strictly confidential.
To learn more, please call 540-231-2308 or email drivers@vtti.vt.edu. Reference the "Parking Study" in your message. (IRB #18-1098)
Do you drive a newer vehicle in the Northern Virginia or Washington D.C. area? Or the Denver, Colorado, or Seattle, Washington, area?
VTTI is looking for drivers of the following vehicles with modern technology, specifically, adaptive cruise control and lane centering, to participate in a research study.
- Ford Mach-E (2021 or newer)
- Honda CR-V (2023 or newer)
- Kia Sportage (2023 or newer)
- Subaru Outback (2023 or newer)
- Tesla Model 3 with FSD (2021 or newer)
- Toyota Corolla Cross (2023 or newer)
For an initial 6-month enrollment period, your total maximum compensation for participating 6 months and completing all study tasks is $1,100. Participation is confidential (IRB 22-908).
Interested? Unsure if your vehicle qualifies?
- Phone: 540-231-1583
- Text: 540-231-2125 (excludes T-Mobile users)
- Email: DaisyStudy@vtti.vt.edu
Reference the “VTTI Daisy” study in your message, along with your city, state, and vehicle type. Visit the Daisy study website to learn more.
VTTI is seeking individuals in the New River Valley and Roanoke Valley area to participate in a research study. This project will involve having your personal vehicle instrumented with sensors and cameras for 10 weeks. Participants will drive as they normally do. Participants will try cell phone technologies that aim to reduce distracted driving. In addition, participants will also complete surveys.
To qualify, volunteers must have valid U.S. licenses, live, work, or drive in the New River Valley or Roanoke area, sometimes use an iPhone or Android cell phone while driving, and be aged 18-24.
Full details of what is expected of participants will be provided before any appointments are scheduled and all questions will be answered.
Volunteers will be compensated $300 for full participation. All data will be kept strictly confidential.
To learn more, please contact us:
- Call/text: 540-231-0988
- Email: drivers@vtti.vt.edu
Be sure to provide your name and contact information. Reference "Countermeasures" in your message. (IRB #21-1136)
VTTI is seeking individuals ages 18 and up with smartphone app experience to participate in a research study lasting approximately 1.5 to 2 hours during daylight hours.
This study is interested in evaluating a rideshare app and the rideshare experience in automated or manually-driven vehicles. Participants will be asked to use a rideshare app using a cell phone provided by VTTI. Participants will order and engage in multiple rides on a VTTI, closed-to-the-public test track, traveling at speeds up to 20mph. Other participants will participate in each test ride with you. Each ride will involve a new vehicle; some vehicles will be driven by a researcher, and some will be equipped with automated technology and no human driver. There is equipment that allows participants to stop the session at any time if they don't want to continue. After each ride, participants will be asked to complete a survey evaluating the rideshare app.
Upon completion of all on-road activities, participants will be asked to answer a brief questionnaire about their experience in the study. This project provides compensation of $60 for full participation.
To learn more, contact 540-231-2308 or drivers@vtti.vt.edu and reference "the Carpool Study" in the message. (IRB #20-641)
VTTI is seeking individuals in the New River Valley and Roanoke Valley area to participate in a research study. This project will involve having your personal vehicle instrumented with sensors and cameras for eight weeks. Participants will drive as they normally do. Participants will try technologies that block calls or notifications when they are driving and complete surveys.
To qualify, volunteers must have valid U.S. licenses, live, work, or drive in the New River Valley or Roanoke area, sometimes use an iPhone or Samsung Galaxy while driving, and be aged 18-60.
Volunteers will be compensated up to $500 for full participation. All data will be kept strictly confidential.
To learn more, please contact either:
- Office: 540-231-2125
- Email: drivers@vtti.vt.edu
- Text: 540-208-6686
Be sure to provide your name and contact information. Reference the "Do Not Disturb Study" in the message. (IRB #21-868)
VTTI is seeking individuals to participate in a research study. Drive one of our research vehicles instead of your own for 4 weeks!
Those eligible must meet the following criteria:
- Live, work, or drive in the New River Valley or Roanoke Valley area
- Are in one of the following age groups:
- between 18 and 25
- between 35 and 55
- 70+
- Do not own/drive a vehicle with automated features
- no adaptive (advanced) cruise control and lane centering
- Do not use any of the automated features, such as advanced cruise and lane centering if you have them on your vehicle
Total participation time is 4 weeks. Compensation up to $450 for:
- driving a study-provided vehicle
- completing surveys
- taking several planned drives in the study vehicle
Your data will be kept strictly confidential. (VT IRB #20-309)
Please contact us with your name, phone, and email address at either:
- Call/text: 540-231-0295
- Email: horizonstudy@vtti.vt.edu
Reference the "Horizon Study" in your message.
VTTI is currently seeking individuals who:
- Are ages 18 and above;
- Have a valid Class A or B Commercial Driver's License (CDL);
- Drive a commercial motor vehicle such as a tractor-trailer or bus as part of their job;
- Are willing to participate in a study in Blacksburg, Virginia; and
- Are able to read and complete questionnaires.
If you meet the above requirements and are interested in hearing about future research opportunities involving truck drivers, please complete this form. Any information you provide will remain confidential and will not be shared with others outside of VTTI.
VTTI is currently seeking individuals who:
- Are ages 21 and above
- Have a valid Class-A or Class-B Commercial Driver's License (CDL-A or CDL-B)
- Actively drive a large truck such as a tractor-trailer, straight truck, construction type of truck, etc. as part of their job
- Willing to drive in a simulator located in Blacksburg, Virginia, not on roadways
- Are not prone to motion sickness
Participation includes coming to VTTI for 2 separate sessions, scheduled on different days (4 hours each). Compensation of up to $500 will be provided for full participation.
If you, or someone you know, meet the above requirements, and are interested in hearing more about this study, please call 540-231-1583 or email, CDLdrivers@vtti.vt.edu and mention the "Automated Truck" study.
Any information provided will remain confidential and will not be shared with others outside of VTTI. (IRB #21-827)