once a candidate clears the viability threshold, many other considerations come into play: are they likely to get competing offers? do they have familial ties to this place? do they have a spouse who also needs a job? kids? the idea that the "most qualified" always gets the TT job is not true.
![Abstract with highlighted text as follows:
Science in the United States has become increasingly politicized, with a wave of recent federal grant terminations and censorship of equity and climate-related work. U.S. transportation research has not been immune. [begin highlight] The Transportation Research Board (TRB), a stalwart of U.S. transportation research, has canceled research contracts, undertaken a dramatic internal restructuring, and appears poised to censor research presented at its marquee annual meeting. [end highlight] These shifts are significant in part because TRB espouses the values of scientific objectivity, independence, and integrity. Accordingly, TRB has historically funded work identified as needed by the broader research community and has been a home for the free and open exchange of ideas at its conferences, meetings, and events. [begin highlight] We argue that TRB’s recent actions suggest that it is no longer able to act with scientific integrity. [end highlight] In this commentary, we provide a brief history of TRB and its objectives, discuss its recent actions, and propose paths forward for researchers and practitioners interested in pursuing equity, justice, and climate change-oriented work.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4d6lz4wh4xbbztf7it7ainxs/bafkreigoazfjkfuhcelkdartvxoezl2gejnkrcevztwinhvk72lcqk6sry)
