The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Michael Hyland, Associate Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering and ITS at UC Irvine. Dr. Hyland will be a faculty advisor for 7 students in the 2026 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the 2026 Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME). His research focuses on the design and analysis of multi-modal urban transportation systems, with particular emphasis on shared mobility services and driverless vehicles. Through his work, he seeks to better understand how emerging transportation technologies will affect travelers, infrastructure, and the environment while helping agencies make informed decisions that benefit communities.
“My research focuses on the design and analysis of multi-modal urban transportation systems, with particular emphasis on shared mobility services and driverless vehicles.”
A major component of Dr. Hyland’s research involves evaluating transportation investments and their impacts on underserved communities. Through projects with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), he is helping develop tools and analyses that can inform public funding decisions and improve mobility outcomes for disadvantaged populations. His work combines technical rigor with practical applications that address real-world transportation challenges.
“The tool we are developing and the insights we expect to provide should help CARB make better decisions in terms of allocating public funds to disadvantaged communities.”
Dr. Hyland’s path into transportation research began as an undergraduate student, inspired by the interdisciplinary nature of the field and the mentorship of his undergraduate research advisor, Professor Mark Turnquist. The opportunity to combine teaching, research, and societal impact ultimately led him to pursue an academic career.
“I was excited to discover a field within civil engineering combining geography, economics, energy systems, physics, and mathematics. That interdisciplinary perspective strongly resonated with me and helped me see transportation as an area where I could pursue both analytical and societally meaningful questions.”
Among his proudest accomplishments are the achievements of his students and the impact of their research. He takes particular pride in mentoring graduate students and seeing them succeed in academia and beyond, while continuing to contribute to the advancement of transportation research through his scholarly work and service to the field.
Author Reina Kabbara is a recent graduate of Public Health Policy at UC Irvine. She has conducted transportation and environmental research under the Institute of Transportation Studies and through Professor Jun Wu’s E3: “Exposure, Epidemiology, and Equity” Environmental Health Lab.
Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pair undergraduate and high school student researchers with faculty to contribute meaningfully to ongoing transportation research projects. To learn more about these programs, contact ITS-Irvine Assistant Director for Programs and Engagement Dr. Victoria Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.