News Archives - Page 4 of 12 - The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Irvine

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Reina Kabbara for her contributions to the 2025 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP). Reina is a Public Health Policy major with a minor in Health Informatics at UC Irvine. There, Reina’s coursework spans urban planning and policy, health data analytics, and public health communications. Her interest in transportation stems from a desire to reduce health disparities exacerbated by lack of access and displacement.

“I was excited for the opportunity to connect the ideas and research I have done through my Public Health Policy major here at UCI to transportation infrastructure and its impact on health equity.”

TRIP encourages students like Reina to explore the overlap of their interdisciplinary studies while conducting research. Working alongside ITS Faculty Dr. Jun Wu, Reina researched transportation infrastructure related contributions to extreme heat and lack of green space. From her research blossomed an interest in shaded transit, equitable greening initiatives, and low-emission mobility. Reina’s concentration on the intersection of transportation systems and public health primes her with real-world solutions to multifaceted problems.

“Many low-income and historically marginalized communities experience higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect… I’m interested in learning how transportation planning can help mitigate the risks these communities face.”

Reina hopes to one day earn a Juris Doctor (JD) degree or a Masters in Public Health (MPH). She plans to advocate for systemic reform as a means to protect and empower vulnerable communities. Until then she intends to continue her research under Professor Jun Wu, gaining the technical expertise essential to implement policy reform.

“This program will help me gain essential skills needed in the policy and legal field…so I can work on initiatives that bring real change to low-income and marginalized families.”

Author Erin Boshers is a recent graduate of Urban Studies and Literary Journalism at UC Irvine. She has conducted transportation and housing research through roles at Caltrans, the Kennedy Commission, Jamboree Housing, and the Institute of Transportation Studies.

Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pairs 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.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight Melissa Lepe. Melissa is a first-generation, third-year PhD student for Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UCI, bridging sustainable aviation and engineering education through her research. Melissa’s passion for equity and student mentorship was most recently recognized by the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE).

“We often think about technical research and engineering education as two separate things, but really, it’s important to develop diverse engineers who think profoundly about the impact of their work.”

Melissa’s journey began in middle school where she attended a NASA outreach session focused on young girls in STEM. Her interest in engineering grew throughout high school, however the lack of resources and course material available posed significant roadblocks to the future Melissa imagined. With the help of her educators, Melissa chose to study aerospace engineering.

“I didn’t come into aerospace engineering knowing exactly what it entailed—but I grew alongside it, and I’m happy I made that decision.”

After visiting UCI’s Celebration Day as a high schooler, Melissa committed to UCI regardless of other offers. She faced uncertainty as an undergraduate, navigating imposter syndrome as a first-gen Latina in a male-dominated field. During this time, Melissa learned the importance of mentorship and having support systems to reinforce her confidence and commitment to engineering.

“Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear—it just becomes something you learn to manage.”

Having completed her bachelor’s and master’s at UCI, Melissa can now focus on her research interests alongside Dr. Jacqueline Huynh and Dr. Natascha Buswell while pursuing her PhD. Currently, Melissa conducts research in the Aircraft Systems Lab and STREAM Lab, working on aircraft noise abatement and modeling techniques. Additionally, she’s created engineering design modules to support students in mastering tools like MATLAB and SolidWorks. Melissa’s research and community outreach serves as a reminder of the importance of mentorship and representation.

“One person gave me this piece of advice and I think it’s very much true: no matter what facet of life you’re in, you can always be a mentor and you can always look for a mentor. Mentorship has been one of the most pivotal aspects of my own journey and now it’s one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.”

This summer, Melissa advised students participating in the TRIP/PRIME programs with Dr. Jacqueline Huynh. She views mentorship as a lifelong, mutual process in which she hopes to foster the next generation of Latine engineers.

“Once I was in their shoes and now I get to give back. That’s the part that brings me the most joy. I want students to carry what they learn forward—to apply it in their families, their communities, and become mentors themselves someday.”

Melissa aspires to one day influence both research and student development as a university faculty member. She advocates for a sustainable and accessible future in transportation design, acknowledging that transportation is deeply tied to opportunity especially in regards to education.

“Transportation allows you to get to school, to a hospital—it is the difference between being able to do something or not. It must be accessible to everyone… Engineers must ask: who are we serving, and how do we make what we design benefit the people we intend it for?”

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight faculty researcher Dr. Jun Wu for her contributions to the Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and her dedication to a sustainable tomorrow.

In addition to her work as a faculty researcher with the Institute of Transportation Studies, Dr. Wu is a professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at the UC Irvine Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health. Outside of the classroom, you can find Dr. Wu at UC Irvine’s Exposure, Epidemiology, and Equity (E3) Environmental Health Lab where she serves as Principal Investigator.

Dr. Wu’s sense of responsibility for the environment bloomed at a young age in China. Her early connection to nature first led her to a career in environmental engineering. Wanting to focus her efforts on prevention rather than remediation, Dr. Wu began studying public health in relation to the environment. Today, Dr. Wu’s research flourishes from the intersection of these disciplines.

“I grew up surrounded by trees, flowers, and fruit. But when I moved to a city, I lived next to a big road filled with traffic and pollution. That disruption shaped my desire to study environmental engineering and later, environmental health.”

This summer for the Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP), Dr. Wu is leading a team of undergraduate and graduate researchers, examining extreme heat and lack of green space. Dr. Wu’s TRIP project actively works to build the bridge between environmental health and transportation equity, engaging both experts and emerging researchers.

“I don’t consider myself a transportation person—but I think it’s essential that when we plan transportation systems, we consider their environmental cost and public health impact.”

As the days get hotter in California, Dr. Wu’s research rises in relevance and urgency. By mapping urban heat islands through land surface temperature and gathering a sense of how transportation infrastructure can worsen temperature disparities, Dr. Wu’s research is at the forefront of creating solutions to urban heat exposure.

“Even within Irvine, you’ll see major temperature differences between concrete-heavy areas and tree-shaded ones. Roads absorb heat and generate emissions, trees cool the space down. Our goal is to quantify that and model potential solutions.”

When considering the future of transportation, Dr. Wu encourages students to dream big while still keeping the most vulnerable populations in mind. The cornerstone of Dr. Wu’s work is rooted in a deep commitment to sustainability, equity, and health-conscious solutions.

“I want to see more efficient, accessible public transit. Be open-minded. Think beyond efficiency and convenience—ask how transportation decisions affect people’s health and the environment.”

You can read more on Dr. Wu and her groundbreaking research here.

Author Erin Boshers is a recent graduate of Urban Studies and Literary Journalism at UC Irvine, where she explored the intersection of infrastructure, social behaviors, and public policy. She has conducted transportation and housing research through roles at Caltrans, the Kennedy Commission, Jamboree Housing, and the Institute of Transportation Studies.

Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) pairs undergraduate student researchers with faculty in paid positions to contribute meaningfully to ongoing transportation research projects, and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pairs high school student researchers with faculty in unpaid positions to similarly contribute to these projects. To learn more about these programs, contact ITS-Irvine Assistant Director for Programs and Engagement Dr. Victoria Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight Dr. Federico Vaca’s new youth-centered program, Youth Thriving in Life Transitions with Transportation (THRIVE). THRIVE focuses on how transportation impacts the immediate and later health, education, and employment of high school youth, particularly as it relates to safety and independence in driving licensure. THRIVE works to expose youth to a breadth of transportation benefits as well as the tightly coupled responsibilities and need for understanding safety that comes along with young driver licensure. This is of key note given that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for youth ages 15 – 24—all too often a result of alcohol and drug impaired driving, distracted driving, riding with an impaired driver, and even drowsy driving. THRIVE takes a proactive approach to building safer, more equitable communities by exposing young drivers “to-be” and novice young drivers to the impact transportation can have on health, education, employment and access to opportunity.

“Safer young drivers, safer communities altogether. Distraction, impairment, and speed, the big three, are all preventable.”

Dr.Vaca’s work with THRIVE is informed by a career in emergency medicine where he first recognized the great need for youth-focused crash-injury prevention program work and research.

“It was the clinical experiences that really shaped the work I wanted to do—getting beyond the emergency room doors to prevent injuries in the first place.”

As a researcher with the Institute of Transportation Studies and the School of Medicine’s Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Vaca’s work highlights how transportation can improve and preserve a community’s health if planning is human-centric.

“Without humans and their well-being, you won’t have any transit of any sorts… It’s the people driving this whole process. It’s about understanding how transportation affects real lives—from accessing a job to managing asthma.”

THRIVE aims to provide valuable exposure and education in transportation to youth—some of the most vulnerable road users—guiding them to be intentionally mindful of how transportation, individual, and community health are closely woven together.

You can read more about Dr. Vaca’s research as the Professor and Executive Vice Chair of Emergency Medicine at UC Irvine here. Additionally, you can listen to how Dr. Vaca’s research explains why teens are driving as much here.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine would like to congratulate TRIP alumni, Casey Chung, for her published research on community spaces. As a UCLA Lewis Center 2025 fellow, Casey Chung evaluated equity and freeway redress across reconnecting communities projects in Pasadena and San Diego. Her capstone report highlights the importance of restorative justice in transportation planning and the need to ensure grant-funded efforts produce equitable outcomes.

Casey’s research stems from her earlier work as an undergraduate researcher at UC Irvine and the Institute of Transportation Studies where she analyzed bikeway infrastructure and the impact of COVID-19 on housing affordability. Her continual research efforts contribute to a UC-wide study on restorative justice that will inform policy interventions ensuring mobility justice and transportation equity.

You can read more about the work Casey is doing to advance the future of transportation here.

Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pairs 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.

ITS Researchers Dr. Michael Hyland and Dr. Michael McNally were recently featured in the Orange County Register for their expert opinion on the Irvine Connect Shuttle System. The Irvine Connect Shuttle was launched as a city-run pilot in 2023, replacing Irvine’s iShuttle services. In July of this year, Irvine Connect added an additional bus and five new stops. Now the city is considering whether or not to expand the shuttle system further.

Dr. Hyland and Dr. McNally advise city planners to first weigh their end goal and whether it aligns with the needs of Irvine residents.

“It seems to me that the city wants to have transit to have transit, maybe some environmental benefits. My perspective is that transit in a place like Irvine is not the best solution for improving sustainability,” he said. “But if the goal is to connect young people, elderly people, people who can’t operate a vehicle to their key destinations, then there really are no better alternatives … which then becomes how much does the city want to spend on serving those trips?” – Dr.Hyland

McNally suggests the city collaborate with pre-existing bus and transit systems operating under OCTA in addition to expanding connections to Metrolink and Amtrak so residents have access to everyday destinations.

“Another option they may not have considered is working on a deal with OCTA where they could subsidize OCTA service in the city, or, for example, subsidize the cost of a bus pass to Irvine residents. People commute in and out of Irvine all the time. If (Irvine Connect) serves only in the city, it probably can’t do that.” – Dr. McNally
You can read further about Irvine’s Connect Shuttle here: https://lnkd.in/g9bedraH

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight former student researcher, Dylan Ando for his contributions to the Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and his dedication to advancing the transportation systems of tomorrow.

Dylan began his journey at UC Irvine where he served as President of the Urban Studies Student Association. While helping other students explore the field of urban planning and policy, Dylan earned his B.A. in Urban Studies with a GIS specialization and a minor in Statistics. As an undergraduate, Dylan held internships at the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), Jamboree Housing Corporation, and the Institute of Transportation Studies TRIP Program where his passion for transit blossomed.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be a planner—let alone a transportation planner—before joining TRIP. Being able to talk about my project with professors after just one summer was a turning point for me.”

During his summer spent with the TRIP program, Dylan researched transportation network companies and equity in public transportation alongside Professor R. (Jay) Jayakrishnan and graduate student Negin Shariat. At the conclusion of the TRIP program, Dylan continued his research, presenting his findings to the Transportation Research Board and the SCAG Student Showcase where he was awarded the 2023 Storymap Jury Award.

“Microtransit was a niche topic I hadn’t expected to be passionate about, but it aligned with everything I cared about: equity, access, and impact.”

After completing the TRIP program and his degree, Dylan received the Dean’s Scholar Award, the Outstanding Urban Studies Student Award, the Outstanding Contribution to the School of Social Ecology Award, the Outstanding Contribution to the Community, and a full-ride scholarship to USC.

Today, Dylan is working towards a Masters of Urban Planning (MUP) at USC with a concentration in transportation and mobility while interning at Fehr & Peers.

“USC’s program is focused on application and skill-building, which is what I was craving after undergrad. My internships helped me learn the job without committing long-term. It’s a great way to grow quickly and get exposure to the field.”

For Dylan, leaving a lasting impact on the world of transportation began with asking questions and seeking out mentorship. Transportation can pave the way towards a more equitable and sustainable future if you’re curious enough to question the built environment around you.

“Even if you feel out of place, ask questions. Everyone starts somewhere—support and curiosity go a long way.”

Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and the Pre-college Research Immersion Program pairs 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.

The Institute of Transportation Studies would like to congratulate Dr. Michael Hyland on his recent promotion to Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Samueli School of Engineering, UC Irvine.

During his time at UC Irvine, Dr. Hyland has dedicated his research to developing smarter, more sustainable transportation systems with a focus on microtransit, bikesharing, ridesharing, and driverless vehicles. This summer, Dr. Hyland has worked closely with graduate students, undergraduates, and high school students modeling human unreliability in microtransit services and quantifying accessibility benefits from small-scale mobility investments for the Institute of Transportation Studies’ TRIP program. As an Associate Professor, Dr. Hyland intends to continue his research towards improving the future of transportation.

“I’m looking forward to the added job security and the opportunity to take a step back and determine where I want to focus my scholarly efforts over the next 5+ years.”

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight faculty researcher Dr. Jacqueline Huynh for her contributions to the Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and her dedication to advancing the future of aviation.

Dr. Huynh began her academic career studying Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering in addition to Mechanical Engineering at UC Irvine. As an undergraduate, Dr. Huynh did not originally intend to further her studies beyond a Bachelor’s degree. After immersing herself in various design projects, however, her interest in research ignited. Following her graduation in 2014, Dr. Huynh went on to earn her Masters (2017) and PhD (2020) at MIT in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering. Dr. Huynh returned to UC Irvine to expand sustainable aviation as an Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

“I really wanted to come back to UC Irvine… because it gave me so much and I really wanted to give back.”

Following her return to UC Irvine, Dr. Huynh has focused her research on designing the aircraft systems of tomorrow, reducing aviation’s environmental impacts in the process. By furthering technologies such as hydrogen and electrified propulsion, Dr. Huynh’s work mitigates aircraft noise and emissions negatively impacting overtly exposed communities.

“We’ve proven… there are many opportunities for us to make these sectors more sustainable. It’s up to us—the Institute—to figure out what those solutions are.”

When Dr. Huynh isn’t figuring out solutions, she’s mentoring the next generation of transportation leaders. As an ITS associate, and as a faculty advisor in the Pre-college Research Immersion and Transportation Research Immersion Programs (PRIME and TRIP), Dr. Huynh leads a team of high school and undergraduate students on community-focused research projects. This summer, Dr. Huynh and her team are developing sustainable flight operations for advanced air mobility with communities at the center. While the work Dr. Huynh and her team are conducting is complex, students of all levels have an opportunity to contribute through the TRIP and PRIME programs.

“You don’t need to be an expert to start doing real research. If you don’t know something, you can learn and figure it out. That’s part of what research is… Students go from having just taken a coding class… to simulating aircraft flying over cities and modeling flight paths.”

Dr. Huynh strongly encourages students with a future in transportation to actively question the world around them, considering the different shapes of a more sustainable future.

“My hope is a transportation system that supports global growth while minimizing negative impacts to human health.”

You can read more about Dr. Huynh’s research here.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight former student researcher, Joseph Faria-Poynter for his contributions to the Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP) and his dedication to advancing the transportation systems of tomorrow.

Joseph joined the TRIP program in summer 2022 while an undergraduate in civil engineering. Throughout the program , Joseph felt encouraged to explore what most interested him. After engaging in collaborative brainstorming with his advisors, Joseph began researching complete streets and pedestrian refuge islands. He learned to think outside the box, drawing inspiration from cities like San Francisco, to reimagine the landscapes of Orange County.

“TRIP helped me develop critical thinking and independent research skills to try to improve transportation throughout the state. It also made me more aware of the importance of accessibility, equity, and multi-modality within transportation.”

Joseph’s research provided him with a crucial understanding of how people interact with transit infrastructure, especially in regards to their safety.

“Transportation involves people and how everything relates, it’s not just design manuals.”

Building upon this understanding of transportation systems, Joseph now works as an assistant engineer at VST Engineering, in Oakland, while also pursuing a Masters in Transportation Management at San Jose State University. He hopes to one day improve safety and mobility in his own community by becoming a rail transit agency manager, a role that will provide him with a tangible sense of impact where it matters most.

When asked what practical advice students can gather from his experiences at ITS, Joseph urged the importance of remaining open to new experiences. By allowing passion to guide your research, there’s less of a need to have everything figured out.

“Just try something meaningful to you—it’ll come together.”

Each summer, the ITS-Irvine Transportation Research Immersion Program pairs undergraduate student researchers with faculty in paid positions to contribute meaningfully to ongoing transportation research projects. To learn more about the program, contact ITS-Irvine Assistant Director for Programs and Engagement Dr. Victoria Valentine Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.