Spotlight Archives - The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Irvine

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight student researcher, Miles Shaffie, for his involvement in the 2025 Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME).

As a Senior at Dana Hills High School, Miles supports his passion for civil engineering and transportation with a strong academic foundation in math and science in addition to active involvement in AP and honors coursework.

“I’ve always known that I have a curious mind, questioning the way things work… it’s through experiences like these that allow me to better shape my path in the engineering world.”

As a PRIME participant, Miles assisted with research fueling the LA Metro “28 by 28” Railway Expansion Project. In addition to building his public speaking skillset, PRIME helped Miles gain experience in real-world data collection and analysis within an academic setting.

“The data collection and analysis skills help in the research I conduct for my own construction projects… Having opportunities to present throughout this project has given me added confidence that I will carry over to my future college and career endeavors.”

With the supportive leadership of faculty researcher Dr. Elisa Borowski and graduate student Montana Reinoehl, Miles learned the importance of community and guidance when searching for solutions to transportation projects.

“I really felt a sense of community in this team. I knew that if I had any questions or needed advice I could turn to them.”

The experience Miles gained over the summer prepares him for a career full of meaningful impacts on infrastructure. Inspired by a recent trip to Costa Rica, Miles approaches transportation with a global perspective. He hopes one day his research can contribute to improving transportation systems in developing countries.

“I visited Costa Rica and noticed the road system is drastically underdeveloped… I would love to find opportunities to help innovate their infrastructure because it is a beautiful country with amazing people.”

Miles is a testament to the impact of early exposure to research and mentorship within the field of engineering. Opportunities for collaboration, such as PRIME, empower students to envision a more connected future.

“This program showed me that engineers have a monumental impact, and I am grateful for my trajectory to join this community.”

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 Valentine Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight former TRIP participant, Sara L., for her new position at NTT DATA. At NTT DATA, Sara will work as an Associate Data Engineer, joining a graduate team delivering technical consulting across multiple industries. Sara’s background in mathematics and her computational skillset has prepared her for real-world problem solving, both within and beyond transportation and infrastructure challenges.

“I’m excited to work toward getting a doctorate in engineering that allows me to apply my math and data science experience.”

As an undergraduate researcher, Sara focused on prompt engineering for traffic signal warrant analysis, aiming to enhance efficiency and accuracy in traffic engineering workflows. In the process, Sara created a Python framework to test and evaluate large language models (LLMs) using traffic data. From her efforts, Sara discovered performance gaps in LLMs when applied to engineering-specific tasks and developed targeted recommendations for improvement. In January 2025, Sara presented these recommendations amongst many other findings at the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 104th Annual Meeting.
Sara’s new role at NTT DATA will expose her to a diverse array of innovation across many sectors including transportation, finance, and technology.

“NTT DATA explores a lot of different industries, and I’m excited to explore how my skills are transferrable across industries. At an international company, I will be able to learn about what the process is like across cultures and learn about their unique perspective.”

Sara’s career journey is an inspiration to current TRIP/ PRIME participants who are looking to improve the future through interdisciplinary learning and curiosity. She encourages others to open themselves up to opportunities, even when the path may seem uncertain.

“Don’t let failure or unexpected circumstances get to you! Sometimes there’s something better on the other side.”.

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 Valentine Deguzman at vvdeguzm@uci.edu.

The Institute of Transportation Studies, Irvine is proud to spotlight Dr. Dominic Bednar for their contributions to a sustainable tomorrow. Dr. Bednar is many things—an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urban Planning and Public Policy at UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology, a leader in energy justice, an innovative researcher—but most importantly they’re community-centric.

One of Dr. Bednar’s first communities began at the University of Maryland where they majored in Civil Engineering and minored in Sustainability Studies. During this time, Dr. Bednar’s interest in environmental justice and energy poverty took root, eventually guiding them to the University of Michigan. There, Dr. Bednar earned a Masters in Sustainable Systems and a Ph.D. in Environment and Sustainability. Since then, Dr. Bednar’s interdisciplinary background has informed three years of people-oriented transportation research. Their hopes for the future of transportation challenge the equity gap exacerbated by the single-person vehicle.

“My vision is a transit system that transforms how we move and transforms the world around us…I hope for a future where transportation is nearly free or universally accessible, where you can get where you need to go with your own two feet or whatever mobility you require.”

Currently, Dr. Bednar’s research examines Los Angeles and Atlanta, two cities that experience some of the highest levels of traffic and car dependency in the world. In addition to determining what contributes to car-dependency, Dr. Bednar’s project will also engage community members in thinking sessions to reimagine the future of transportation.

“If I’m going to do this job any justice, I feel like doing it on behalf of the people is really what is important to me. No matter how expert of a team I put together, it won’t be that expert unless it includes folks on the front lines.”

When Dr. Bednar isn’t expanding the field of energy justice research, they’re building a global network. They’re a leader in policy as a member of the Black Hive for the Black Lives Movement and the Co-founder of Black in Environment, two organizations that prioritize environmental and racial justice. They’re a DJ, a sonic artist, an avid traveler, and an outdoor enthusiast. It’d be easier to list everything Dr. Bednar isn’t, then everything they are.

“If we don’t take our joy and our pleasure and our excitement for ourselves, there will be no time for it. Traveling, music, and language learning are just as much part of my practice as research—they keep me balanced and connected.”

Dr. Bednar’s accomplishments stem from their connection to community. Their contributions to the Institute of Transportation Studies is fueled by a desire to provide others with the same opportunity.

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

Preston joined the Institute of Transportation Studies as an undergraduate in 2023 while earning his B.A. in Social Policy and Public Service. Preston’s interest in social welfare provided him with a unique lens to explore community-related issues at the intersection of housing and transportation. As a student researcher, Preston applied his knowledge to community resilience hubs and transit access disparities during disasters like wildfires and COVID-19.

“It really opened my eyes… there’s a revolving door between research and practice in our field. TRIP helped me see that.”

After completing TRIP, Preston felt prepared to enter professional positions in highly collaborative environments. For one of his first high-impact roles, Preston assisted with securing $100 million in competitive grant funding to develop the BART to Silicon Valley Phase II Project.

“We wrote two grant applications for a $13 billion project. It felt impactful because it was mostly me and a small team doing the main writing… It’s really on-the-job learning. Joining ITS helped me learn a bit more about the field.”

Today, Preston applies his on-the-job learning approach to his current role at Drago Vantage as a Transportation Planner. Although he never anticipated a career in transportation, Preston’s experiences are full of satisfaction and worthwhile lessons. When asked what advice he may have for students curious about TRIP, Preston encouraged them to embrace opportunities whenever they’re offered.

“Don’t feel underqualified… we’re all just trying to figure things out. Just go for it and learn as much as you can. Some days are better than others, but overall, I feel pretty satisfied knowing I contributed.”

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 faculty researcher Dr. Wenlong Jin for his contributions to the Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME) and his dedication to advancing the future of automated transportation.

At ITS, Dr. Jin approaches real-world transportation challenges with rigorous mathematical modeling. His methodology strikes a balance between the technical and human-centered systems that comprise transportation.

“I really like transportation because it sits at the intersection of engineering, economics, sociology, and planning. In many ways, it’s a mirror of society itself.”

Currently, Dr. Jin’s research centers on automated vehicle safety. In a two-part study released this year, Dr. Jin explored Provably Safe and Human-Like Car-Following Behaviors. In addition to identifying the limitations in existing car-following models (including safety issues in particular scenarios), Dr. Jin’s study develops a new multi-phase, projection-based model for automated vehicles (AVs). This model combines provable safety with human-like driving, a crucial aspect of road sharing between AVs and human drivers.

“Without the human-like element, automated cars could be too aggressive or too timid. Either way, it creates surprises for human drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians—and that’s where safety issues arise.”

This summer, Dr. Jin led high school student, Alex Wang, in the 2025 PRIME program with the support of PhD student Jooneui Hong. Their project focused on a data-driven analysis of HOV-to-HOT lane conversions, examining impacts on general-purpose lane users and equity. Dr. Jin’s mentorship is a part of his deep commitment to giving young researchers hands-on exposure to data analysis and real-world transportation questions.

“My goal was to pair Alex with a PhD student so he could experience what cutting-edge research looks like at a university. It’s about more than data—it’s about learning how to ask the right questions.”

Dr. Jin hopes the future of transportation is safer, more efficient, more equitable, and a pathway to better understanding human behaviors. Through his mathematical models, Dr. Jin is formalizing safety, efficiency, and fairness so that we may test the assumptions behind our systems before putting them into the real world.

“Transportation is a reflection of humanity. If we can design safer and fairer systems here, maybe we can learn something about improving society as a whole.”

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

During her time at ITS, Jennifer worked under Professor Elisa Borowski on a project titled Visualization and Synthesis of CBO-Managed Accessibility Data. Her role focused on analyzing and mapping transportation accessibility data managed by community-based organizations (CBOs), with the goal of making equity-focused transportation data more usable for policymakers and advocates. The project deepened her interest in how local knowledge and community-led data collection can shape more just and inclusive transportation systems.

Today, Jennifer is applying to graduate school as a prospective student in a dual Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) program. She aims to develop interdisciplinary expertise that allows her to advance equitable, sustainable infrastructure and public health systems to serve the greater Southern California region. Her end goal is to work at the intersection of environmental health, transportation policy, and urban planning to drive systemic change through research, policy, and advocacy.

Jennifer’s research interests lie at the intersection of environmental health, transportation equity, and regional planning. She’s especially interested in how infrastructure decisions impact air quality, mobility, and public health outcomes in Southern California. She also focuses on the role of data visualization and community-based research in shaping policies that promote accessible, low-emission transportation systems. Ultimately, she’s passionate about using interdisciplinary methods to support healthier, more resilient communities across the region.

She hopes one day extended public transportation systems and walkable neighborhoods are the norm in Southern California—not the exception. Reliable, accessible transit and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure can transform communities, reducing emissions, improving public health, and fostering greater social and economic mobility. Especially in regions like Southern California, she envisions a transportation future that prioritizes sustainability, equity, and connectivity for all residents.

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.”

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 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.