Spotlight Archives - The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Irvine

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Charlotte Dunlap for her contributions to the 2026 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP). Charlotte is a double major in Criminology, Law and Society and Urban Studies at UC Irvine. Her academic interests center on the intersection of law, policy, and urban space, with a particular focus on how transportation systems can better serve communities and expand access for people across different socioeconomic backgrounds.

“As a community-oriented individual, I chose majors that I could utilize to expand my knowledge about law, policy, and urban space and how they interact. I wish to use that knowledge to aid the community, particularly those at a disadvantage.”

TRIP provides students like Charlotte with the opportunity to examine transportation systems and their impact on communities through hands-on research. Living and studying in Orange County has sparked her interest in understanding the region’s transportation landscape, particularly the challenges and opportunities associated with accessibility, sustainability, and mobility.

“As an Orange County college student, it is easy to accept the car-centered culture as fact, especially when driving is crucial to social interaction. I am intrigued to observe and better understand the different facets of transportation within the Orange County area, particularly relating to my interest in sustainability and availability to previously inaccessible communities.”

As part of this project, Charlotte hopes to build upon her previous GIS experience and deepen her understanding of community-focused transportation and planning research. She is especially excited to continue exploring topics related to pocket parks, community demographics, and the ways public spaces contribute to accessibility and quality of life.

“Within the GIS specialization courses this year, I had the privilege to work on a project surrounding pocket parks in Santa Ana and the demographic context surrounding three specific parks.”

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.

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Kingston Wu for his contributions to the 2026 Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME). Kingston is a student at Portola High School with interests in alternative fuels, air pollution, traffic safety, and the environmental impacts of transportation. His academic interests in biology, ecology, and public health have inspired him to explore how transportation systems affect both people and the environment.

“After taking AP Biology, I became interested in cellular biology, ecology, and public health.”

TRIP provides students like Kingston with the opportunity to investigate transportation challenges through hands-on research. He is particularly interested in the balance between technological innovation and the real-world impacts transportation systems have on communities. Through research, he hopes to better understand how transportation can become more sustainable, equitable, and beneficial for public health.

“There is constant innovation in the transportation field to make travel more sustainable and efficient, yet so many people still struggle to find reliable transportation or are harmed by the byproducts and consequences of emission and pollution.”

As part of this project, Kingston hopes to gain experience with the research process and learn how data can be used to address transportation and environmental challenges. He is excited to explore how researchers translate findings into practical solutions that can positively impact local communities.

“I hope to learn more about the research process and discover how researchers analyze data to come up with achievable solutions that can benefit local communities.”

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.

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Andrea Chan for her contributions to the 2026 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP). Andrea is a Civil Engineering major at UC Irvine with a passion for transportation engineering and creating projects that positively impact communities. Inspired by her experiences growing up in Hong Kong, she developed an appreciation for efficient and well-connected transit systems and hopes to contribute to transportation solutions that improve accessibility and quality of life.

“I chose to major in Civil Engineering because I enjoy the process of creating projects that can make a long-term impact. What motivates me most is knowing that the work I contribute to can last for years and help improve the lives of the public and surrounding communities.”

TRIP gives students like Andrea the opportunity to explore how transportation systems shape communities and everyday life. Her interest in transportation engineering is rooted in a desire to improve connectivity and expand access to reliable mobility options. Through research, she hopes to better understand how transportation systems can serve diverse populations while balancing efficiency and sustainability.

“What intrigues me most about transportation is the opportunity to improve connectivity and make transportation systems more accessible for everyone. I am especially interested in finding ways to make transportation both sustainable and environmentally friendly while still being efficient and reliable for the public.”

As part of this project, Andrea hopes to deepen her understanding of the relationship between transportation systems and the communities they serve. She is particularly interested in exploring ways to make transportation networks more accessible, connected, and environmentally sustainable for future generations.

“I hope to learn more about how transportation systems impact communities and everyday life. I’m interested in understanding how transportation can be made more accessible, efficient, and connected for everyone.”

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Arnav Rastogi for his contributions to the 2026 Pre-College Research Immersion Program (PRIME). Arnav is a student at American High School with interests in transportation equity, accessible transportation, and active mobility. His passion for research stems from a desire to better understand how data can be used to support equitable transportation systems and informed decision-making.

“I chose my research field because it is embedded in equity and reasoning.”

PRIME provides students like Arnav with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in transportation research while exploring real-world challenges. He is particularly interested in the role of data collection and analysis in producing reliable research outcomes and ensuring that findings accurately reflect the communities they are intended to serve.

“I’m most excited to see and help with data collection, making sure there are no biases and problems.”

As part of this project, Arnav hopes to strengthen his research skills and gain experience working with data. Through PRIME, he looks forward to learning how researchers organize, analyze, and model information to better understand transportation-related issues and support future studies.

“I want to better understand how to model data for research fields.”

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Annie Lai for her contributions to the 2026 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP). Annie is an Urban Studies major in the School of Social Ecology at UC Irvine with interests in active transportation, walkability, and sustainable mobility networks. Her experiences growing up in Taiwan and later moving to Southern California inspired her interest in understanding how transportation systems and urban environments shape daily life, health, and access to opportunities.

“I chose Urban Studies as my major because I became interested in how transportation systems and the built environment shape people’s daily lives, health, and access to opportunities. Growing up in Taiwan and later moving to Southern California made me notice how different urban environments influence travel behavior and quality of life.”

TRIP provides students like Annie with the opportunity to explore how transportation and urban planning can contribute to healthier, more connected communities. She is particularly interested in examining the relationship between transportation systems, the built environment, and the experiences of people across different communities. She hopes to better understand how cities can become more sustainable, equitable, and human-centered.

“I am especially interested in how transportation systems and the built environment influence travel behavior and create different experiences across communities.”

As part of this project, Annie hopes to investigate how pocket parks and green spaces in Santa Ana connect to larger green corridors and active transportation networks. She is interested in identifying opportunities to strengthen these connections while gaining experience using GIS and spatial analysis to address real-world planning challenges.

“I am interested in identifying where gaps or mismatches exist between the city’s planning goals and current conditions, and thinking about what kinds of planning or design interventions could strengthen these green corridor connections.”

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Ryan Loo for his contributions to the 2026 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP). Ryan is an Economics student at Irvine Valley College with interests in accessibility, transportation equity, and the ways research can address real-world challenges. His academic interests center on understanding inequality and developing practical, evidence-based solutions that create meaningful change for individuals and communities.

“I chose Economics because I want to continue understanding how money enables the world and impacts individuals and families in practical ways….I want to continue researching inequality and accessibility and move beyond simply identifying these disparities and instead contribute to developing feasible and evidence based solutions that can create meaningful and measurable change in society.”

TRIP provides students like Ryan with the opportunity to explore how research can inform solutions to complex transportation and accessibility issues. He is particularly interested in the process of transforming ideas into actionable strategies that positively impact diverse communities. Through his previous research experiences, Ryan has seen firsthand how collaborative research can lead to innovative solutions with broad societal applications.

“The thing that intrigues me the most about research is seeing the process of proposed solutions being developed into actionable strategies that impacts individuals across diverse backgrounds.”

As part of this project, Ryan hopes to strengthen his collaboration skills while working alongside students from different educational backgrounds. He is excited by the opportunity to contribute to research that addresses accessibility challenges and supports meaningful progress toward more equitable transportation systems.

“I want to work collectively in my team of students across all educational backgrounds toward shared milestones that can drive meaningful progress within our project.”

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Luka Krezovic for his contributions to the 2026 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP). Luka is a Civil Engineering student at Irvine Valley College with aspirations of working in the railway industry as an engineering consultant. A lifelong train enthusiast, he is passionate about transportation systems and the role they play in connecting people, communities, and economies.

“I chose this research field as I loved trains since birth and always found it amazing how they are the backbone of society, both in passenger and freight logistical movements.”

TRIP provides students like Luka with the opportunity to explore the relationship between transportation systems, urban planning, and community development through hands-on research. His interest in transportation extends beyond engineering and infrastructure to understanding how people interact with and benefit from public transit. Through his experiences traveling by train and using public transportation, he has developed a strong appreciation for its social and environmental impacts.

“I love learning why people take transportation and how to make it more compelling to people to use. I firmly believe using public transit brings us together as we learn about our environment more, both physically and socially.”

As part of this project, Luka hopes to develop technical skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the factors that influence transportation choices. He is particularly interested in how urban planning affects transit use and what encourages individuals to choose public transportation over driving.

“I hope to learn GIS skills that I will carry onto my education and career and also learn how urban planning relates to public transit usage…I am excited to learn why people choose public transit instead of driving and what is the threshold to favor car dependency.”

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Sara Kabbara for her contributions to the 2026 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP). Sara is a Chemistry major with an Emphasis in Natural Sciences at Irvine Valley College and is working toward a career in pharmacy. Her interests lie at the intersection of public health and community well-being, with a focus on how transportation systems and the built environment influence health outcomes.

“What intrigues me most is how deeply transportation infrastructure is tied to public health outcomes. From urban air quality and emissions to the design of walkable communities that encourage active transit, the way we move directly impacts a population’s physical wellness.”

TRIP provides students like Sara with the opportunity to explore how transportation research can contribute to healthier communities. Drawing from her passion for public health, she is interested in understanding how transportation systems, emissions, and community design affect quality of life. Through research, she hopes to identify structural and preventative approaches that address health challenges before they arise.

“Researching these connections allows us to find preventative, structural solutions to widespread health challenges.”

As part of this project, Sara hopes to deepen her understanding of healthy built environments and the role transportation networks play in shaping community health. She is especially interested in how active transportation infrastructure can reduce reliance on emissions-heavy transit and support long-term public wellness.

“I want to discover how intentional urban planning can be used as a primary tool for preventative medicine and public wellness.”

The Institute of Transportation Studies is proud to spotlight Izabel Vicente for her contributions to the 2026 Transportation Research Immersion Program (TRIP). Izabel is a Human Biology major at UC Irvine with aspirations of becoming a physician assistant. Growing up in Santa Ana and living near a freeway her entire life sparked her interest in understanding how transportation infrastructure and environmental conditions affect public health, particularly in underserved communities.

“What interests me most about transportation research is understanding how transportation and freeway environments can affect human health over time. Having lived next to a freeway my entire life, I have personally seen family members struggle with asthma and severe allergies.”

TRIP allows students like Izabel to explore the connection between transportation and community health through hands-on research. Motivated by her experiences with pollution exposure near her home, she is interested in examining how transportation-related pollution and noise may contribute to respiratory illnesses, stress, and other long-term health concerns. Through this work, she hopes to better understand the environmental factors that shape health outcomes.

“These experiences are what drive my interest in research. I want to better understand the relationship between transportation pollution and human health, specifically how environmental exposure may contribute to respiratory disease, allergies, stress, and other chronic health issues.”

As part of TRIP, Izabel hopes to strengthen her research and analytical skills while learning how to investigate environmental health challenges. She believes these experiences will help prepare her for a future career in healthcare and equip her to address health disparities through evidence-based solutions.

“As part of this project, I hope to develop strong critical thinking and research skills that will help me both as a future physician assistant and in solving real-world problems.”