PRIME Alumni Spotlight: Miles Shaffie

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.