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.”
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.