ITS-Irvine Faculty Spotlight: Elisa Borowski

How did you become interested in transportation? And what interests you most right now?

I became interested in transportation by following a trail of interests that initially had very little to do with transportation. I earned my bachelor’s degree with a double major in anthropology and English and my master’s degree in civil engineering with a specialization in structures and materials. From there, I wanted to continue my education and simultaneously find a way to combine my passions for society and the built environment. While researching doctoral programs, I discovered the specialization of human travel behavior housed within civil engineering. I was attracted to the intersection of systems design and the human experience. My interests continue to grow in the direction of transportation equity, environmental justice, and social change.

What drew you to UCI/ITS-Irvine? What do you like best/find as strengths at UCI/ITS-Irvine?

I was drawn to UCI because of the Black Thriving Initiative, which is a campus-wide interdisciplinary commitment to advancing the wellbeing of Black individuals and communities across the country through research, teaching, and service. It was the first program of its kind that I had encountered. With the help of significant encouragement from faculty, family, and friends, I worked up the courage to apply and began the process that led me to UCI. I am grateful to now be part of ITS-Irvine, which contributes to the Black Thriving Initiative, because the faculty are very supportive; they maintain positive relationships with each other and honor a healthy work-life balance.

What are your research interests and what types of projects are you currently working on?

My research has examined transportation behavior during disasters and the role of social infrastructure in facilitating the sharing of rides and resources. Within a few months of joining UCI, I started a project in collaboration with the local non-profit organization Climate Resolve examining transportation access to resilience hubs in Los Angeles. I am drawn to the concept of resilience hubs as community-based spaces that provide essential resources to the public during both day-to-day conditions and extreme events. The goal of this initial project is to ensure that these hubs remain accessible during climate hazards, especially for individuals who do not drive a personal vehicle.

What issues in transportation keep you up at night?

The main transportation issues that keep me up at night are economic inequity and the constraints that places on where people can live and work and how they can travel; the impacts of climate disasters and what we can do to better prepare for them; and how we can design mobility systems that better support the innate human desire to help one other in times of need.