What I Do I study the transition to sustainable transportation systems by developing quantitative models, algorithms, and data analytics to address the equitable and resilient mobility decarbonization challenge. I also teach engineering courses, such as systems engineering and urban transportation models, to undergraduate and graduate students!
Why Engineering? Engineers work independently or in large teams to solve complex contemporary problems, like adapting to climate change, deploying infrastructure systems that equitable serve socio-economic and demographic segments, and improve the quality of life for all. It is a very rewarding and challenging profession! I love the creative process and work that takes place when tackling a new engineering challenge and I also cherish working collaboratively with other scientists and researchers to provide new solutions that can help us improve the performance of our transport networks while mitigating adverse environmental and societal impacts.
School Days I received my PhD from University of Florida, my MSc from Virginia Tech, and my BS Diploma from the National Technical University of Athens, all in Civil Engineering. I also spent time as a postdoc at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
My Day At Work I usually allocate time to think about emerging research problems in the area of transportation and conduct analyses, meet with my students and collaborators to discuss research progress, teach undergraduate and graduate student courses, and write papers. Some days I also pursue outreach activities, reaching out to decision-makers and journalists to inform them about the implications of our research and introduce ambitious undergraduate students to our research initiatives!
Challenges Balancing career and family aspirations! Time management is definitely a challenge for women engineers and a network of family, mentors, and institutional support makes a difference in realizing your ambitions and excelling!
Inspiration I had very supportive mentors who introduced me to the role that transportation engineers play in building and managing transportation systems. They also provided support by providing recommendations and insightful advice when needed! I highly recommend building a network of trusted mentors and advisors.
Hobbies I really enjoy hiking. I have visited several national and states' parks, and I am amazed by the diversity of landscapes.