ITS-Irvine Transportation Undergraduate Research Assistant Program

This is a paid summer research opportunity in Transportation Research for UCI undergraduate students. The Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) invites motivated UCI undergraduate students to explore exciting research projects in transportation by applying for an eight-week paid internship (20 hours per week, $20.00 per hour with possible adjustment for experience, with a flexible starting date) under the supervision of an ITS Faculty AssociateApplications are due on June 17 at 5 pm.  See below for details on how to apply.

This opportunity is ideal for undergraduate students who would like to experience transportation research firsthand while working closely with transportation faculty.  Selected students will be assigned to a specific research project and will contribute meaningfully to that project under the guidance and mentorship of an ITS Faculty Associate. Students who complete the program will earn a certificate of completion, and a heightened awareness of research and research methods along with a better understanding of the myriad of exciting careers and advanced degrees available in transportation with pathways to successfully pursue them.   

No prior research experience is required. Enthusiastic students of all majors and with sophomore, junior, or senior status as of summer 2022 (and graduating no earlier than in Fall 2022) with a GPA of 3.0 or more are encouraged to apply. Research project topics include but are not limited to:

  • Modeling reverse flows of recycled materials in CA
  • Performing a full cost analysis of off-road zero-emission equipment
  • Analyzing LA Metro’s GoPass Fareless pilot program
  • Exploring the future of telework
  • Analyze policies for accelerating the deployment of heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.
  • Simulating how connected & autonomous vehicles might improve efficiency and reduce energy use
  • Developing the next generation of multi-resolution transportation planning models
  • Analyzing the benefits and costs to CA of sharing data from Uber and Lyft 
  • Empirical analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 on link and network average travel times with PeMS data
  • Improving operations of transit and complete streets with half-phase signals
  • Using detection technologies (e.g., LIDAR) with machine learning to analyze truck movements.
  • Equity-focused modeling and optimization for transportation networks
  • Transit agencies and Transportation Network Companies in Public-private partnership
  • Modeling bicycling ridership in OC using Strava trips
  • Analyzing  long-term traffic impacts of GPS spoofing.
  • Urban freeways, the period of reconsideration
  • Transportation infrastructure and equity.

If you have your own transportation research idea, please reach out to an ITS Faculty Associate to discuss it prior to applying. If you don’t know who to talk to, contact Dr. Craig Rindt (crindt@uci.edu). The UC ITS list of research priorities might be helpful.

To apply, sign on to Handshake (joinhandshake.com) with your UCInetID, then search for job #6549177 (Undergraduate Student Researcher).  You will be asked to submit:

  1. A current resume (1-2 pages);
  2. A current transcript (a non-official transcript is sufficient); and 
  3. A statement of up to a page describing your interests in any area of transportation research and your short and long-term career plans, including any interest in graduate studies. We encourage you to contact an ITS faculty (https://www.its.uci.edu/faculty)  before submitting your application. They can help you with your statement.

The deadline for applications is June 17 at 5 pm.