Alireza Ermagun, Ph.D.

Alireza Ermagun is the Director of Mobility Observatory and Data Analytics Lab and an Assistant Professor of Transport in the Richard A. Rula School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Mississippi State University. He earned a Ph.D. in Transport Systems Engineering at the University of Minnesota in 2016. His dissertation Network Econometrics and Traffic Flow Analysis introduces theories and solutions to help unveil the hidden spatial dependency between traffic links in a complex network. He received a Master in Urban and Regional Planning from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota in addition to his Master in Road and Transportation.

His academic research is informed by a deep commitment to professional practice and draws on different disciplines, including engineering, planning, computer science, statistics, geography, and big data analysis. A common theme running through his research activities is to use emerging data and technologies, identify novel solutions, develop practical methods, and introduce innovative theories in the domains of human mobility, community resilience, and urban informatics. He has 55 refereed articles in peer reviewed journals and made over 80 technical presentations. His innovative research has resulted in Ermagun receiving multiple awards including the Best Research on Innovation Award from 2020 and 2018 Transportation Research Board, 2017 Tiebout Prize in Regional Science, and 2016 John S. Adams Award.

He is an active member of his profession and the academic community. Within his activities, he (1) serves as Research Coordinator and Member of the TRB Standing Committee on Women and Gender in Transportation (AME20) and Urban Freight Transportation (AT025), (2) is the co-founder of Findings and serves on its Board of Directors, (3) serves on the Editorial Board of Transport Reviews and Transport Findings, (4) co-organizes the Bridging Transportation Researchers Conference, (5) is corresponding member of the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) Committee on Transportation Policy, and (6) has been appointed to the Board of Governors for the Transportation & Development Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

• Smart Cities and Connected Communities
• Human Mobility and Travel Behavior Modeling
• Community Resilience and Sustainable Development
• Automation, Electrification, and Mobility-as-a-Service
• Transportation Geography and Network Science
• Data Science and Urban Informatics

I always seek outstanding Graduate Research Assistants from a variety of backgrounds to join my Mobility Observatory and Data Analytics Lab. Candidates should have strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and outstanding communication skills and have the desire to work collaboratively in a vibrant work culture. Above all, candidates should have a desire to look at transportation through a different lens, think out of the box, and be prepared to be challenged by these new ideas.

For more details on the position or the research, please contact me at aermagun@cee.msstate.edu.