Abolfazl Karimpour, Graduate Research Assistant in Engineering Mechanics at University of Arizona

Learn more about Abolfazl by following him on Facebook, or find his published articles on LinkedIn.

Tell us about yourself:

My name is Abolfazl, I born in Mashhad, Iran. I am a second year Ph.D. student in Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, The University of Arizona. My specialty is in Transportation Engineering, and I am working as a full time research assistant in the Smart Transportation Lab.

Why did you decide to attend University of Arizona?

I had the opportunity to continue my studies and enroll in the doctoral program in Iran, however it would not have provided me with the same learning opportunities as studying at the University of Arizona. Working and researching in UofA enabled me to advance my educational goals and make positive contributions to the field. My background in Transportation Engineering closely matches with what my colleagues are doing in Smart Transportation Lab, which made me choose this university. 

What are your career aspirations after you graduate?

My long-term goal is to become a faculty member at a well-known university in the U.S. My career path will present many obstacles, and so I will broaden my search beyond academic jobs and consider applying my skills to transportation consultancy. In any case, my future career will be focused on making streets a safer place for pedestrians and improving network mobility.

How has NITC's research and work impacted you as a transportation professional?

The recent Transportation and Communities Summit held in Portland this year was my first official connection to NITC, where I met many active practitioners and faculty members specialized in transportation and planning. The travel funds that NITC provides for students is a great opportunity for us to connect with professionals in person, and enable us to keep up with the recent research. 

This is an installment in a series of monthly Student Spotlights we'll be shining on students and alumni that are involved with National Institute for Transportation & Communites (NITC) universities. NITC is a university transportation consortium funded by the U.S. DOT, and is a Portland State-led partnership with the University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Technology, University of Utah, University of Arizona, and University of Texas at Arlington.