Jai Daniels

Advisor: John MacArthur

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Jai Daniels is a first-year Master of Urban and Regional Planning (MURP) student at PSU, currently working with John MacArthur on a Transportation Recovery Plan for the Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization (RPDO). Read more about Jai in this March 2021 Student Spotlight interview. She is interested in urban livability, bicycle and pedestrian planning, transit planning, and the intersection between urban planning and the environment.

Kyuri Kim

Advisor: Jennifer Dill

Kyu Ri is a second-year Ph.D. student in urban planning at the Nohad A. Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning. She is currently supporting Jennifer Dill and Nathan McNeil on the Research Roadmap for the AASHTO Council on Active Transportation. In the recent past, she supported Dr. Dill and Hau Hagedorn in transportation data analysis and visualization (including BikePed Portal and OHSU Census data) and other transportation research.

Rebeca Petean

Advisor: John MacArthur and Marisa Zapata

Rebeca Petean is a second-year Sociology Ph.D. student. Currently, she has taken on the role of Graduate Research Assistant for PSU’s Homelessness Research Action Collaborative (HRAC) joint venture with TREC on the project TCRP J-11/Task 40: Homelessness: A Guide for Public Transportation. She has also served as an Adjunct Instructor teaching Research Methods for Dominican University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2011, Masters of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2015, and Graduate Certification in Teaching Adult Learners from PSU, 2015. Her research interests include School-to-Prison Pipeline, Criminal Justice Decision-making, Police-Community Interactions, Developmental/Life Course Theory, Transportation Equity, and Justice.

Nora Stoelting

Transportation Education Program Coordinator

Advisor: Hau Hagedorn

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Nora integrates tactical urbanism projects into PSU classes via the PSU Better Block PSU pathway program, and also designs the curriculum for TREC's transportation summer camp for Oregon high school students. She is pursuing a dual master's in Leadership for Sustainability Education and Urban and Regional Planning, and is excited about the ways these two programs intersect in building a more dynamic, connected, and sustainable world. Though she loves exploring outdoor recreation in the great state of Oregon, she is originally from the concrete jungle of Brooklyn, NY. She believes strongly in the power of collaborative, holistic, experiential teaching and learning to transform ourselves and the world. Outside of school and work, Nora likes to search for new trail races to run, plan outdoor adventures, answer people's questions about recycling, and go for long walks while listening to podcasts. Learn more about Nora in our Sept. 2020 Student Spotlight interview.

GIS for Transportation (GIS-T) Symposium (AASHTO)
The GIS-T Symposium would like to encourage GIS students, undergraduate and graduate, with an emphasis on transportation to submit their research to the GIS-T Symposium’s Student Paper Contest. The contest is designed to encourage university students to develop solutions to current GIS-T issues. Award includes $100, travel and registration to the GIS-T Symposium.
 

American Public Transportation Foundation (APTA)
Funding for this annual scholarship program ranges from $5,000 - 10,000 and requires an endorsement from a current APTA member. Contact TREC at asktrec@pdx.edu for support on acquiring the endorsement.

Student Video Contest (ARTBA)
The Student Video Contest is aimed at helping students gain a better understanding of the importance of transportation infrastructure investment to the U.S. economy and quality of life, and to learn more about the industry and potential transportation construction career opportunities. $250 - 500 awards.

National Scholarship (COMTO)
The Conference Of Minority Transportation Officials annually awards multiple national academic scholarships, ranging from $500 to $6,000 each to minority graduate and undergraduate students from across the country. Scholarship awardees are represented in all academic backgrounds and pursuing various careers in the transportation industry. 

Future Leaders Development Conference (Eno)
Each year, the Eno Future Leaders Development Conference (LDC) gives 20 of the nation’s top graduate students in transportation a first-hand look at how national transportation policies are developed. Students apply to the program early in the year, and those selected as “Eno Fellows” come to Washington, DC for a weeklong intensive program each spring.

Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (FHWA)
Awarded by FHWA, fellowships are granted to students pursuing degrees in transportation-related disciplines. DDETFP awards are merit-based and generally result in 150-200 grants annually. PSU transportation students have a strong history of winning this prestigious fellowship. Meet past PSU Eisenhower Fellows here.

Meddin Emerging Researcher Scholarship (NABSA)
One year of access to members-only Knowledge Share database and webinars, and ticket to annual conference for the North American Bicycle Share and Scootershare Association.

Portland State University
College of Urban and Public Affairs - a range of scholarships open to undergraduate and graduate planning students.
Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science - a wide range of scholarships open to undergraduate and graduate students in civil engineering.

Coral Sales Company
Coral Sales Company of Portland, Oregon is pleased to offer two scholarships for the current school year of $1,000 each to outstanding individuals pursuing Civil Engineering studies or Construction Engineering studies in the School of Engineering.

Oregon Chapter American Public Works Association (APWA)
The Oregon APWA Scholastic Foundation offers a variety of scholarships intended to promote and expand educational opportunities and vocational skills in public works and to support the development of public works professionals. Two scholarships are reserved for PSU students: $1,000 Michael Lindberg and $3,000 Civil Engineering.

Oregon Institute of Transportation Engineers (Oregon ITE)
Bill Kloos Scholarship (varies)
Oregon ITE Scholarship ($2,500)

Women in Transportation - Portland Chapter (WTS Portland)
Shelley Holley Transportation YOU Scholarship for High School Girls ($2,000)
Junior College/Trade School Scholarship ($1,500)
Sharon D. Banks Memorial Undergraduate Scholarship ($4,500)
Helene M. Overly Memorial Graduate Scholarship ($4,500)
Leadership Legacy Scholarship Graduate Scholarship ($4,500)
Gail Achterman Leadership Scholarship Graduates & Undergraduates ($7,000)

Walter H. Kramer Fellowship ($2,000)

Dr. Walter H. Kramer founded the first transportation studies center in the Department of Marketing (now School of Business Administration). Focusing on transportation research and education, Dr. Kramer believed that "the actions of an individual, of a college, can determine the future of our cities, our society," and devoted himself toward bringing "the resources of the faculty to bear on the problems of the community." This fellowship is aimed at providing financial support to PSU graduate students enrolled in transportation-related graduate programs and working on multi-disciplinary, multi-modal research connected with making a difference in "our cities, our society, and the community."

IBPI Active Transportation Scholarship ($3,000)

Through a generous donation from Alta Planning + Design, we are awarding a $3,000 scholarship to a PSU graduate student who is highly motivated to focus their studies on bicycling and walking as mainstream forms of transportation. The successful applicant will be seeking to better understand how communities integrate bicycling and walking through their planning and design processes. This scholarship is supported by our Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI) program.

IBPI Excellence in Active Transportation Scholarship ($4,000)

Funded by a generous donation from local transportation professional Mia Birk. This scholarship will be awarded to one or more graduate student who is highly motivated to focus their studies on bicycling and walking as mainstream forms of transportation. The successful applicant will be seeking to better understand how communities integrate bicycling and walking through their planning and design processes. The scholarship is a total of $4,000 and may be split between students. This scholarship is supported by our Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI) program.

Help the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State fund the future of active transportation with your donation!

TREC hires undergraduate student workers as well, who may work at processing data or similar tasks. The best way to learn about open research positions at TREC is to join the PSU listserv for our student group ITE-STEP (Students in Transportation Engineering and Planning). To find more undergraduate research opportunities at PSU, explore the Center for Internship, Mentoring, and Research's (CIMR) Opportunity Hub.

Each year, 15–30 graduate students from engineering, urban studies & planning, and other fields are hired as graduate research assistants for PSU faculty. These students are often co-authors on project final reports and journal articles. Learn more about Graduate Assistantships at PSU.

Sparking an interest in transportation can start early, and we are always looking for ways to engage students in transportation before they reach college.

In recent years, many organizations are seeking to increase interest in careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) through creative engagement. Through nationally-funded research, we support new curriculum and programs that introduce middle- and high-school students to transportation concepts and careers. Some of those programs include:

• Annual summer transportation camps for Oregon high schoolers
• GIS Mapping workshop for Oregon middle schoolers
• Innovative transportation curriculum modules for your classroom
• Teaching at the Transportation YOU annual summit in D.C.
• Funding and developing curriculum through our U.S. DOT supported program the National Institute for Transportation and Communities

Transportation is an interdisciplinary industry, and it needs the diversity of perspectives and lived experiences in the workforce to address mobility issues our communities face. To that end, we seek to increase the number of women and students of color in transportation-focused degree programs by creating a welcoming and engaging space for them early on.

 

Get updates on K-12 programs and events

Free Summer Transportation Camps for Oregon High Schoolers

Hosted at Portland State University every year since 2015 - our transportation camp, free and open to any Oregon student entering the 9–12 grade, offer an immersive introduction to transportation careers and the workings of transportation systems in Portland. Students will work in groups to solve a real-world transportation problem, develop data collection and STEM skills, and go on daily field trips.

Each summer the camp has adapted to fit the needs of the program that year (length, online vs. in-person, day camp vs. residential, girls only vs. all genders). Learn more about our summer high school camps here, and stay tuned for details about 2022.

Teach Transportation in Your Classroom: K-12 Curriculum

How Walkable is Your Neighborhood?

Originally designed by TREC staff for our annual summer high school camps, we're now offering this set of four modules "How Walkable is Your Neighborhood?" for any educator to teach in their classroom. No transportation background required!

These modules will provide students with creative ways of observing transportation systems in their neighborhoods through collecting pedestrian data, critically evaluating accessibility, and learning about livable communities. They will gain a deeper understanding of how people move through their community, and whether the transportation in their community is designed with the needs of all people in mind. Students will take this critical lens into their final projects where they will propose a vision for increasing transportation safety, accessibility, and livability in their community. 

The four consecutive modules in this toolkit are meant to be facilitated in sequence with 3-5 days in between, as they build upon each other. The modules can be adapted as stand alone lessons if needed. Educator instructions are provided, as well as printable student instructions:

• Module 1: Observations by Foot
• Module 2: Collecting the Data
• Module 3: Crossing at the Intersection
• Module 4: Final Project
• Bonus Optional Activities: Transit Budgeting; Transportation Bingo
• The full curriculum set can be downloaded here. 

Big and Awesome Bridges of Portland and Vancouver

Through funding from the U.S. DOT's UTC program, in 2014 we helped sponsor the development of this amazing, local resource for teachers and young readers: Big and Awesome Bridges of Portland and Vancouver book. It’s got bridge history, STEM knowledge, hands-on activities, and interviews with staff at Oregon DOT, Washington DOT, Multnomah and more. Know a budding bridge aficionado in your life? They need this book!

New to 2021: it’s now also available as an e-book!

From the publisher: “The big & awesome bridges of Portland & Vancouver is a book that gets young people excited about science and engineering and provides teachers a comprehensive resource for developing engaging elementary school units of study, all through an exploration of one of the most diverse and historic collections of big river bridges in the world."