Dr. Eleni Christofa, Assistant Professor, Transportation

CEE Transportation Assistant Professor Eleni Christofa’s research on person-based signal control is already widely cited and recognized worldwide, even though her career in transportation engineering is little more than a decade old. She has published more than 40 refereed journal articles and conference publications, and she has put together a vibrant research group consisting of three Ph.D. and two M.S. students who have received multiple awards for their research. Her research group has already been supported by three key funding sources: the U.S. Department of Energy; the U.S. Department of Transportation through the New England University Transportation Center; and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, during the past 10 years, Dr. Christofa has received more than 11 significant honors. 

Christofa has been a member of the CEE faculty at UMass Amherst since 2012. Her research focuses on the development of sustainable management strategies for urban multimodal transportation systems with the use of innovative technologies. In addition to developing real-time signal control systems that improve person mobility and air quality, she is working on assessing the impact of alternative geometric designs (including roundabouts and continuous ow intersections) on emissions and safety. She also studies bicycle infrastructure treatments on driver behavior and bicycle safety. 

Among other awards and honors, she has received the 2017 Outstanding Young Member Award from the Transportation Research Board (TRB) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; a 2017 Student-Centered Teaching & Learning Fellowship, a 2016 Innovate@ Symposium Grant, a 2014 Open Education Initiative Grant, and a 2014 Sustainability Curriculum Initiative Grant, all from UMass Amherst; a 2014 ASCEExCEEd Fellowship from the American Society of Civil Engineers; a 2011 University of California Transportation Center Award; a 2009–2011 Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship; and a 2007 Gordon F. Newell Memorial Fellowship from U.C. Berkeley. 

Christofa recently received her 2017 Outstanding Young Member Award for her exceptional service to TRB and achievements in transportation research, policy, or practice. e award consists of a plaque and a $2,500 cash award. e award committee particularly noted Dr. Christofa’s clear passion and commitment to the Transportation Research Board and its mission, including her contributions to multiple standing committees and subcommittees. e TRB committee also applauded her work ethic, professionalism, and mentorship of students and young professionals. 

In addition to teaching undergraduate and graduate course in Transportation, Public Transportation, and Traffic Flow Theory and Simulation, Christofa has also developed and introduced a senior/graduate course on Transportation Sustainability to the curriculum. Her commitment to exceptional teaching is evident through the four UMass awards she has received to improve her courses and teaching. 
In addition, Christofa has participated in multiple outreach efforts, including co-organizing the 2016 UMass Amherst Summer Transportation Institute, a four-week pro- gram funded by the Federal Highway Administration to encourage high-school students to pursue careers in transportation. She has also lectured in the Summer Engineering Institute at UMass Amherst (2013 and 2014) and participated in mentoring activities with the UMass Women in Transportation Seminar student group and the Graduate Women in STEM (GWIS) UMass student group. 

Christofa received her Ph.D. and M.S. in Transportation Engineering from U. C. Berkeley and, before that, attended the National Technical University of Athens in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Transportation Engineering. 

Article from The Bridge, Fall 2017