URI-RIDOT Graduate Fellowships in Transportation.
Alesandra Morales completed her MS degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez (UPRM), two years ago. Nelson Anaya Archila finished his MS at the same institution last May. They are both now in Kingston RI, working at URI towards their doctoral degrees supported by a unique fellowship program established between the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at URI.
Under this program doctoral students are recruited from the UPRM and funded for three years each towards completion of their Ph.D. degree. Students selected into this program engage in transportation related research in collaboration with RIDOT. For its part URI matches these fellowships by funding additional graduate students with preference to students from UPRM, Central and South America, and graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The goal is to develop the next leaders in transportation who will solve some of the pressing transportation infrastructure issues we are facing. These doctoral students represent potential educators and researchers who will expand the ranks of future faculty carrying out transportation related research and guarantee a healthy pipeline of transportation interested professionals.
Pictured from the left are Samuel Hammond, Wayne McNeal, Max Mueller, Christos Xenophontos (RIDOT), Alesandra Morales, Professor Vinka Craver, Yaurel Guadalupe-Torres, Nelson Anaya, Professor Baxter and Professor Tsiatas
Christos Xenophontos (RIDOT) and Deb Rosen (URITC) as well as Phillip Kydd (RIDOT Deputy Director - not pictured) were instrumental in setting-up the Graduate Fellowship Program
