Student Programs

MTC students studying abroad
Transportation students in front of Roman Baths in Bath, England. Photo courtesy Jing Dong.

Study Abroad

In 2016 it was Rome and in 2017 it was Great Britian. And just like in study abroads past, their trip across Italy in 2018 provided students with an international understanding of the impact different historical, cultural, environmental, and political factors have on transportation and infrastructure projects.

In coordination with Iowa State University’s Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, for the past four years the Midwest Transportation Center has taken students to destinations around the world for the two-week course “Global Perspectives in Transportation.”

Transportation Scholars Program

The Midwest Transportation Center’s Transportation Scholars Program, offered at Iowa State University and partner institutions University of Missouri–Columbia and University of Missouri–St. Louis, help attract high-quality students into transportation-related academic disciplines. Through a “learning laboratory” approach to education, scholars are immersed in research, networking opportunities, and other activities beyond their regular coursework.

Transportation scholars must:

  • Maintain a 3.0 grade point average
  • Participate in a research project or research group (MTC assistantships are provided)
  • Attend weekly seminars during spring semester (TRANS 691)
  • Participate in one or more transportation student organizations
  • Participate in student research paper/poster contests

In addition, scholars are strongly encouraged to do the following:

  • Participate in the Transportation Graduate Student Research Seminar during the fall semester
  • Present research results at a conference or through a journal article
  • Mentor other students or participate in K–12 workforce development activities
  • Participate in the Public Employees Leadership Institute

Transportation Student Association

The Transportation Student Association is the parent organization of the Iowa State chapters of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the Intelligent Transportation Systems of America (ITS|A). This organization cultivates the advancement of transportation ideas through interactions with members of academia, industry, and the public through meetings, sponsored conferences, and outreach initiatives. TSA nurtures the development of professional spirit and encourages fellowship among members and alumni.

Midwest Transportation Scholars can meet several requirements of the program through membership in TSA. The organizations advisors include Dr. Peter Savolainen, Jing Dong, and Anuj Sharma, all of which are MTC researchers.

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