TREC Graduate Research Assistants

Each year, 15–30 graduate students from engineering, urban studies & planning, and other fields are hired as graduate research assistants for PSU faculty as well as students to support TREC programs and research projects. Below are the Portland State University students who have worked as graduate research assistants for TREC staff and researchers.

National Awards

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.

Local Awards

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)

TREC Foundation

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!

Undergraduate Research Opportunities

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.

Graduate Research Assistants

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.

The Next Generation in Transportation

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:

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."

THE PEOPLE

Program Staff

PSU Faculty and Class Instructors

Additional PSU faculty, staff and students have supported the class projects over the years. The current core faculty leading the classes include:

PSU Students: Engineering and Planning

Civil engineering and urban planning students have helped to shape many of the inspiring ideas from the community, given form and function for real world application. Many of those alumni are now transportation professionals in the Portland Metropolitan area! Learn more about studying transportation at Portland State University.

Better Block PSU Project team members, community partners and volunteers

There are many partners involved in the projects themselves that are shepherded through the Better Block PSU pathway program at PSU. See each project to learn more about the people involved.

And, there is a long history of volunteers that have supported the implementation of Better Block PDX projects since 2013!

THE PROGRAM PARTNERS

Portland State University

Through the Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University, this program connects planning and engineering student expertise with community advocates. This exchange of knowledge is also an opportunity for students to tackle a real transportation and/or placemaking challenge in the local community. The Pathway program provides a practicum experience for PSU students, increases capacity for community organizations, and has been successful at influencing policy and leading to permanent changes in Portland’s streetscape — most notably the Better Naito project. A total of fifteen projects have been shepherded through the Pathway since 2015, including four that will be built in the first phase of the City of Portland’s Central City in Motion plan that kicked off in Summer 2019.

Better Block PDX

Better Block PDX is a volunteer-led effort encouraging everyone to imagine what spaces could be when they are designed for people. We partner with community organizations, Portland State University, Portland Bureau of Transportation, and you to create inviting and interactive places through tactical urbanism “pop-up” projects. "Most close watchers of the Portland transportation world have heard of Better Block PDX," BikePortland's Jonathan Maus wrote in February 28, 2019. Better Block PDX won the "Spirit of Portland" award in 2017.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Have additional questions that are not addressed below? Contact us at asktrec@pdx.edu

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What deliverables should I expect, and how might they be useful?

Deliverables are the content produced from the students that you can expect to take with you to help develop your project. Not all accepted proposals will go through all three phases of classes. Which phase(s) your project will undergo will be discussed upon acceptance. Please keep in mind that these are classes tied to PSU's academic year.

Phase I - Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning course (April - June): 

  • The students will work with you to develop community engagement plans, activity and behavior monitoring, data collection plans, and performance measures.
  • These focus on the big picture vision for community through engagement plans and behavior monitoring. These are meant to assess the current activity of the project site, to give you a base to then form your future plans. Since community engagement overlaps all phases, it is important that we start out with engagement in Phase I. 

Phase II -Active Transportation Planning and Design Studio (Sept - Dec):

  • The students will work with you to develop existing conditions, design alternatives, and cost estimates.
  • The deliverables in Phase II are meant to build upon Phase I, but with more of a technical lens. These deliverables will provide you with more of the nuts and bolts you’ll need to implement the project itself, including the anticipated cost. During this phase, you will move from theory into more of the practicalities of your project. 

Phase III - Engineering Capstone (Jan - June): 

  • The students will work with you to develop and engineering plan that includes design alternatives, traffic control plan, and other materials that can assist with city permitting process.
  • These deliverables are useful in beginning conversations with the City, and gathering the materials necessary to obtain permits for the project. This last set of deliverables shifts the focus outward and helps to ease the bureaucratic components of the project.

What should I expect from the students?

First and foremost, this is an experiential learning opportunity for Portland State University students to engage in a real world problem. The students will maintain regular communication with you throughout the term, and will partially be working on deliverables on their own. It can be helpful to establish parameters with your student group during your first meeting around what level of communication you need. For specific deliverables, see the prior questions above. Please note that if your project moves through multiple phases, you will have a new group of students in each phase.

What level of commitment should I plan for?

Some of the most successful projects that have come from our program, such as Better Naito, have evolved over many years. It is up to you if you want to participate in Phase I to implement this summer, and concentrate your efforts into just a few months, or if you have larger needs and want to spread it out over a year or two due to the complexity of the project. What you accomplish with the deliverables the students provide is up to you.

How can I use the seed money?

Up to $1,000 is available to assist participants with the planning and implementation of their projects. The seed money you receive for your project is intended to be used solely for community outreach throughout the different phases of the project and implementation of the final deliverable. These funds should be split evenly between the outreach and space activation. You may choose to use the funds to host community events related to the project, obtain promotional material, compensate volunteers, subsidize the cost of materials, etc.

How will COVID-19 impact this process?

After being fully remote, PSU has transitioned back to in-person learning during the current academic school year. Depending on how COVID-19 conditions continue to change, your involvement with the students may be in person or through Zoom. Each instructor will determine the format of their classes (remote or in-person); however, please assume that the classrooms will be virtual, although more in more classrooms are in person. There may be an opportunity for physically distant site visits to occur. Traditionally, Better Block projects have had a strong in-person element because of the emphasis on community building and placemaking. It is up to you if you want to plan your project to be implemented.

Are there other organizations in the Portland metro area who can support my advocacy work?

We recommend reaching out to Oregon Walks, the Street Trust, Bike Loud PDX and/or the City Repair Project. Each of these organizations specialize in different areas of advocacy, active transportation, and resources.