Alyssa Ryan, a Ph.D. student in the transportation program in the department of civil and environmental engineering, has been awarded a German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) One-Year Research Grant for Doctoral Candidates. Ryan will conduct research on methods to achieve higher levels of highway safety at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, beginning in October 2020.
Ryan’s research was inspired by the comparatively low fatal crash rates which exist in Germany, where there are no speed limits on the federal motorway system, the Autobahn, and average speeds are in the 80 to 90 mph range. The research project aims to investigate methods to achieve higher levels of highway safety through the modeling of infrastructure, human behavior, survey data of German motorways and the completion of government official interviews.
“I have always wanted to connect with the German culture and learn from global leaders in transportation safety, human behavior and roadway infrastructure. I know there is so much I can learn and bring back to the U.S. for my profession,” said Ryan.
This DAAD award provides doctoral candidates and young academics and scientists with a fully-funded opportunity to carry out research and continue their education in Germany. According to Madalina Akli, director of the Office of International Scholarship Advisement (ONSA),Ryan was also selected for a Fulbright award but was unable to accept both the DAAD and Fulbright awards.
“As the ONSA director, I have nominated Alyssa for two nationally competitive scholarships, which are Fulbright Germany and DAAD. She ended up having a good problem and being awarded both scholarships,” said Akli. “I have advised Alyssa and supported her application during a period of several months witnessing her extraordinary commitment to her research and an international career. She is an inspiring and ambitious young scientist. On behalf of ONSA, we are most proud of her achievements.”
“I am incredibly honored to receive these awards,” expressed Ryan. “I am thankful for the faculty, staff and graduate student colleagues within the transportation engineering program that have been incredibly supportive of my research and career goals, and to ONSA for their continued support throughout the application processes. I am thrilled to learn and gain a new perspective through my work with Constantinos Antoniou and experience a new environment and culture this upcoming academic year.”
For further information about DAAD and other scholarship programs, visit the ONSA website.