Biography
I’m an Assistant Research Scientist in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan (download my CV here) . I received my Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and Scientific Computing from the University of Michigan in 2023, supervised by Dr. Henry Liu, and my B.E. from the School of Vehicle and Mobility at Tsinghua University.
My research focuses on traffic flow modeling and traffic control and operations, leveraging emerging data, computational methods (AI, optimization, etc.), and connected and automated vehicles. I have published in top-tier venues such as Nature Communications and Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies. My work on optimizing traffic signals using connected vehicle data has been featured by mainstream media including Associated Press and The Wall Street Journal. I am a recipient of the prestigious 2024 INFORMS Transportation Science and Logistics Society Best Dissertation Award.
🤖 Curious how AI sees my research style? Read the reflection.
- Traffic Flow and Network Model
- Traffic Operation and Control
- Connected and Automated Transportation
PhD in Civil Engineering and Scientific Computing, 2023
University of Michigan
BE in Automotive Engineering, 2018
Tsinghua University
News
- 11/2025: We expanded the scalability of our connected vehicle–based signal retiming system in Oakland County, enhancing real-world deployment and community impact. Featured by ClickOnDetroit, Dearborn.org, and U-M News.
- 11/2025: Three of my co-authored papers submitted to TRB have been accepted! They cover topics in traffic simulation (with automated vehicles) and traffic signal retiming. Looking forward to seeing everyone in D.C.!
- 09/2025: New paper published at TR part C regarding estimating signal phase and timing (SPaT) information with low penetration rate vehicle trajectories. Chek it out in this link!
- 10/2024: Excited to share that all four of my co-authored papers have been accepted for presentation at this year’s TRB Annual Meeting. Looking forward to the event!
- 10/2024: Our story using connected vehicle data is featured in Roads and Bridges magazine!
- 09/2024: I co-organized the work shop “Vehicle Trajectory Data Camp” at ITSC 2024 at Edmonton. Come and join our discussion! I will serve as the moderator for the second half of this session and am looking foward to meeting you at Edmonton!
- 09/2024: I am incredibly honored to share that my PhD dissertation has been awarded the INFORMS TSL Best Dissertation Award. This award is the oldest and most prestigious recognition for doctoral dissertations in the transportation science and logistics area, and I am deeply humbled to receive it. I will give a talk regarding this during 2024 INFORMS Annual Meeting, looking forward to seeing you in Seattle!
- 08/2024: I am glad to share that my PhD dissertation was selected as the finalist of IEEE ITSS Best Dissertation Award.
Featured Publications
Archived News
- 06/2024: Our work “Traffic light optimization with low penetration rate vehicle trajectory data” has been featured in The Wall Street Journal! “They use data gathered directly from new, internet-connected vehicles or from navigation apps on their drivers’ phones to help municipalities adjust the timing of their traffic lights, making them more responsive to real-world traffic patterns.”
- 05/2024: Zachary and Zihao presented our work (“Traffic light optimization with low penetration rate vehicle trajectory data”) and earned the first place of the CCAT 2024 student poster competition!
- 02/2024: Our paper “Traffic light optimization with low penetration rate vehicle trajectory data” was recently accepted and is now online in Nature Communications. See the news from University of Michigan, AP News.
- 02/2024: My new personal webiste is online!
- 08/2023: I successfully defended my Dissertation titled “Traffic Signal Optimization with Connected Vehicle Trajectories” advised by Dr. Henry Liu.