Lab Director


Dr. Venktesh Pandey

Dr. Venktesh Pandey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. His research integrates intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and emerging mobility services in traffic operations, congestion pricing, and transportation planning models with a focus on sustainability. He is actively involved with various professional organizations such as the Transportation Research Board (TRB), Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), and the Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences (INFORMS). Dr. Pandey has broad interests in improving Engineering Education systems of the future. He is the recipient of the 2022-23 Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award at NCA&T and holds certifications for Effective Teaching Practice and Fostering a Culture of Belonging through the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE). Prior to joining N.C. A&T, he completed his Ph.D. in Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering (CAEE) at The University of Texas at Austin and worked as a Project Associate at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Outside of research and teaching, Venktesh enjoys hiking, running, and sipping on coffee, and finds inspiration in living a life full of courage, compassion, and clarity.



Venktesh

Current Graduate Students

Masters and PhD Student

Doreen Jehu-Appiah

Education
  • M.Sc + Ph.D. Computational Data Science and Engineering - North Carolina A&T State University, Currently Enrolled
  • B.Sc, Telecommunications Engineering - Ghana Technology University College

Doreen Nolda Jehu-Appiah is a Graduate Research Assistant in Dr. Pandey's lab. She received her first degree in Telecommunications Engineering and is currently pursuing her masters in Data Science and Engineering in the Computational Data Science and Engineering department. Doreen is exploring the field of Data Science and is interested in applying ML/AI to a wide range of transportation problems. Outside of her studies, Doreen enjoys watching soccer, and she is particularly amazed by the incredible skills of Lionel Messi.

Doreen


Komal Gulati

Education
  • Ph.D. Electrical Engineering - North Carolina A&T State University, Currently Enrolled
  • M.Sc., Automotive Engineering, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
  • B.Tech. Mechanical Engineering - Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, India

Komal Gulati is currently pursuing her PhD degree in Electrical Engineering under the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She completed her masters (MSc) in Automotive Engineering from the University of Leeds, United Kingdom in 2020. She has worked as a research intern at the Automotive Research Association of India for one year under the Computer Vision and Robotics department on an industrial project related to building a Level 3 autonomous vehicle. Her interdisciplinary academic and research background has bagged her a Graduate Research Assistant position at the Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2) at the North Carolina A&T State University. Her scientific curiosity is to work on problem statements related to urban and transportation planning that involves amalgam of Geospatial analysis and Artificial Intelligence tools with an aim to find solutions on providing mobility and equal opportunities to all groups of people in the society in various domains. Her ongoing research projects include "Optimal and Safe Routes for Freight Transportation in Rural Areas" and "Community-Oriented and Data-Driven Mobility Modeling for Rural and Disconnected Communities".

Komal


Mohammad Ashraf Ali

Education
  • M.Sc., Civil Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University
  • B.Sc, Urban and Regional Planning - Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET), Dhaka

Mohammad Ashraf Ali joined Dr. Pandey's research lab as a graduate research and teaching assistant in the fall of 2024. He is passionate in development and urban transportation planning-related research and field activities that are connected to real-life public issues. Currently, he is pursuing MS in Civil Engineering (Concentration in Transportation and Regional Development) at North Carolina A&T State University. My recent research works focus on urban or regional transportation-related problems and probable solutions. Ashraf thinks of himself as a learner towards the goal of making our world more livable, inclusive and sustainable.

Ashraf

Oladimeji Alaka

Education
  • M.Sc Civil Engineering - North Carolina A&T State University, Currently Enrolled
  • B.Sc, Civil Engineering - Osun State University

Oladimeji Alaka is a Graduate Research Assistant in the transportation modeling lab working towards his Masters in Civil Engineering. He is a passionate transportation engineering enthusiast who joined the Transportation Modeling Lab at North Carolina A&T in the fall of 2023. Besides his passion for transportation engineering, Oladimeji is also someone who enjoys exploring his creative side through graphic designing during his free time.

Oladimeji


Ridwan Tiamiyu

Education
  • M.Sc Civil Engineering - North Carolina A&T State University, Currently Enrolled
  • B.Sc Civil Engineering - University of Ilorin, 2019

Ridwan Tiamiyu holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Ilorin in 2019. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University. Since 2023, Ridwan has been an active member of the Transportation Modelling Lab at NCAT, where he serves as a research assistant. His research interests primarily revolve around managed lanes and equity in transportation. Additionally, he is a staunch Marvel fan and he loves playing video games in his spare time.

Ridwan


Rifa Tasnia

Education
  • M.Sc Civil Engineering - North Carolina A&T State University, Currently Enrolled
  • B.Sc Civil Engineering - Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST), Dhaka

Rifa Tasnia joined Dr. Pandey's research lab as a graduate research and teaching assistant in the fall of 2023. Her research expertise includes mathematical models, stated preference, and revealed preference survey design. She aims to find innovative transportation solutions to reduce road congestion.

Rifa

Undergraduate Students

Active


Andre Flores-Fletes

Education
  • B.Sc, Civil Engineering - North Carolina A&T State University, Currently Enrolled

Andre Flores-Fletes is an undergraduate Civil Engineering major at North Carolina A&T State University. He holds a deep interest in all things related to transportation engineering. Andre joined the Transportation Modelling Lab in the Summer of 2024 and is focused in research for optimal freight delivery routes in urban environments. He enjoys soccer and playing video games.

Andre


Mikal Ali

Education
  • B.Sc, Civil Engineering - North Carolina A&T State University, Currently Enrolled

Mikal Ali joined Dr. Pandey's group in the Summer of 2023. As an undergraduate student, she worked on the long-range planning of Mileage-based user fees. She is the recipient of the Dwight Eisenhower Fellowship by Federal Highway Administration and interned with their Summer Transportation Internship Program for Diverse Groups (STIPDG) program over Summer 2024. She is currently interested in transportation planning and traffic congestion. Also, she enjoys reading books and spending time with her families/friends outside of work.

Mikal


Mustafa Noori

Education
  • B.Sc, Civil Engineering - North Carolina A&T State University, Currently Enrolled

Mustafa Noori is a student at North Carolina A&T State University, where he began his studies in Fall 2022. He earned his first degree in general science and is now pursuing a second degree in engineering, with plans to graduate between Fall 2024 and Spring 2025. Mustafa is an honors student in the College of Engineering and has been recognized on both the Dean's and Chancellor's lists for 2-3 semesters. He is an active member of the Transportation Modeling Lab at NCAT, where he serves as a research assistant. His research interests focus on integrating hydrology with transportation issues. In his free time, Mustafa enjoys playing and watching soccer, playing computer games, traveling, exploring new places, and solving complex problems.

Mustafa

Lab Alumni


  • Graduate Students
    • Hadi Khoury, MS, Civil Engineering GRA. Research topic: Reinforcement learning approaches for traffic operations
    • Mohand Elbashir, MS, Civil Engineering. Project topic: Networks of Express lanes: Coordination of planning, Design, Construction, Operations, and Maintenance
    • Bader G. Alamri, MS, Civil Engineering, Equitable dynamic tolling of express lanes
  • Undergraduate Students
    • Joshua Oliver, Civil Engineering
    • Anusha Neupane, Civil Engineering
    • Bavly Abdelmalak, Civil Engineering
    • Christian Bowens, Civil Engineering
    • Isaiah Sanders, Civil Engineering
    • Stephen Nyarko, Mathematics + Civil Engineering
    • Victoria Lanier, Industrial Engineering
    • Melissa Petit-Jean, Civil Engineering
    • Ashley Nimley, Civil Engineering
    • Mary Bakre, Civil Engineering
    • Kennedy Kishumbua, Civil Engineering