RIT Civil Engineering — 1-2 Fully Funded PhDs | Spring/Fall 2027

Position Description: One to two fully funded Ph.D. positions are available beginning in Spring or Fall 2027 in the Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Environmental Management and Safety (CETEMS) at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), under the supervision of Dr. Mingfeng Shang. RIT is a top-100 national university. Admitted students will receive full tuition coverage, competitive stipend, health insurance, and support for conference travel. Research will focus on emerging topics in transportation systems, including connected and automated vehicles, traffic modeling and control, transportation cybersecurity, and data-driven transportation research. Desired Qualifications: We welcome applicants interested in traffic flow theory, intelligent transportation systems, connected and automated vehicles, control, optimization, and transportation data science. Candidates with the following are especially encouraged to apply: B.S. degree in civil engineering, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, computer science, information science, industrial engineering, or a related field Strong background and interest in transportation systems, control, optimization, or data science Proficiency in programming: MATLAB, Python, and/or C++ Experience with traffic simulation tools (e.g., SUMO, CARLA, VISSIM) and/or machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch) Strong communication skills and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary, independent research About RIT: Founded in 1829, RIT is nationally recognized — Ranked No. 88 National Universities, No. 57 Undergraduate Engineering, and No. 76 Graduate Engineering by U.S. News & World Report (2026). Ranked No. 5 nationally for Co-op and Internship Programs. Located in Rochester (3rd largest metro in NY State, 1M+ population), 1.5 hours from Niagara Falls and 2.5 hours from Toronto. About the PI: Dr. Mingfeng Shang joined RIT as tenure-track Assistant Professor in CETEMS in Fall 2026. Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from University of Minnesota in 2024. Previously Assistant Research Professor at University of Arizona. Research is interdisciplinary: traffic flow theory, connected and automated vehicles, transportation system modeling and control, transportation data science. More info: https://www.mingfengshang.com/ How to Apply: Email your resume/CV, unofficial transcript(s), and a one-page cover letter describing your research background and alignment to mfsite@rit.edu with subject line "Ph.D. Application – YOUR NAME – Spring/Fall 2027" Positions will remain open until filled.