NYU Shanghai, in partnership with the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and NYU Department of Civil and Urban Engineering, invites applications from exceptional students for PhD study and research in Transportation Systems.
Participating students are enrolled in the NYU Tandon Transportation Systems PhD program, complete their coursework at the NYU Department of Civil and Urban Engineering, and then transition to full-time residence at NYU Shanghai where they undertake their doctoral research under the supervision of NYU Shanghai faculty.
Highlights of the Program
- NYU PhD degree upon graduation
- Graduate coursework at the NYU Department of Civil and Urban Engineering in New York
- Research opportunities with and close mentorship by NYU Shanghai faculty
- Access to the vast intellectual resources of NYU Tandon School of Engineering and NYU Department of Civil and Urban Engineering
- Cutting-edge research environment at NYU Shanghai, including the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, a thriving community of PhD students, post-doctoral fellows, and research associates, activities such as a regular program of seminars and visiting academics, and links with other universities within and outside China
- Financial aid through the NYU Shanghai Doctoral Fellowship, including tuition, fees, and an annual stipend
- Additional benefits exclusive to the NYU Shanghai program, including international health insurance and travel funds
Supervising Faculty
Zhibin Chen
Network Modeling & Optimization, AI for Transportation, Emerging Vehicle Technologies
Selected Publications by NYU Shanghai Faculty
- Liu, Y., Menendez, M., & Chen, Z.* (2026). On the cost-effectiveness of modular transit systems. Accepted by ISTTT 26.
- Liang, Q., Chen, Z.*, & Zhong, R. Dynamic control protocol for connected commercial fleets. Accepted by Transportation Research Part B: Methodological.
- Li, Z., Ma, W., Menendez, M., Chen, Z.*, & Zhong, M. (2026). Synthetic data generation for joint electric vehicle driving and charging events via deep generative networks. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 183, 105481.
- Hao, Y., Chen, Z.*, Sun, X., & Tong, L. (2025). Planning of truck platooning for road-network capacitated vehicle routing problem. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 194, 103898.
- Deng, Y., Chen, Z.*, & Lin, X. (2025). Cost-competitiveness analysis of mobile chargers in an electric vehicle parking and charging system. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 171, 104951.
- Liu, Y., Chen, Z.*, & Wang, X. (2024). Alleviating bus bunching via modular vehicles. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological (Special issue on ISTTT 25), 189, 103051.
- Lin, X., Chen, Z.*, Li, M., & He, F. (2024). Bunching-proof capabilities of modular buses: an analytical assessment. Transportation Science, 58(5), 925-946.
Selected Faculty and Student Features
Structure of Program
Participating students complete the PhD degree requirements set by the NYU Department of Civil and Urban Engineering and in accordance with the academic policies of NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Each student develops an individualized course plan in consultation with the Director of Graduate Study at the NYU Department of Civil and Urban Engineering and the student’s NYU Shanghai faculty advisor. Most students will complete their PhD in 4-5 years. A typical sequence follows:
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Begin program with funded research rotation, up to 3 months preceding first Fall semester, to familiarize with NYU Shanghai and faculty as well as lay a foundation for future doctoral study.
(Fall and Spring)
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Pursue PhD coursework at NYU Department of Civil and Urban Engineering alongside other NYU PhD students.
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Return to Shanghai for second funded research rotation to solidify relationships with NYU Shanghai faculty and make further progress in research.
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Under supervision of NYU Shanghai faculty advisor, pursue dissertation research and continue coursework. Depending on each student’s individualized course of study, return visits to New York may also occur. Complete all required examinations and progress evaluations, both oral and written, leading up to submission and defense of doctoral thesis.
To learn more about the NYU Transportation Systems PhD program degree requirements, please visit this page.
Current Students
| Name | Research Areas |
| Yuhao Liu | Transportation Modeling & Optimization, Modular Autonomous Vehicles |
| Qingnan Liang | Dynamic Control for Coordinated Fleets, Simulation-based Optimization, Road Pricing Design |
| Zilu Wang | Data-driven Optimization, AI for Transportation |
Application Process and Dates
Applications are to be submitted through the NYU Tandon Application portal, within which students should select the Transportation Systems PhD as their program of interest. Applicants will be evaluated by a joint admissions committee of New York and Shanghai faculty. Application requirements are set by the NYU Department of Civil and Urban Engineering and are the same as those for all NYU PhD applicants, no matter their campus preference; however, candidates should elaborate in their application and personal statements about their specific interests in the NYU Shanghai program and faculty.
For admission in Fall 2025, the application deadline is December 1, 2024.
Contact Us
Interested students are welcome to contact Vivien Du, PhD Program Manager, via email at shanghai.phd@nyu.edu with any inquiries or to request more information.