Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU): Smart Cities Supplement Summer 2027
Since 2020, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) has hosted an NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site on Smart Cities focused on advanced mobility technologies, including Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs), and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. The program attracts more than 100 applicants annually and has trained over 45 students, producing more than one peer-reviewed publication per summer. This project supplements the existing site to support two additional undergraduate researchers working on Research and Education for Promoting Safety University Transportation Center (REPS UTC) safety-related projects. The project will recruit two undergraduate students from relevant disciplines (electrical and computer engineering, civil engineering, computer science), with emphasis on outreach to institutions with varied student populations. Selected students will complete a ten-week summer research experience under faculty mentorship across the ITS, CAV, and V2X focus areas, complemented by co-curricular training including weekly cohort meetings, enrichment activities, and cohort-building. Key tasks include developing compelling safety research projects with UNLV mentors, national advertising and recruitment, candidate evaluation and selection, mentored summer research, and final reporting through the UNLV Undergraduate Research Symposium and academic publication venues. Expected outcomes include expanded undergraduate participation in transportation safety research, student projects aligned with REPS UTC initiatives, student reports, presentations, and potential peer-reviewed publications. The project strengthens the pipeline of future transportation professionals and UNLV's research infrastructure in traffic safety, helping develop the next generation of researchers and practitioners equipped to address emerging safety challenges in transportation systems.
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $45,802.00
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Contract Numbers:
69A3552348323
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Sponsor Organizations:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
University Transportation Centers Program
Department of Transportation
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Managing Organizations:
2400 6th Street, NW
Washington, DC United States 20059 -
Project Managers:
Bruner, Britain
- Performing Organizations: Las Vegas, NV United States
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Principal Investigators:
Morris, Brendan
- Start Date: 20260803
- Expected Completion Date: 20270804
- Actual Completion Date: 0
- USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Autonomous vehicles; College students; Connected vehicles; Education and training; Intelligent transportation systems; Mobile communication systems; Safety
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01999929
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Research and Education for Promoting Safety (REPS) University Transportation Center
- Contract Numbers: 69A3552348323
- Files: UTC, RIP
- Created Date: Aug 19 2026 3:59PM