We are a growing group working at the intersection of optimization, machine learning, and transportation systems. We host project-based students at all levels — see Openings.
Principal Investigator
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Zhichen Liu
Assistant Professor
Zhichen Liu is an Assistant Professor in Civil Engineering at Stony Brook University. Her research focuses on innovating next-generation modeling and computational tools for mobility and logistics systems, with an emphasis on connectivity, electrification, and automation.
She received her Ph.D. in Civil Engineering and her M.S. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan in 2025 and 2024 respectively. She earned her B.Eng. in Transportation Engineering from Southeast University in 2020 and was a Research Assistant at NYU Shanghai before beginning her doctorate. She previously served as a Visiting Scientist at General Motors.
Dr. Liu is a recipient of the Rackham Predoctoral Fellowship and was honored as the sole global awardee of the prestigious Helene M. Overly Memorial Scholarship (2025) by the WTS International Foundation for her contributions to research and community service. She serves as a reviewer for Transportation Science, Transportation Research Part B/C/E, IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems, IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology, and Transportation Research Record.
Ph.D. Students
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Zhanyu Feng
Ph.D. Student
Zhanyu Feng received his B.S. degree in Traffic and Transportation from Hefei University of Technology in 2022, and his M.S. degree in Communication and Transportation from Southeast University. Prior to joining the AI Mobility Lab, he served as a Research Assistant at NYU Shanghai. His research focuses on decision-focused learning, transportation network modeling, and optimization and control for connected and autonomous electric vehicles.
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Rui Chen
Ph.D. Student
Rui Chen received her Master's degree in Logistics Engineering and Management from Tsinghua University in 2023, and her Bachelor's degree from Central South University. She joined the lab as a Ph.D. student in Fall 2026. Previously, she worked as an algorithm engineer focusing on dispatch and optimization for shared bicycle systems. Her research interests include operations research, reinforcement learning, and intelligent transportation systems.