CURRENT STUDENTS
ARFA KHALID
Arfa is a Ph.D. student from Pakistan at George Mason University, working under the supervision of Dr. Alireza Ermagun in the Geography and Geoinformation Science Department. With a master’s degree in Statistics from the University of Regina, Canada, and a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from University of the Punjab, Pakistan, she combines her strong analytical skills and statistical knowledge in research related to climate change and human mobility. Her research interests lie in climate change and human mobility whether through floods disrupting travel, heat waves altering commutes, or air travel efficiency, all while examining how these environmental factors influence human mobility and other factors. By integrating her expertise in statistics with big data analytics, she aims to uncover insights that can improve transportation systems, making them more resilient in the face of climate change challenges. Arfa’s goal is to pursue a career in academia, where she wants to contribute to the field of transportation studies, using data to drive solutions that benefit society and the environment.
SHIRIN MAHMOUDIAN
Shirin is a Ph.D. student originally from Isfahan, Iran. She joined the MODAL group under the supervision of Dr. Alireza Ermagun at George Mason University in Fall 2024. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Isfahan University of Technology and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, specializing in Water Resources, from K.N. Toosi University of Technology. She is particularly interested in transport geography and seeks to address challenges in this field through spatial analysis, agent-based modeling, and big data techniques. Additionally, she is passionate about understanding community responses and behaviors in the face of climate change impacts. Shirin is passionate about research and enjoys working in academic environments, particularly in areas that integrate multiple disciplines.
FATEMEH JANATABADI
Coming from Tehran, Iran, Fatemeh Janatabadi is a Ph.D. student studying under the supervision of Dr. Alireza Ermagun in the Geography and Geoinformation Science Department at George Mason University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a master’s degree in Railway Track Engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology. Fatemeh has broadened her research focus from the railway to transport planning, bringing with it a passion for data analysis and a desire to apply it to complex, multidisciplinary problems. Interested in measuring and evaluating public transit performance, her research involves exploring and analyzing methods to provide information about the efficiency and reliability of transit networks using large datasets. Fatemeh intends to pursue her career in academia after her doctoral program.
ZACHARY SAUTER
Zachary, from Fairfax, Virginia, Joined the MODAL group under Dr. Alireza Ermagun at George Mason University in the Spring of 2024. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geology with a Minor in GIS from George Mason University and is working towards a Master’s in Earth System Science with a focus on GIS. He has an interest in climate science, equity, and paleoclimatology. He seeks to address issues with changing climate and researching climate solutions. He is passionate about modern climate change and related research and enjoys learning about the intricacies of complex social responses to climate change.
ELYSIA D. KOURY
Elysia is a Senior Public Administration student at the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. Having lived in various parts of the United States, Elysia has resided in Northern Virginia since 2012 and focuses on housing and transportation planning issues in the region, particularly in Washington, DC, where historical inequities persist. Although she is a freshman researcher, she aims to analyze data through an intersectional lens, contextualizing it with local histories and social issues. Currently, her interest lies in determining the impact of transportation service breadth and how it intersects with vulnerable groups. Elysia intends to begin a career within the government after college, where she hopes to conduct and apply research to benefit Northern Virginian communities.
JIMMY MAJOR
Jimmy is majoring in Government and International Politics at the Schar School of Policy and Government. Living in Fairfax since 2020, Jimmy has focused his efforts on developing expertise in municipal policy, urban planning, and contract law, with the aspiration of becoming a municipal attorney. Now certified as a mediator for Virginia’s General District Courts, he hopes to integrate conflict resolution skills into both law and urban planning.
FORMER STUDENTS
JACQUELYN ERINNE
Jacquelyn Erinne, native of Nigeria, was a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Mississippi State University. Her doctoral research examined how travel, socio-economic, and demographic attributes impact the well-being of travelers. She graduated in 2022 and we wish her luck in her new position.
SANJU MAHARJAN
Originally from Lalitpur, Nepal, Sanju conducted research on transport access and equity as a Ph.D. student in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Mississippi State University. She graduated in 2022 and we wish her luck in her new position.