Tanmay Das is a third-year Ph.D. student with a concentration in transportation systems engineering. He grew up in the southern part of Bangladesh and is advised by Drs. Nagui Rouphail and Billy Williams. He is a member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Freeway Operations Committee and the TRB Traffic Simulation Committee. He also serves as treasurer for NC State’s Bangladesh Student Association.
What influenced you to go into engineering?
DAS: I used to watch a TV show called MacGyver when I was a kid. The main character has a genius-level intelligence, exceptional engineering skills and excellent knowledge of applied physics, all of which have assisted many people in solving their issues. That persona has always inspired me to seek a career in engineering. Engineers can turn theory into practical application to improve lives. Civilization, in my opinion, owes a great debt to civil engineers.
What problem(s) are you trying to solve? / Where did your passion for this particular focus come from?
DAS: The inevitability of wasting hours stuck in terrible traffic — as well as having witnessed more than a few cases of death or injury of close relatives because of car crashes — has always prompted me to seek a solution to these critical issues. Most crashes are caused by human mistake. As a result, deploying automated vehicles to reduce human involvement in driving should improve safety. My research examines the present status of automated vehicle safety improvements and how they can make roadways safer and more efficient.
Why was NC State / CCEE a good fit for you?
DAS: The high quality of the department’s transportation research and publications has always caught my attention. The Institute for Transportation Research and Education, in particular, does research that is closely related to my interests.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
DAS: I am enjoying what I have been doing now. Years from now, I see myself as a successful individual, carrying out extensive research in my preferred field and employed in a well-reputed research institution or at a distinguished university.
This story was first published in CCEE’s Spring 2022 Newsletter.