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WTS Philadelphia proudly awards scholarships to outstanding students from high school through graduate school who are passionate about pursuing careers in transportation. These highly competitive awards recognize students for their academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to advancing the future of transportation. This year, we awarded a total of $25,000 in scholarships to support and celebrate the next generation of transportation leaders and innovators.

Sepide Mojalal

Rowan University    

WTS Philadelphia Carmen E. Turner Graduate Scholarship

Sepide Mojalal is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical & Computer Engineering at Rowan University specializing in intelligent transportation systems and machine learning for autonomous vehicles. Her research focuses on federated learning and real-time trajectory prediction, complemented by teaching roles as a project coordinator and adjunct lecturer. She has been recognized with the WTS Philadelphia Sylvia Alston & Carmen E. Turner Graduate Scholarship (2024), ITSNJ’s Future of ITS New Jersey (2024) and Outstanding Graduate Student Award (2025), and the NSF iREDEFINE Award (2025). A committed community builder, she serves on the board of the WTS Philadelphia Student Chapter and coordinates its Mentoring Program. Her goal is to translate data-driven research into safer, more equitable, and sustainable mobility.

In her own words, Sepide shares more about her journey and goals:

1. What inspired you to pursue your current field of study or career path?

My path into transportation began with a deep interest in how machine learning and AI can make complex transportation systems safer and more equitable. As I advanced through my graduate studies in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rowan University, I became drawn to intelligent transportation systems, a field where algorithms have real, everyday consequences for how people move, connect, and access opportunity. Seeing how data-driven tools like digital twins and federated learning can improve vehicle safety and traffic efficiency showed me that this work truly matters. This field is also extremely male-dominated; by the time I received the award, I was the only woman pursuing a Ph.D. in my department, which motivated me to be a visible presence in the field and to help open doors for other women who come after me.

2. What does receiving this scholarship mean to you?

Receiving this scholarship is deeply meaningful to me, both personally and professionally. It affirms that the work I am doing, advancing trustworthy, equitable transportation systems and mentoring the next generation of women in the field, is valued by the WTS community. Practically, it supports my research on vehicle trajectory prediction and safety analytics, and it gives me more capacity to expand my involvement in the WTS Philadelphia Mentoring Program, which has supported female and non-binary students for years. Most of all, it reminds me that I am not alone in this journey, and that motivates me to keep going and to keep giving back.

3. Why do you think transportation is important to communities?

I believe transportation is the backbone of civilization. It determines whether people can reach jobs, schools, healthcare, and one another. Think about how different life was before the railroad, or before the highway system. Transportation has always been one of those quiet forces that shape everything else: where people live, where they work, and what opportunities they can reach. It connects communities and drives economies in ways that most people never stop to think about. Today, intelligent and data-driven systems are continuing that transformation, making mobility safer, faster, and more accessible than ever before. But when these systems are designed without certain communities in mind, those already underserved pay the highest price. That is why transportation must be not only efficient, but also trustworthy and inclusive. That is what drew me to this field, and it is what keeps me motivated. Strong transportation systems don't just move vehicles; they move people forward. And that is an impact worth dedicating a career to.