Student Profiles
With around 35 PhD students registered at any given time, the research student community at ITS is large and diverse. Students come from across the globe to study at ITS - to hear from just a few students from past and present, please click on their photo below:
- Robert Bain
- Xu Hao
- Calvin Jephcote
- Fayyaz Qadir
- Noor Zaitun Yahaya
- Anzir Boodoo
- Minh Tran Huu
- Frank Lai
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Robert Bain
British
Privately Financed Roads in Britain: A Policy Assessment
Prof. Peter Mackie
Prof. Chris Nash
October 2008
Freelance consultant
What did you research for your PhD and what motivated you to study this area?
I examined the legacy of PFI roads in the UK and lessons that could be learned from the initiative. I had been working as a transport consultant but wanted to move into financial services so I focused on the financial aspects of the PFI. My PhD was part of a plan to change career path. It worked.
Why did you decide to study at ITS?
I wanted to graduate from a school with very strong international reputation and I wanted the best supervisors I could find (whose interests were aligned with my own). So I moved from London to Leeds.
How would you describe the experience of being a PhD student?
I was a mature (40+) PhD student. I took a planned mid-career break to return to further education. It was a breath of fresh air, giving me space to read and think about my interest area - with very positive guidance and support from my supervisors. I'd recommend it to anyone!
How did you finance your time as a PhD student?
I saved money from my salary in the years running-up to my PhD. I started as a full-time student, but switched to part-time when I was offered a job by an employer I particularly respected (Standard & Poor's). I switched back to full-time studies for my final (writing-up) year.
What are your lasting memories of ITS and the University of Leeds?
I have very fond and happy memories of my time at Leeds. I now lecture there on an occasional basis and keep in touch with many of my former colleagues.
What do you do now and what are the challenges and rewards of your current job?
I am a freelance consultant providing technical support services to financial institutions (mainly banks and pension funds). I also act as an expert witness. The main challenge - as with many self-employed consultants - is cash flow management! However the rewards, in terms of the diversity of international clients and commissions, are significant.
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Xu Hao
Chinese
Evaluation Benefits and Effectiveness of Smart Cards for Public Transport
Prof. Mark Wardman
Dr Haibo Chen
August 2007
What did you research for your PhD and what motivated you to study this area?
My PhD research was an evaluation benefits and effectiveness of smart cards for public transport. By using revealed preference and stated preference survey, public transport passengers’ demand forecast was undertaken to give an insight into how people perceive different fare payment methods (e.g. smart cards, cash or travel cards). Smart cards have been widely used to improve public transport service quality, however, people’s preference for different payment methods based on their travel characteristics had not been touched, particularly by employing preference survey methods. That was the main motivation for my research.
Why did you decide to study at ITS?
Before I applied (when I was in China), I knew that ITS had a long history in transport studies and good reputation not only in academia but also in industry. The outstanding research outputs and staff team convinced me that ITS was definitely the right place for me to pursue my research.
How would you describe the experience of being a PhD student?
At the beginning, it was difficult for me, because I needed to get familiar with the totally different academic environment from China - it was a type of ‘culture shock’. But now, looking back on the whole experience, it was absolutely fantastic and worthwhile. Without doubt, PhD study was, is and will be the most valuable time of my life.
How did you finance your time as a PhD student?
My parents sponsored my PhD study.
What are your lasting memories of ITS and the University of Leeds?
The excellent research environment is the most lasting memory. Constant guidance from my supervisors (Prof. Mark Wardman and Dr Haibo Chen) is unforgettable. On the other hand, ITS social events were equally memorable, such as ITS BBQ every summer and ‘Supertram’, the ITS band. Leeds University places emphasis on keeping good relationships between students and the university; I has realised this the moment I received my offer of a place at Leeds.
What do you do now and what are the challenges and rewards of your current job?
I now work for WSP, a large transport consultancy, in their Cambridge offic. I think the biggest challenge is to transfer academic knowledge to the practical - working in transport consultancy is different from doing a PhD. However, the process of adapting was quick for me. By doing projects for governments (such as Department for Transport,, Highway Agency etc ), I can see how the PhD study has contributed to my career.
How has completing a PhD helped you?
In an absolutely profound way! Not only in my academic experience but also in my personal life (how to confidently face challenges). Throughout my 4-year study, my supervisors did not give me any ‘fish’ but taught me how to ‘fish’.
How do you see your career developing?
I hope to develop a fantastic combination of academic knowledge and practical work. On the other hand, if the opportunity arises, I’d like to go back to university (maybe ITS) to refresh and strengthen myself.
Do you have any advice for prospective PhD students? Never give up, no matter what kind of difficulties and challenges you face - achieving a PhD is a unique experience.
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Calvin Jephcote
British
The health effects of urban air pollution derived from traffic
May 2009
What are you researching for your PhD and what motivates you to study this area?
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that many health problems including respiratory and cardiovascular conditions can be caused or worsened by regular exposure to air pollution. There is also a consensus that motor-vehicles are the predominant source of detrimental urban air pollutants in the developed world. However, it remains unclear to what extent such transport pollutants have on human health. The focus of my PhD is to determine the extent to which transport has a detrimental impact on human health on the urban scale. By undertaking this research I hope to aid the validation and assessment of such impacts, potentially resulting in a re-evaluation of present air quality standards.
Why did you decide to study at ITS?
The main reason was the research opportunities available at ITS in transport derived pollutants and their effects on health. Another important reason was the excellent reputation of the University of Leeds, particularly for the quality of the research training. I have also been fortunate enough to further develop an interest that has merged both my undergraduate and Master’s studies.
What did you do before you were a PhD student?
I did a BSc in Geography & Geology at Keele University, followed by an MSc in Air Pollution Management & Control at the University of Birmingham.
What kind of support do you get?
I have found ITS very welcoming, with approachable staff and researchers, happy to answer any queries I have. This is in addition to the high level of support and advice provided by my supervisors. There are also a number of training courses provided across the University, which offer help in developing and refreshing both academic and personal development skills.
How are you financing your studies?
I am funded by an EPSRC Doctoral Training Award (DTA), which pays my fees and a living allowance. It was awarded via ITS during the application process.
What do you aim to do once you’ve completed your PhD?
As I am still at the early stages of my PhD, I am keeping my career plans open to the potential of further academic research, or alternatively working in air quality consultancy. It’s too early to decide which route I’ll take, but my time at ITS will strongly prepare me for either career.
Do you have any advice for prospective PhD students? Do your homework and read around the current research and opportunities available, in order to confirm that the department’s research interests are aligned with yours. Also consider the wider issues such as the city you’ll be living in, as a happy student means a productive student.
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Fayyaz Qadir
Pakistani
Incorporating Reliability into Network Modelling and Policy Analysis
Prof. David Watling
Dr Richard Connors
April 2010
The title of my research is ‘Incorporating Reliability into Network Modelling and Policy Analysis’. This research investigates the combined effect of journey travel cost and late arrival penalty at a destination to the travellers’ route choice decision, based on their risk-related preferences in response to the variability in their journey travel time. This behavioural response in turn helps a transport modeller to depict the variation in traffic flows over a transport network which provides a useful tool to assess various transport policy measures.
My motivation for my research is to be able to play a vital role in proposing sustainable transport solutions to alleviate road congestion, which has adverse effects on our health, economics, environment and climate.
I chose Leeds because of the specialised expertise available in my research area, the remarkable reputation of my supervisor and easy access to him, and finally the versatility of transport research at ITS. Now after spending almost three years at ITS, I am greatly proud of my decision.
During my research I had a great opportunity to travel and study for a short time at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of California, Berkeley where I learned various techniques to model and simulate the transportation networks. I have also presented my work at conferences held in Southampton (UK), London (UK), Athens (Greece) and Washington DC (USA).
I have been funded through a combination of prestigious international scholarships - consisting of an Overseas Research Scholarship, a Tetley and Lupton Scholarship and an ITS Fellowship.
In addition to the excellent research facilities at ITS, as a PhD research student, I greatly appreciate the International Office, Staff and Departmental Development Unit, Joblink and Career Centre for their outstanding help and guidance. Their support enabled me to get the UK student visa, to win the top prize in our 2008 Environment Conference, to increase my employability through part-time work experience during studies and finally to receive guidance in full-time job hunting.
My final words to any prospective student considering ITS would be to prepare yourself for working hard, expanding your professional and friendship networks and finally boosting your future career capabilities.
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Noor Zaitun Yahaya
Malaysian
Temporal and spatial variations of ultra-fine particles in the urban environment
September 2007
What are you researching for your PhD and what motivates you to study this area?
We know that transport is responsible for a significant amount of air pollution, particularly in urban areas and beside busy roads. Previous research work on air pollution has tended to focus on traffic pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), NOx, benzene, sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter (PM10 & PM2.5), but less so on Ultra-fine particles (UFP). There are relatively few studies that detail urban particle numbers, size distributions and parameters in relation to traffic characteristics. My research focus is to develop a fundamental understanding of the role of traffic characteristics, local meteorological factors and street canyon effects on the concentration of Ultra-fine particles (UFP). This research is important in terms of developing pollution control measures, not least as at present there are no legislative standards in the UK, EU or USA that address particle number concentrations.
Why did you decide to study at ITS?
ITS is widely known as Europe’s largest university-based transport unit. As well as postgraduate teaching, ITS has a very strong Transport and Environment research group with a range of experienced academics to provide PhD supervision. There are also world-class experimental research facilities, such as the Instrumented City (IC), alongside experience of applying modern statistical techniques to derive new understandings of environmental impacts. ITS has strong links and networks with other organisations such as the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change, Rail Research UK, UTSG, WCTRS, TRB and many more. Taking all this into my consideration, I chose ITS without hesitation.
What did you do before you were a PhD student?
I am on a sabbatical from my position as lecturer at Terengganu University in Malaysia. I teach undergraduate environment and civil engineering subjects, such as Environmental Management, Air Pollution, Occupational Health & Safety, and Industrial Training. I also carry out research, mostly related to air pollution (indoor and ambient) and have some administrative responsibilities in the Department of Environment Science. My work in Malaysia involves conference and seminar presentations and I work with other institutions in South East Asia (SEA-UEMA) to provide advice and training for air quality professionals.
How would you describe the experience of being a PhD student?
It was initially quite challenging to relocate with my family from Malaysia, to start a new life in Leeds. Good preparation is essential, not just with research and academic knowledge, but language and interpersonal skills, and adapting to a new culture. This year I have been elected to be the ITS Postgraduate Representative - being the voice for people from many different countries and disciplines has enhanced my skills and experience. It was also a great experience to be elected as Chair of Terengganu University’s UK Student Department Postgraduate Seminar 2009. This was a great opportunity to learn how to organise an international academic event. With such a diverse range experiences, I feel better equipped to be at the frontier of transport and the environment.
What kind of support do you get?
Good supervision from good supervisors is the most important support I receive. This is backed up by outstanding library facilities and training courses. We have an annual PhD conference for faculty research students to present and share their work with each other. The ITS PhD group also organises regular seminars, which provides a further platform and support network. Specifically relevant to my research are the facilities dedicated to transport and environmental issues. This includes permanently installed instruments which routinely collect measurements of local traffic, meteorology, air and noise pollution at a heavily congested road junction in Leeds.
How are you financing your studies?
I am fortunate to have full study leave, which means that my government supports my time here. The funding covers registration fees, books and a living allowance. ITS also provides some opportunities for PhD students to assist with teaching, e.g being a demonstrator in practical classes.
What do you aim to do once you’ve completed your PhD?
In the future I will return to Malaysia and resume my service as a lecturer, although I would also like to explore and expand my UK-based research.
Do you have any advice for prospective PhD students? Identify your subject area, and then research the most well-respected academic institutions in that field. Make contact with your potential supervisor before you apply and discuss your ideas and interests - this will help you get a feel for their level of expertise and vice-versa. It is also sensible to consider other factors that will indirectly influence your studies, such as the city and region, its transport, the food, community and culture.
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Anzir Boodoo
British
The impacts of urban form on pedestrian perception
Dr Miles Tight
Frances Hodgson
October 2007
What are you researching for your PhD and what motivates you to study this area?
The background to my research is work I was involved with as part of the Government's Eco-towns programme. I realised that understanding the links between urban design and the nature of the walking environment are not as well understood as was being supposed. My motivation to study this topic came from wanting to solve a real world problem in the creation of sustainable urban environments, that of how to make neighbourhoods more amenable to walking (both as a mode of transport in itself and for access to public transport links). I also enjoy working in the fields of sustainable transport and urban morphology/urban design, and in working with transport policy issues.
Why did you decide to study at ITS?
ITS offered not only a funded place but a research environment I was familiar with from doing my Masters degree here several years previously. Leeds is also a great city to live in with a lively centre and arts scene. There is a wide range of research interests, and links with the Institute of Psychological Sciences which have helped. In addition, I know several members of staff in the School of Geography who have helped with the Urban Geography aspects of my research, and have met several members of staff in the Architecture and Design School at Leeds Metropolitan University who have also helped me formulate my ideas.
What did you do before you were a PhD student?
My first degree was in Geography from the University of Birmingham, after which I studied for the Master of Research in the Built Environment at Leeds, which was run by Miles Tight (who is now my lead supervisor). After completing the MRes, I worked for the Transport Studies Group at Loughborough University, then in transport consultancy before working for myself in supporting consultancy work, and in IT support. I have also had a long term illness which affected my ability to work for many years. I have also been involved in organising a number of arts and community events as well as a number of environmental projects and working as a volunteer officer for The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
How would you describe the experience of being a PhD student?
It can be quite hectic at times, with many late nights, but can equally be very rewarding when things work out well (if only that would happen more often). I was unprepared for the amount of work involved, and the intensity of it at times.
What kind of support do you get?
Because of my long term illness I get help from the University's Disability Services which have arranged weekly study support sessions and also the purchase of equipment. There are also a number of training courses, which have helped in developing some skills such as academic reading and use of the LaTeX typesetting and referencing system, as well as issues relating to ethics and study skills.
How are you financing your studies?
I have an ESRC studentship.
What do you aim to do once you’ve completed your PhD?
I would like to continue in academic research, maybe in Transport and Urban Geography.
Do you have any advice for prospective PhD students? Try and be as clear about your topic as possible. I thought I was, but it turns out that I wasn't really. The more of a cue you have about your method and the hoops you have to jump through, the better. Be aware that it's probably going to seem like a struggle regardless, and choose something you're passionate about that you're able to ride out the storms, and the unproductive weeks and the times that you can't collect your thoughts together enough to make progress. Be prepared to have to throw away a few days' or weeks' work because your ideas have led you down a dead end, for example.
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Minh Tran Huu
Vietnamese
Modelling bus priorities in a motor-cycle dominated environment
Mr Frank Montgomery
Dr Paul Timms
February 2008
What did you research for your PhD and what motivated you to study this area?
I investigated how bus lanes work in motorcycle traffic. The research provides some answers that can help make important improvements to traffic flow in these situations.
Why did you decide to study at ITS?
It was based on recommendations by friends and I also got a quick response from University of Leeds.
How would you describe the experience of being a PhD student?
You can work with your ideas freely and independently. It is a great chance to bring yourself to the world and stand on the shoulders of giants.
How did you finance your time as a PhD student?
I received a scholarship from the Vietnamese government.
What are your lasting memories of ITS and the University of Leeds?
It is one of the best places in the world to study with friendly/great people (ITS). The diversity of students and the vibrant city (University of Leeds).
What do you do now and what are the challenges and rewards of your current job?
I’m now working for a transport consultancy, before I return to Vietnam. To always maintain and develop academic capability in consultancy is a challenge, but gaining more practical experience in industry is very rewarding.
How has completing a PhD helped you?
It has developed my ability to analyse, judge and solve problems and to challenge effectively.
How do you see your career developing?
Being on the right track (compared with my plan) and developing quicker than others.
Do you have any advice for prospective PhD students? Try to clarify your topic and gather/read relevant documents as soon as possible. It is a great chance in your life - don’t worry too much.
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Frank Lai
Taiwanese
Driver attentional demand to dual-task performance
2005
Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds
What did you research for your PhD and what motivated you to study this area?
My research developed an evaluation protocol for quantifying driver distraction. In-vehicle electronics became more sophisticated and diverse than ever during the late 1990s (satellite navigation with complicated display, and even TV). Everyone seemed to agree that distraction imposed risks to safe driving, but there were no rigid approaches to assess the extent of the problems. Driving is closely related to most people’s daily life, and yet no solution was available at the time to look at how distraction affects safety - maybe because it was an impossible mission? I didn’t know. So I bravely took this task on board and went ahead to find out.
Why did you decide to study at ITS?
I had completed my MSc at ITS before I started my PhD. I was attracted to ITS in the first place due to its international reputation, and during my MSc I quickly realised that ITS was genuinely the top institution in the UK and Europe for transport studies. So it was obvious to me that it would be the best place for my PhD. Also, I intended to investigate drivers’ behaviour while they were distracted. The Driving Simulator hosted at ITS offered the perfect instrument - no other institutions in the UK offered anything even close.
How did you finance your three years as a PhD student?
I was self-funded to start with, but I became employed by the University as a researcher half way through my PhD, which helped with my finances.
How would you describe the experience of being a PhD student?
It was a great experience. I received very good support from ITS staff, including from my supervisor, on my research needs. Fellow students also supported each other – we met up regularly to share experience, for example, literature search strategies and available resources (not many journals or other publications were digitalised at the time I started my PhD).
What are your lasting memories of ITS and the University of Leeds?
For ITS, I think it was the members of staff - everyone was helpful. For Leeds, it was the Great Hall. I received two degree certificates in it.
What do you do now and what are the challenges and rewards of your current job?
I have been a member of staff at ITS since 2001. My main tasks are research, but I also do a fair bit of teaching. Part of my role involves supervising PhD theses and Masters dissertations. It’s very rewarding to be able to give back this support to students - in the way that I received it when I was in their shoes.
How has completing a PhD helped you?
The PhD was a tough challenge. But the tough training pushed me to advance further. I felt that I became a different person through the process of the PhD; the ways I identify problems and develop solutions have all been deeply influenced by it. It is honestly a life-long skill set and not easily acquired via other channels.
How do you see your career developing?
I enjoy what I do. Education bears long-term benefits to individuals and society, and I hope I can keep contributing to it as long as I live.
Do you have any advice for prospective PhD students?
Doing a PhD is a life changing opportunity. It can transfer someone completely. Some might see it as a pathway to academic career, but it’s more than that. The skills accumulated through the process are yours for life. It is hard to feel it without experiencing it. Whenever someone asks me about studying in the UK, I always tell them the truth that Leeds University as a whole might not be at the top of the league table, but when it comes down to transport, nowhere else in the UK comes close to the quality of ITS. If it wasn’t good enough, would I have done two degrees here and stayed since 1996? - No.
