Graduate student Jaqueline Masaki seeks to bring advanced technology to developing-world infrastructure
Jaqueline Masaki is a second-year doctoral student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. Her main research interests are transportation planning and demand, autonomous vehicle technologies and traffic safety analysis. She works under the direction of Dr. Yassir AbdelRazig of the CEE Department, and Dr. Doreen Kobelo of the Division of Engineering Technology at FAMU. Masaki's previous research includes FDOT-funded projects on transit-oriented developments and vehicle classifications, under the supervision of Dr. Ren Moses of the CEE Department. Masaki is currently working on assessing the potential benefits of connected and autonomous vehicles for older drivers. This study is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Center for Accessibility and Safety for an Aging Population (ASAP) at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.
"The objective of my research is to develop comprehensive models that assess the benefits of autonomous and connected vehicles for older drivers in terms of safety, mobility, health and economic impacts," Masaki explains. "The results will determine the potential of these vehicles to provide safe and efficient mobility of the elderly population."
Masaki became interested in studying transportation at a very young age.
"Born in a country with poor transportation systems, I wanted to study transportation to enable me to tackle the existing issues: civil engineering was, therefore, the right choice for me upon completing high school," she says. "I was blessed to continue my graduate studies at FAMU-FSU College of Engineering as I have enjoyed the opportunity through my research studies to design methodologies, analyze results, present findings and write reports.
"Most importantly, I feel that I have been involved in projects that are meaningful and contribute toward the development of the transportation system. After my doctoral studies, I want to make significant academic and practical contributions to the development of the growing technology of smart cars, which is the future of transportation," Masaki continues. "I would also like to help build efficient transportation systems in Tanzania (her home country) and in other developing nations.
"One of the important things that I have learned as a student is to never leave what I can do today until tomorrow," she says. "This has helped me tremendously in my studies."
Recently, Masaki presented her work at the student poster competition at the 5th Annual University Transportation Centers (UTC) Conference for the Southeastern Region in Gainesville, Florida, where she was awarded first place out of the 65 posters submitted.
She also received the People's Choice award in the 2017 3MT (Three Minute Thesis) Competition at FAMU. In 2016, Ms. Masaki was the recipient of an ASAP Doctoral Research Fellow Award, recognizing her outstanding academic research in issues related to aging in transportation.
She graduated as valedictorian of her undergraduate class at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Currently, Masaki serves as the secretary of the FAMU-FSU ITE (Institute of Transportation Engineers) Student Chapter.