Yi-Ching Lee, Assistant Professor, Psychology, received $5,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the "Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) Graduate Fellowship." The funding is for Mason psychology doctoral student Allegra Ayala.
The Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program (DDETFP) provides funding for students to pursue advanced degrees in transportation-related disciplines. The program objectives are to: 1) attract the nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation; 2) enhance the careers of transportation professionals by encouraging them to seek advanced degrees; and 3) retain top talent in the transportation industry of the United States. The DDETFP is intended to enhance the breadth and scope of knowledge of the entire transportation community in the United States. The DDETFP encompasses all modes of transportation.
Regarding the importance of this funding, Ayala said, "This funding will be used to conduct research regarding vehicle-to-interface (V2I) communication systems, which may be helpful in bridging the gap between autonomous vehicle users and non-users by supporting better communication and making all drivers more informed. The proposed study on the effect of drivers’ emotion on their perception of V2I communication and autonomous vehicles will be conducted in the hopes of improving the deployment and design of V2I and as well as the safety of all vehicles in mixed traffic situations."
Funding for this award began in December 2021 and will end in late August 2022.
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