Michael Levin

Michael Levin is an Associate Professor at the University of Minnesota, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo- Engineering. His research bridges transportation engineering, operations research, and computer science, focusing on modeling and optimizing transportation networks for connected and autonomous vehicles.

• Key research areas include traffic flow theory (kinematic wave models, mesoscopic node models), intelligent transportation systems (dynamic microtolling, parking reservations), and emerging mobility impacts (autonomous taxis, drone delivery).
• He has developed max-pressure signal control frameworks that maximize urban network throughput using Markov chain analysis and is collaborating with Hennepin County for real-world pilot deployments.
• His work on autonomous vehicle impacts extends from traffic congestion prediction to eco-driving control and cyberattack-resilient vehicle control.
• Current students include Mobina Nankali (2025 MS), Maziar Zamanpour (2023 MS), Te Xu (2023 PhD), and Shi'an Wang (2023 PhD).

Scientific honors include the 2025 Alfred Noble Prize, multiple Matthew J. Huber Awards, and IEEE ITSS Best Dissertation Award. He leads technical reports on school start time impacts and connected corridor deployments, with funding from Minnesota Department of Transportation and Center for Transportation Studies. His Levin Research Group maintains full graduate student funding through research and teaching assistantships.