T. Donna Chen

T. Donna Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on sustainable transportation systems, transportation economics, travel demand modeling, and crash safety.

• Ph.D., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Austin (2015)
• M.E., Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington (2008)
• B.S., Civil Engineering, Texas A&M University (2005)

Her work explores the impacts of new vehicle technologies on traveler behavior and the environment, with an emphasis on modeling shared autonomous electric vehicle operations, pricing schemes, and life-cycle emissions. She also investigates spatial patterns of electric vehicle adoption and roadway safety for cyclists.

Recent publications highlight her contributions to transportation electrification, fleet management, and safety analysis. Key themes include sustainability, autonomous systems, economic modeling, and urban mobility.

• American Society of Civil Engineers ExCEEd Fellow (2017)
• NSF IGERT Fellow (2013-2015)
• FHWA Eisenhower Fellow (2012-2013)

Dr. Chen teaches courses on transportation infrastructure design and economics. Her funded projects include research on green vehicle adoption, connected vehicle planning, and dynamic tolling frameworks. She is affiliated with the Transportation Research Board, ASCE TD&I, ITS America, ITE, and Women’s Transportation Seminar.