The John S. Adams Award for Excellence in Transportation Research and Education is given to University of Minnesota graduate students demonstrating outstanding academic achievement in policy and planning fields. Up to two students are honored each year (one master’s and one doctoral candidate).
The award is named in honor of Professor Emeritus John S. Adams, a significant contributor to transportation-related research, education, and outreach activities and a long-time supporter of CTS.
Award Requirements
The $1,000 award is made based upon demonstration of the student's work in transportation research, writing, and other educational activities relating to transportation. Special consideration will be given to applicants who have had their work accepted for presentation at a nationally recognized conference or published in a transportation journal. Other demonstrated involvement in transportation, such as related work experience, transportation coursework completed, and involvement in professional transportation organizations, will also be considered. The award is also based upon the recommendation of a University faculty member.
The awards are presented at the Center's Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon in February.
With questions, please contact Claire Johnson, CTS program coordinator, at johnsoc@umn.edu.
- More information about the award (PDF)
- Sample application from a previous master's award winner (PDF)
- Sample application from a previous doctoral award winner (PDF)
2020 Winners
Yunlei Qi
Yunlei Qi is a doctoral candidate in public affairs, urban planning track, advised by Greg Lindsey.
Shannon Engstrom
Shannon Engstrom is a master's candidate in urban and regional planning at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, advised by Frank Douma.
Past Winners
2019
Colleen Peterson, doctoral candidate in epidemiology (Advisor: Mark Peirera)
Leoma Van Dort, master's candidate in urban and regional planning at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Advisor: Ed Goetz)
2018
Xinyi Wu, doctoral candidate in urban planning at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Advisor Jason Cao)
Travis Fried, Master of GIS student in the College of Liberal Arts (Advisor: Susanna McMaster)
2017
Jueyu Wang, doctoral candidate in public affairs (concentration in urban planning) at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Advisor: Greg Lindsey)
2016
Kirti Das, doctoral candidate in public affairs at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Advisor: Yingling Fan)
Alireza Ermagun, master's candidate in urban and regional planning at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Advisor: Greg Lindsey)
2015
Andrew Guthrie, doctoral candidate in public affairs at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Advisor: Yingling Fan)
Spencer Peck, master’s candidate in urban & regional planning at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Advisor: Frank Douma)
2014
Chen Zhang, master's candidate in science, technology, and environmental policy at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs (Advisor: Jason Cao)
2013
Jessica Schoner, Humphrey School of Public Affairs master's program and Department of Civil Engineering master's program (Advisors: Jason Cao and David Levinson)
2012
Qian Chen, Humphrey School of Public Affairs master's program and Department of Statistics master's program (Advisor: Yingling Fan)
David Smith, doctoral candidate in the Department of Applied Economics (Advisor: Frances Homans)
2011
David Coyle, master's candidate in the Department of Applied Economics
Pavithra Parthasarathi, candidate in the Doctorate of Civil Engineering
2010
Zhiyi Xu, candidate in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs
Shanjiang Zhu, candidate in the Doctorate of Civil Engineering and candidate in the Master of Science in Applied Economics
2009
Katie Roth, candidate in the Master of Urban and Regional Planning Program at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs