CR2C2 is proud to celebrate an outstanding achievement by one of our students, Amir Milad Javadi, who was recognized tonight by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) as an Outstanding Student of the Year during the 35th Annual Outstanding Student of the Year Awards Ceremony. The ceremony was held as part of the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC) Annual Banquet.

Amir is a Ph.D. student in Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a valued member of the Center for Regional and Rural Connected Communities (CR2C2). His work continues to reflect the high-impact research and innovation being advanced through CR2C2’s university consortium.

Amir’s award-winning research, titled “Analyzing Driver Distraction During Animal Crossings on Rural Roads: Insights from Eye-Tracking and Vehicle-in-the-Loop Simulation,” focuses on driver attention and re-engagement during low-visibility rural driving conditions. Using advanced simulation methods and eye-tracking technology, his work examines how drivers respond to unexpected hazards such as animal crossings—an issue that presents serious safety concerns in rural transportation environments.