ISTL affiliate Vivian Sun assists with human resources and financial management

By CSEE staff

Vivian Sun joined the University at Buffalo’s Department of Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering (CSEE) in 2023 as a program support specialist, overseeing departmental purchases and financial operations while also supporting the Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics (ISTL) with administrative activities including human resources, purchasing, and financial management. She ensures the smooth and efficient operation of both academic and research programs. 

Over the past three years, Sun has been involved in supporting the development of various CSEE and ISTL transportation laboratories. She has coordinated the purchasing of a wide variety of equipment and materials, ranging from large-scale items such as a full-size simulation vehicle cab to smaller details such as branded laboratory signage. A significant part of Sun’s work is student-facing. She assists with hiring student employees, managing travel reimbursements, and coordinating space arrangements to support teaching and research activities. By working closely with students and faculty, she helps create an organized and supportive environment that allows academic work to thrive. 

The most rewarding aspect of Sun’s job is seeing the ISTL program continue to grow and evolve. She takes pride in witnessing how emerging technologies are shaping the future of the transportation industry and enjoys playing a crucial role in that progress. 

“Watching transportation faculty build these laboratories from the ground up has been both impressive and rewarding,” says Sun. 

Equally meaningful to her is the opportunity to interact with transportation students from around the world, whose diverse perspectives and enthusiasm make the work both engaging and fulfilling.