Transportation Research and Visualization Lab introduce research insights for interdisciplinary undergraduate students in summer internship program
By CSEE staff
Published August 17, 2026
On June 30, 2026, 15 students participating in the Interdisciplinary Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Atmospheric and Geological Hazards visited the University at Buffalo’s (UB) Transportation Research and Visualization Laboratory (TRAVL) for a research presentation and facility tour.
TRAVL is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to studying how people interact with transportation infrastructure through immersive virtual simulation.
During the 90-minute presentation, Irina Benedyk, assistant professor in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering (CSEE), introduced students to the laboratory and explained how researchers use mixed reality and simulation to study human factors in transportation. Benedyk discussed how TRAVL combines research, education, and training to advance its mission. She also introduced students to ethical considerations in human subject-based experimental design and led a “Moral Machine” experiment demonstrating how attitudes toward self-driving vehicles can vary among different populations.
The visit concluded with a tour and demonstrations of TRAVL’s simulators, including a bicycle simulator equipped with a virtual reality headset and the simRING driving simulator, which features full-motion capabilities and a 360-degree display theater.
The visit was designed to strengthen students’ understanding of transportation research and introduce them to potential career opportunities and leadership in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
The presentation was supported by Austin Angulo, assistant professor in the CSEE Department, and Kevin Hulme, program manager for the Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics.
UB’s Interdisciplinary REU in Atmospheric and Geological Hazards is sponsored by the Center for Geological and Climate Hazards and SUNY. This competitive summer program brings undergraduate students from across the country to UB to conduct faculty-mentored research on critical topics including climate change, natural disasters, and risks associated with green energy.
Throughout the program, students participate in professional development workshops focused on science communication and graduate school preparation, build connections with their peers, and present their research at a concluding symposium.
