About me
Last updated in April 2025. Please note that I am not frequently updating my site unless there is a major research milestone.
Hi! I build AI-powered traffic-control systems as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Intelligent Transportation Systems at Saint Louis University (SLU).
My research interests span Transportation-Cyber-Physical Systems (T-CPS), machine learning with transportation priors, traffic modeling and control, sustainable urban mobility, and transportation-related safety. By leveraging data and computational methods, my research aims to develop and apply advanced technologies to address traditional transportation engineering challenges and enhance the understanding of traffic information for future city design. You can reach me at tianyili[dot]ai[at]gmail[dot]com. I am always open to discussions about potential collaborations or research opportunities.
Before joining Saint Louis University (SLU), I completed my PhD at the University of Minnesota (UMN), working under the guidance of Professor Raphael Stern. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University (ISU), where I was advised by Professor Sri Sritharan and Professor Kejin Wang for my undergraduate thesis. Additionally, I hold one master’s degree from the University of Washington (UW), where I was advised by Professor Yinhai Wang.
Research Interests
- Transportation-Cyber-Physical Systems (T-CPS)
- Automated and connected vehicles
- Traffic modeling and control
- AI in Transportation
- Urban mobility solutions
- Traffic safety and sustainable transportation
I have interned and conducted research at Futurewei Technologies Research Lab, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and China Railway First Group. These experiences have provided me with valuable insights into the transportation industry and its challenges.
I am actively looking for students, particularly Master’s and undergraduate students already at SLU. Interested students are welcome to contact me directly for a chat.
Quotes:
“All models are wrong, but some are useful.”
“If equal affection cannot be, Let the more loving one be me.”
“Do not disfigure the soul.”