Driving innovation toward cleaner, smarter, and more efficient transportation solutions
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CME student Danesh Hosseinpanahi wants to make the world a better place.
Hosseinpanahi, a PhD student working under the direction of Professor Bo Zou, is investigating truck platooning, which is when trucks travel in a convoy with one truck leading and others following closely behind. Traveling this way reduces air resistance, saves fuel, and lowers costs.
Freight transportation is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. By improving the efficiency of truck operations, Hosseinpanahi’s work can help reduce fuel use, cut emissions, and strengthen supply chains.
“This benefits the trucking industry and society by supporting cleaner, more sustainable transportation systems,” Hosseinpanahi said. “I develop mathematical models and algorithms to make the coordination of platoons—deciding which trucks travel together, when, and where on the road—more effective, especially in real-world networks where drivers and companies all have their own schedules and preferences.”
Hosseinpanahi’s research earned him a Gordon Paesani ITS Midwest Scholarship from the Intelligent Transportation Society of the Midwest (ITS Midwest). He was among only three students to receive the award at the 2025 ITS Midwest Conference & Expo in September.
ITS Midwest, a regional chapter of ITS America, is committed to leading, supporting, and promoting programs that providesafe, efficient, and sustainable transportation across modes throughout Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. It provides services through outreach, education, and networking across its diverse membership.
“It’s an incredible honor and a meaningful recognition of my research on sustainable freight systems. This award fuels my passion to keep pushing forward by driving innovation toward cleaner, smarter, and more efficient transportation solutions,” Hosseinpanahi said. “The award highlights the value of my work and gives me the opportunity to share my research with a broader audience. It also connects me more closely with the transportation research community and inspires me to continue making an impact.”
Hosseinpanahi also earned praise from Zou, who recommended him for the award based on his classroom and lab work.
“Danesh has distinguished himself as an exceptional scholar and researcher,” Zou said. ”He possesses the ability to tackle complex transportation challenges with innovative modeling and present the research clearly and effectively. His analytical rigor and creative problem-solving are truly impressive.”
When he graduates, Hosseinpanahi plans to continue advancing sustainable freight and mobility solutions through academic research or by applying optimization methods in industry to solve large-scale transportation problems.
“UIC has been instrumental in preparing me for my career. Through rigorous coursework, collaborative research on nationally funded projects, and opportunities to present at major conferences, I am building the technical expertise, professional experience, and network needed to succeed in transportation engineering,” he said.