Multi-Disciplinary ASPIRE Students Prepare to Share Insights into an Electrified Future

This Tuesday and Wednesday, April 7-8, four students will be representing ASPIRE at the 2026 Utah State University Spring Research Symposium. From electrified pavement systems to parking design, these students will share their efforts to pave the way to an electrified future. 

“The Spring Student Research Symposium offers a unique opportunity to showcase innovative knowledge alongside other students,” shared Landscape Architecture Undergraduate Cameron Hill. “It is a great way to enhance the experience of conducting research, all while being a part of an incredible community right in our backyard.” 

He will be presenting his research entitled “Effectiveness of Computer Vision to Inform Parking Planning and Design,” a research project conducted with Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning Associate Professor Ole Sleipness. Their research is focused on developing a framework to utilize cameras and computer vision to analyze and discover underused parking areas. 

Hill isn’t the only student excited to share his research. Civil & Environmental Engineering Student Mahmoud Ali also looks forward to sharing his discoveries with a “broader academic and professional audience.” 

“This symposium is a great opportunity to communicate the impact of our work beyond the laboratory and receive feedback from researchers in different disciplines,” said Ali. “Additionally, being part of this event allows me to contribute to the research community at Utah State University and showcase the innovative work supported by ASPIRE.” 

With this opportunity, Ali will receive feedback on his research on Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) and the characterization of them in electrified pavement systems, especially for in-motion charging technologies. 

“One of the key highlights is developing ECC mix designs that exhibit high ductility and strain-hardening behavior,” he said. 

In other words, Ali is working under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Srishti Banerji to test micromechanically designed materials that are both pliable and strong to improve electrified roadways. In the next phase of his research, Ali plans to determine the optimal embedment depth of a DWPT system.

ASPIRE students James Blake and Bridger Porter will also be presenting at the symposium. While Blake will present his research entitled “Studying Student Sensemaking in a Gatekeeper Course: A Methodological Approach Using Online Peer-Facing Forums,” Porter will present his discoveries on EV adoption developed with USU Associate Professor of Marketing and Strategy Antje Graul under the title “Exploring Convergent Barriers, Divergent Motivations, and Cross-Partisan Understanding of Electric Vehicle Adoption.” 

“The opportunity to present my research holds significant importance to me,” the undergraduate shared. “With my Marketing major, I recognize and understand that relation to consumers is rooted in research. Being able to apply these skills by presenting the research I have been working on allows me to step into the world of academia and receive cross-disciplinary feedback on my own research endeavor.” 

To view the presentation times and support our student researchers, refer to the full schedule. 

For the latest news, publications, and research highlights from ASPIRE, visit aspire.usu.edu. 

About ASPIRE: 

ASPIRE, a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center headquartered at Utah State University, leads groundbreaking research and development to accelerate electrification. With over 400 global collaborators, ASPIRE focuses on creating seamless, affordable electrified transportation systems, accessible for all vehicle classes, along with the public infrastructure needed to support them. By reducing emissions, improving air quality, and fostering economic growth through job creation and workforce training, ASPIRE’s work spans engineering, social science, policy, and business. Partnering with top universities, industry leaders, and community groups, ASPIRE is driving the future of advanced transportation. Learn more at aspire.usu.edu. 

Contacts: 

Kat Webb
Content Director
Marketing & Communications 
ASPIRE ERC  

Writer: 

Kayleigh Kearsley 
Marketing & Communications Intern 
ASPIRE ERC