Shrikant Fulari

Motivation to pursue a graduate degree

My interest in pursuing a PhD grew from a desire to move beyond applying existing methods and toward creating new, data-driven approaches that meaningfully improve transportation systems. Through my professional experience, I saw firsthand how rigorous research can directly influence policy, safety, and resilience outcomes. Florida State University offered the ideal environment to pursue this goal, with strong interdisciplinary research, access to real-world datasets, and close collaboration with state and national transportation agencies. The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering’s emphasis on applied research aligned perfectly with my academic and professional aspirations.

Importance and/or impact of research and work

My research focuses on geospatial intelligence and data-driven transportation modeling using large-scale mobility data and machine learning methods. I develop advanced analytical frameworks such as spatial indexing, graph-based learning, and predictive models to study evacuation mobility, accessibility to critical facilities, and system performance under extreme events. This research is important as it enables fine-resolution, real-world insights that traditional data sources cannot capture, and thus directly supports transportation agencies in making informed and resilient planning and operational decisions.

Career aspirations

My career goal is to use data-driven research to help improve transportation planning, policy, and day-to-day operations. I hope to work at the intersection of academia, industry, and public agencies and develop long term practical solutions to address challenges in transportation through advanced research.

Advice for anyone considering graduate school

Graduate school has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I view it as a journey of growth both intellectually and professionally. I strongly encourage prospective students to choose a program and advisor that align with their long-term goals, while actively seeking opportunities to apply their research to real-world problems. Persistence and a willingness to embrace uncertainty will be part of the learning process.

Accomplishments during graduate career

I am most proud of my research dissemination and leadership contributions during graduate school, including multiple peer-reviewed conference presentations at the Transportation Research Board and ongoing journal submissions in leading transportation journals. Serving as the Student Liaison between the FAMU–FSU ITE Student Chapter and the ITE Florida Panhandle Section has been especially meaningful, as it allowed me to bridge academic research with professional practice while mentoring emerging transportation professionals.