MPC
Mistry is MPC Student of the Year

Posted: Jan 23, 2018

Dilip Mistry, a doctoral student in Transportation and Logistics within the College of Business at NDSU was named the Region VIII Mountain-Plains Consortium Student of the Year, Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C. Each year, the U.S. Department of Transportation honors an outstanding student for achievement and potential future contributions to the transportation field. Students are selected based on their accomplishments, academic merit, research and leadership. The award was made at the Council of University Transportation Centers meeting held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board.

Mistry has a master's degree in computer science from NDSU and a bachelor's degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. He is a graduate research assistant with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute at NDSU and has worked on research projects including development of a grain flow geographic information systems prototype model and a statewide travel demand passenger model. He is currently working on his dissertation proposal on applying machine-learning algorithms to assess the impact on transportation systems of keeping various assets in a state of good repair. He expects to receive his Ph.D. in December of 2018 and pursue a career in academia.

In 2017, in work with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute's Small Urban and Rural Transit Center, Mistry developed a predictive model to assess issues related to keeping the transportation system in a state of good repair. The work will help transit agencies predict when transit assets need to be rehabilitated and replaced, and make decisions on investments and priorities to maintain state-of-good-repair needs.

In addition, in 2017 Mistry also led a fundraising event for the North Dakota chapter of Distressed Children and Infants International, an international non-profit working to protect the rights of children, stop child labor, and help families lift themselves out of poverty. The event raised funds for underprivileged children in Bangladesh.

The Mountain-Plains Consortium Outstanding Student of the Year Award annually recognizes an outstanding transportation student at one of the MPC member universities, Colorado State University, North Dakota State University, South Dakota State University, University of Colorado Denver, University of Denver, University of Utah, University of Wyoming, and Utah State University.

Selection of the award winner is based upon accomplishment in technical merit and research, academic performance and professionalism and leadership. The $1,000 award is part of a nationwide effort to recognize and encourage outstanding achievement in students involved with the U.S. Department of Transportation's University Transportation Centers. The MPC is one of 10 competitive University Transportation Centers sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.