Resume

Education

• PhD | Technion, IL | 2021 – 2025,

Thesis: Traffic Flow Modeling and Control of Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams for Low-Altitude Air City Transport.

Development: LAAT Flow Simulation Demo.

Advisors: Assoc. Prof. Jack Haddad (Technion), Prof. Nikolas Geroliminis (EPFL).

* Visiting PhD Student | EPFL, CH | 02/2022 – 12/2022.

• M.Sc. in Civil Engineering - Transportation and Highways Engineering (with thesis) Cum Laude | Technion, IL | 03/2017 – 08/2019,

Thesis: Optimal Integrated Routing and Signal Control in Urban Traffic Networks.

Advisor: Assoc. Prof. Jack Haddad.

• B.Sc. in Civil Engineering - Transportation Engineering | Technion, IL | 10/2012 – 02/2017.

* BSc Exchange Student |  EPFL, CH | 09/2014 – 07/2015.

• High School Diploma (Computer Science, Physics, History) | The Hebrew Reali School in Haifa, IL | 09/1999 – 07/2011.

Fellowships, Awards, and Honors

⋆ ISTRC Excellence scholarship, ISTRC, 2023-2024, 2022-2023, 2021-2022.

⋆ CEE Excellence scholarship, CEE, Technion, 2023.

⋆ ISTRC Conference Grants, ISTRC, 05/2023 and 01/2024.

⋆ EuroTech Alliance Research Project scholarship, EuroTech Universities Alliance, 2021-2022.

⋆ First place award at the Dockathon, theDOCK Innovation Hub, 06/2019.

⋆ A prize for outstanding achievement in Traffic Engineering courses, Technion, 06/2017 and 06/2019.

⋆ Excellence prize in Transportation Project course, Technion, 06/2016.

⋆ Special distinction for volunteer community work, The Hebrew Reali School in Haifa, 07/2011.

Publications

Refereed papers in professional journals

J1. Safadi, Y., & Haddad, J. (2021). Optimal combined traffic routing and signal control in simple road networks: an analytical solution. Transportmetrica A: transport science, 17(3), 308-339. doi: 10.1080/23249935.2020.1783023.

J2. Safadi, Y., Fu, R., Quan, Q., & Haddad, J. (2023). Macroscopic fundamental diagrams for low-altitude air city transport. Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies, 152, 104141. doi: 10.1016/j.trc.2023.104141.

J3. Safadi, Y., Geroliminis, N., & Haddad, J. (2024). Integrated Departure and Boundary Control for Low-altitude Air City Transport Systems. Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, 103020. doi: 10.1016/j.trb.2024.103020.

Refereed papers in conference proceedings

C1. Safadi, Y., Geroliminis, N., & Haddad, J. (2023, May). Aircraft Departures Management for Low Altitude Air City Transport based on Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram. In 2023 American Control Conference (ACC) (pp. 4393-4398). IEEE. doi:10.23919/ACC55779.2023.10155966.

C2. Safadi, Y., Granot, A., & Haddad, J., (2024). A Holistic Framework for Assessing and Optimizing Energy Consumption for Low-Altitude Air City Transport Systems. In 2024 European Control Conference (ECC) (pp. 2903-2908). IEEE. doi:10.23919/ECC64448.2024.10590770.

C3. Safadi, Y., & Haddad, J., (2024). Overview and Perspectives of Urban Air Mobility Operation and Simulation Tools. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 58(10), 296-301. doi:10.1016/j.ifacol.2024.07.356.

Conferences

1. Safadi Y., Haddad J., (2024), Speed Control for Air Mobility Systems. MFTS2024: The 5th Symposium on Management of Future Motorway and Urban Traffic Systems, Heraklion, Crete, Greece, (Podium).

2. Safadi Y., Geroliminis N., Haddad J., (2024). Integrated Departure and Boundary Control for Low-altitude Air City Transport Systems. ISTTT 25: The 25th International Symposium on Transportation and Traffic Theory, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, (Podium).

3. Safadi Y., Haddad J., (2024). Overview and Perspectives of Air Mobility Operation and Simulation Tools. CTS 2024: The 17th IFAC Symposium on Control in Transportation Systems, Ayia Napa, Cyprus, (Podium-Remotely).

4. Safadi Y., Granot A., Haddad J., (2024). Exploring Energy Consumption for Low-Altitude Air City Transport Systems: A Traffic Flow and Control Perspective. TRBAM 2024: Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington DC, USA, (Poster).

5. Safadi Y., Geroliminis N., Haddad J., (2023). Aircraft Departures Management for Low Altitude Air City Transport based on Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram. ACC 2023: American Control Conference, San Diego, CA, USA, (RI-Podium and Poster).

6. Safadi Y., Geroliminis N., Haddad J., (2023). Traffic Demand Management for Low Altitude Air City Transport based on Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram. TRBAM 2023: Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington DC, USA (Poster).

7. Safadi Y., Fu R., Quan Q., Haddad J., (2022). Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams for Low-Altitude Air City Transport. hEART 2022: The 10th symposium of the European Association for Research in Transportation, Leuven, BL, (Podium).

8. Safadi Y., Haddad J., Geroliminis N., (2022). Traffic Flow Modeling and Control of Macroscopic Fundamental Diagrams for Low-Altitude Air City Transport. STRC 2022: The Swiss Transport Research Conference, Ascona, CH, (Podium).

9. Safadi Y., Haddad J., (2019). Optimal Integrated Routing and Signal Control in Simple Traffic Networks: An Analytical Solution. TRBAM 2019: Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Washington DC, USA, (Podium).

10. Safadi Y., Haddad J., (2018). Optimal Integrated Routing and Signal Control in Simple Traffic Networks. MATTS 2018: Mathematics Applied in Transport and Traffic Systems, Delft, NL, (Podium).

Workshops

• MINTT: Management of Innovation and Technology Transfer, EPFL, (Lausanne CH, 06/2022-4days).

• Managing Doctoral Research as a Project, Technion, (Online, 05/2021-8hours).

• Data Analysis and Scientific Python, Technion, (Online, 02/2021-10weeks).

• Momentum Start-up Accelerator program, IDC Entrepreneurship Club, (Herzliya IL, 11/2019-10weeks).

• Innovation and Business Management workshops, Jolt IO, (Haifa IL, 06/2019-3months).

• Model Predictive Control, IAAC Association, (Herzliya IL, 11/2018-1day).

• Presentation Skills Intensive workshop, Technion, (Haifa IL, 08/2016-20hours).

• 37th International Summer School of Automatic Control, INRIA CNRS GIPS, (Grenoble FR, 09/2016-5days).

• Training course: Aimsun Next Mobility Modelling Software, Aimsun, (Newcastle UK, 04/2016-3days).

 Professional Experience

▶ Student Researcher | Green Light, Google Research, IL | 2024 - Present,

▷ Analyzing and investigating real-world traffic metrics to deliver advanced traffic control solutions.

▶ Teaching Assistant | Technion, IL | 10/2017 - 08/2024,

▷ Teaching assistant for the Traffic Engineering and Management course; leading and assisting a 6-hour weekly session on traffic flow theory, traffic control, and simulation. (Winter Semster 2023-2024, Spring Semster 2023, Winter Semster 2021-2022, Winter Semster 2020-2021, Spring Semster 2019, Winter Semster 2018-2019, Winter Semster 2017-2018).

▶ Research Assistant | Transportation Research Institute, Technion R&D Ltd., IL | 06/2020 - 01/2021,

▷ Research assistant at the T-SMART lab and TRI; Investigating and analyzing advanced traffic control methods for field test and conducting a literature review study for the Traffic Management and Control committee at the ISTRC.

▶ Traffic Engineer | Matan Traffic and Transportation Engineering Ltd., IL | 10/2019 - 05/2020,

▷ Traffic engineer at the Traffic Signal Design team; Planning and analyzing traffic projects and designs for central municipalities.

▶ Research Assistant | T-SMART, Technion R&D Ltd., IL |  07/2015 - 03/2017,

▷ Research assistant and lab manager at the T-SMART laboratory; Conducting research in the traffic management and control sector, focusing on traffic control, modeling, and simulation.

▶ International Student Guide | Technion International, IL | 03/2016 - 03/2017,

▷ Student guide for the international students at the Technion; Supporting the students with academic and social challenges while organizing and operating activities and social events.

▶ Project Coordinator | Equal Opportunities Project, Technion Dean’s office, Technion, IL | 07/2015 - 03/2017,

▷ Project coordinator in the Equal Opportunities Project, Technion Dean’s office; Managing the team to support the 500 first-year students’ challenges (academic and social).

▶ QA Analyst | Toluna, IL | 02/2014 - 08/2014,

▷ Analyst in the QA team; Testing mobile and web products to deliver market research platform solutions for large-scale companies.

▶ Tutor | Haifa, IL | 10/2013 - 03/2016,

▷ Tutor for freshmen students at the Technion Dean’s office: Calculus, Programming, and more.

▷ Tutor for high school students: Math for 9th–12th grade, Computer science for 10th grade.

Internships

▶ Site Manager-Intern | Ozapi Ltd, Dywalapatia, Sri Lanka | 02/2017.

▶ QA Intern | Toluna, IL | 07/2013 - 09/2013, 01/2012 - 10/2012.

Special Activities and Volunteer Experience

▶ Member | NASEM–TRB–Standing Committee on New Users of Shared Airspace | 04/2023 - 05/2025,

▷ Assisting, supporting, and participating in the AV095 committee’s activities. The committee focuses on emerging aviation applications, such as commercial space operations, uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), and advanced air mobility (AAM). This committee is part of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) under the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).

▶ Reviewer for International Journals and Conferences | 05/2017 - 04/2025,

▷ Journals: ∗ Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies; ∗ Transportation Science.

▷ Conferences: TRBAM 2025: Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting; ∗ CDC 2024: 63rd IEEE Conference on Decision and Control; ∗ ECC 2024: The 22nd European Control Conference; ∗ TRBAM 2024: Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting; ∗ hEART 2019: The 8th Symposium of the European Association for Research in Transportation; ∗ hEART 2017: The 6th Symposium of the European Association for Research in Transportation.

▶ Conference Volunteer | 10/2016 - Present,

▷ Planning Committee Member, TRB Aviation Research and Innovation Symposium, Summer, 2026, USA.

▷ Assistant, Workshop on “AI in Aviation”, TRBAM 2025: Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Jan. 5, 2025, Washington DC, USA.

▷ Planning Committee Member, The 5th Symposium on Management of Future Motorway and Urban Traffic Systems, Sep. 10-12, 2024, Crete, GR.

▷ Presiding Officer and Organizer, Lectern Session on "The 2030 Aviation Ecosystem" (Invited Talks), TRBAM 2024: Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, Jan. 8, 2024, Washington DC, USA.

▷Session Chair, "Traffic Control (RI)", The 2023 American Control Conference (ACC), June 2, 2023, San Diego, CA, USA.

▷ Assistant, The 2nd ISTRC Annual Conference, Jul. 3-4, 2022, Haifa, IL.

▷ Assistant, The 1st IFAC Workshop on Control of Transportation Systems, Jun. 30 – Jul. 1, 2019, Haifa, IL.

▷ Assistant, WISE-ACT Training School 2019, March 26-28, 2019, Haifa, IL.

▷ Assistant, The 6th Symposium of the European Association for Research in Transportation, Sep. 12-14, 2017, Haifa, IL.

▶ Member | Rotaract, IL | 10/2016 - 10/2013,

▷ The club was founded in October 2016 and has 40 active members. It belongs to Rotary International. As a club, we focus on volunteering in Haifa community–assisting disadvantaged populations, such as families, battered women, children at risk, elderly people, etc. Additionally, we organize cultural and social events in Haifa.

▶ Mentor | Jerusalem High Tech Foundry | 10/2021 - 04/2022,

▷ Mentoring high school students pursuing undergraduate degrees.

▶ Mentor | Alrowad-YASA, IL | 04/2021 - 04/2022,

▷ Mentoring students in their last year of bachelor's studies pursuing graduate degrees.

▶ Member | Water polo team, Technion, IL | 10/2012 – 10/2017.

▶ Member | Model United Nations, EPFL, CH, 08/2014 – 07/2015.

▶ Member | Water polo team, Lausanne LN3, CH | 08/2014 – 07/2015.

▶ Scouts Leader | Carmel Haifa branch, Scouts, IL | 07/2007 - 07/2011,

▷ Responsible for 700 boys and girls from 4th to 12th grade. Managing 75 group leaders and planning annual programs, trips, seminars, and special events, including budgeting and serving as an address for the community and parents, while representing the local Carmel Haifa branch at the national level meetings. The position can be attained only through democratic elections among peers.

▶ Delegation Member | Scouts, AT | 07/2010 - 08/2010,

▷ Chosen as a member of the youth delegation to Austria, aimed to promote peace and understanding. The group was comprised of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish youth elected among the Bethlehem scouts and the Haifa regional scouts.

Skills

• LANGUAGES: ∗ Arabic, Hebrew, English – Full professional proficiency; ∗ French and Spanish – Beginner.

• PROGRAMMING: ∗ MATLAB ∗ C ∗ C++ ∗ Python ∗ VBA ∗ HTML ∗ JS ∗ SQL.

• TOOLS: ∗ LaTeX ∗ Aimsun ∗ Excel ∗ Simulink ∗ CasADi ∗ DIDO ∗ Biogeme ∗ IBM CPLEX ∗ BARON ∗ SQL ∗ Unreal Engine ∗ AirSim ∗ Cesium ∗ Arduino ∗ HCS ∗ Inbar ∗ RCap ∗ TransEM ∗ TransCAD ∗ AutoCAD ∗ Revit ∗ Rhino ∗ Sketchup ∗ ArcGIS ∗ Pix4D ∗ Adobe Illustrator ∗ Adobe Aftereffect ∗ Figma ∗ Blender.