Jinhua Zhao Appointed Head of MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning

MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP) has a new head in the form of Jinhua Zhao, an alumnus with a remarkable list of MIT degrees including MCP ’04, SM ’04, and PhD ’09. Currently serving as the Class of 1941 Professor of Cities and Transportation, Zhao will assume his new role on July 1st.

A Renowned Scholar and Global Influencer in Mobility and Transportation

The news of Zhao’s appointment was delivered by MIT School of Architecture and Planning Dean Hashim Sarkis, who lauded Zhao’s capabilities as a planner, scholar, and educator. Renowned for his knack of smoothly transitioning from cutting-edge research to real-world policy, Zhao is an exemplar of MIT’s intended global impact. Zhao will be picking up the reins from Professor Christopher Zegras, under whose guidance since 2020, DUSP has fostered both local and global connections between students, communities, and policymakers while strengthening the correlation between research and practice. Zegras’ invaluable leadership, particularly during challenging times, was acknowledged with gratitude by Sarkis.

After earning his multitude of degrees, Zhao became part of the DUSP faculty, attracted by the vibrant, interdisciplinary culture of MIT that transcended traditional boundaries, and stimulated him both physically and intellectually. He confessed a fondness for the small-school vibe of MIT, bolstered by the connectivity symbolized by MIT’s ‘infinite corridor’, representing a seamless link between diverse disciplines.

Zhao is renowned for his impactful research on global mobility challenges which has helped shape policies for international organizations like Transport for London and Japan Railways, as well as major American transit authorities, thus furthering MIT’s impact globally. Zhao cathartically points out a general issue most cities are grappling with – technology outpacing the institutions meant to govern them. He aims to bridge this gap through his work.

Pioneering the MIT Mobility Initiative and Urban Mobility Lab

Being at the forefront of the mobility and transportation field, Zhao spearheaded the MIT Mobility Initiative, fostering collaboration between researchers within the Institute and globally. His brainchild – the MIT Mobility Forum conducted over Zoom, has burgeoned into a global platform frequented by over 200 professionals from policymakers to researchers on a weekly basis. Zhao stresses on the interdisciplinary nature of transportation, advocating the forum as a necessary knowledge resource.

Zhao is also in charge of the JTL Urban Mobility Lab, working at the intersection of behavioral science and transportation technology to influence travel behaviors and enhance transportation policies. Additionally, he is a principal investigator with Mens, Manus, and Machina, an MIT initiative exploring how AI will punctuate the future of work and human learning.

Aiming for Global Influence and Accessibility

Zhao is ambitious in his aim to ensure city leaders around the world engage with DUSP research on pressing issues like aging societies, AI’s impact on jobs, and traffic congestion. His goal is to enable easy access to DUSP’s research for planners, officials, engineers hence crucially impacting decision-making processes in cities.

Zhao asserts, “We know a great deal about how cities grow and how people move. The question is whether those responsible for making these changes can access what we know when they need it.” As for the original announcement, click here.

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