People

Dr. Alex Bigazzi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and an Associate Member of the School of Community and Regional Planning at the University of British Columbia. His research focuses on non-motorized and lightly-motorized travel – in particular, the intersection of physics, physiology, and behaviour for active travellers. He also studies transportation emissions, including the uptake of traffic-related air pollution by active travellers. Alex received a Bachelor of Music in jazz saxophone from the University of Miami in 2001. Following that he was a musician and vagabond, eventually returning to the academy and receiving a doctorate in Civil Engineering from Portland State University in 2014. He is thrilled and deeply appreciative to be living and working in this beautiful corner of the world, on Coast Salish lands, with passionate and creative students and colleagues. 

Elmira is a PhD student at UBC in the department of Civil Engineering. She currently holds a master degree from Amirkabir University of Technology and her master’s thesis concerned active transportation mode and destination choices. Her interests include and go beyond active transportation and its link with air emission. She joined the React Lab team in September 2017. Her research is on cycling route and speed choices.

Amir Hassanpour is currently a Ph.D. student in the Department of Civil Engineering at UBC. He holds a Master’s degree from UBC and a Bachelor’s degree from Sharif University of Technology. His primary research interest is the emerging transportation technology and policies to create an equitable and sustainable transportation system. He strongly believes that a multimodal street is a livable street and creates opportunities for all. He hopes that his research makes a positive impact on all people and the communities they live in.

Diana is an international student who joined the Civil Engineering M.A.Sc. program to pursue a specialization in Transport Engineering. She joined REACT Lab in September 2022 as a Research Assistant. Her background involves a Licentiate Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Costa Rica, as well as research and teaching activities in that institution. Her research interests lie in sustainable urban transportation, spatial data analysis, and bike route choice models. As an enthusiastic active commuter, Diana aspires to play a role in understanding active mobility and transportation systems, to promote more livable cities and quality life for diverse communities.

Pegah Ghane, currently pursuing a Master’s in Civil Engineering at UBC, started her academic journey with a solid foundation in planning. She initially earned a master’s in urban design from the University of Tehran. In 2023, she embarked on a new phase, commencing her studies in MASc Civil Engineering with a focus on transportation at UBC. Driven by a passion for innovative solutions, Pegah aims to expand her expertise in transportation engineering methods. With a particular interest in active transportation, she looks forward to combining her urban planning knowledge with new experiences to contribute to the development of safe and equitable urban transportation.

Polina is a civil engineering master’s student who joined the REACT lab in January of 2024. Born and raised in eastern Russia, she has lived in the US for 11 years, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Portland State University. She then worked in transportation engineering and planning for three years, primarily focusing on active transportation projects. Having experienced growing up in a city without the need for a car, her career goal is to help North American cities become more accessible, safe, and comfortable for people using active modes. Her research at UBC is focused on understanding the influence of e-bike incentive programs on driving behavior and reduction of CO2 emissions.