Scholarship highlight:
Ahmed Ahreda is a student at Virginia Tech. He majors in Civil Engineering & Computer Science, and will graduate this year in 2025. Read more about his story in his own words below!
Background: What inspired your interest in clean transportation and/or sustainability?
“My interest in clean transportation and sustainability is driven by my work on innovative simulation tools such as NeTrainSim for freight train energy optimization and ShipNetSim for improving ship operations. These projects have allowed me to focus on reducing emissions and enhancing energy efficiency in transportation. Additionally, my development of CargoNetSim addresses worldwide freight and logistics optimization thus tackling the environmental challenges of global supply chains. Through these experiences, I have honed my ability to create advanced solutions for sustainable and equitable freight systems. This work fuels my commitment to driving impactful change in clean transportation on a global scale.”
After you graduate, what kind of work would you like to be doing? What are you most excited for about your future career?
“Infrastructure Software Developer.”
How has this scholarship helped you so far, and how might this scholarship help you prepare for your potential career?
“The scholarship has provided invaluable financial and technical support by allowing me to focus more deeply on my research into clean transportation specially through developing tools like NeTrainSim, ShipNetSim, and CargoNetSim. The lectures and guest lectures offered through the program have broadened my understanding of clean transportation challenges and solutions thus exposing me to diverse perspectives and innovative approaches. These sessions have enhanced my ability to integrate academic insights into practical applications. Moving forward, this scholarship will continue to prepare me for a career in sustainable transportation by strengthening my technical expertise, building professional networks, and equipping me with the knowledge to drive impactful policy and technological advancements in clean freight systems.”
Congratulations, Ahmed! We can’t wait to see what you will do in the future with a career in sustainable transportation.
This article is part of a series highlighting the recipients of the Last Mile Leadership Program (LMLP) scholarship, a component of a U.S. Department of Energy project focusing on decarbonization in Virginia. This award is run through the LODESTAR program operated by Virginia Clean Cities. Awarded to students, these scholarships are aimed at advancing clean transportation and electric vehicle (EV) adoption.