Student awarded the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship

December 1, 2024

Halle Evans, Master of Science student in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering at the UNC Gillings​​ School, is making strides in sustainable transportation research. Through her work on vehicle-to-grid​​ technology in Thailand, she is investigating the potential of electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and evaluating the cost-effectiveness of these systems.

Halle Evans

Evans is a double Tar Heel, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Public Health in environmental health sciences from the Gillings​ School. She utilized the “plus one” program, which allows undergraduate students to begin earning credits towards​ a master’s degree while completing their bachelor’s degree with an accelerated timeline.

“The plus one program allows me to integrate my interests in data science, GIS and public health into a single year,” Evans explained. “It’s an incredibly flexible program, making it possible to work on diverse issues like air quality, energy, and transportation under a single degree.”

Evans was recently awarded the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program Graduate Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The fellowship is a prestigious opportunity for transportation-focused students, providing funding and the chance to attend the Transportation Research Board conference in Washington, DC​.

Evans at the ASEAN Sustainable Energy Week Conference with the MOVE and KMUTT-Sustainability Groups.

She learned about the fellowship through guidance from her mentor, Noah Kittner, PhD and her department’s support network, including Sarah Kear​ and peers in the Department of City and Regional Planning.

Evans’ initial interests led her to pursue biomedical engineering as an incoming undergraduate, but her focus shifted quickly to environmental health science due to her interests in epidemiology, environmental justice and geography. Due to coursework in data analysis, geography and public health her education has enriched her approach to environmental science and energy.

Her experience in Thailand this past summer solidified her dedication to energy transition. During an internship with the Mobility and Vehicle Technology Research Center (MOVE) at King Mongkut​’s University Technology Thonburi​, she collaborated with local​ stakeholders, working hands-on to support Thailand’s clean energy and decarbonization goals.

Evans at the the Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Workshop with Thai and German stakeholders discussing the barriers to EV and V2G expansion in Thailand

Reflecting on her time abroad, Evans shared, “The warmth and openness of the people there, as well as the authenticity of the experience, made it incredibly impactful. I loved trying the local​ dishes, too—​it’s such a different experience from anything back home.”

Evans advises future students to keep an open mind. “When I started, I didn’t have all the answers and that was OK,” she said. “Being at Gillings​ has shown me that you don’t have to limit yourself—​just pursue what you’re truly passionate about and everything else will follow.”

Evans with KMUTT research internship friends from the summer.

Contact the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@unc.edu.