Jinhua Zhao named head of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning
Zhao, the Class of 1941 Professor of Cities and Transportation, is a transportation planner whose work blends behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and public policy to address how cities move people. He succeeds Professor Christopher Zegras, who led the department since 2020.
Key Takeaways
- MIT Professor Jinhua Zhao, a noted scholar and transportation planner, has been appointed head of the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning.
An expert in behavioral science and transportation, Zhao combines these studies with AI and public policy to address some of the most urgent challenges facing cities.
- In making the announcement, dean of the MIT School of Architecture and Planning Hashim Sarkis noted that Zhao is a renowned transportation planner, educator, and scholar, and a world leader in imagining and shaping better futures for mobility.
"Jinhua is one of those rare scholars who moves seamlessly between cutting-edge research and real-world policy," says Sarkis.
- After earning advanced degrees at MIT, Zhao joined the DUSP faculty.
He says he found the Institute's lack of conventionality and its culture of sharing ideas across disciplines stimulating.
- Respected as a global authority on mobility, his research has been put into practice across some of the world's most complex mobility challenges.
"Every city I've worked with faces the same tension: The technology is moving faster than the institutions designed to govern it," says Zhao.
- The sizeable interest in the subject doesn't surprise Zhao.
MIT Professor Jinhua Zhao, a noted scholar and transportation planner, has been appointed head of the MIT Department of Urban Studies and Planning. An expert in behavioral science and transportation, Zhao combines these studies with AI and public policy to address some of the most urgent challenges facing cities. Maria Iacobo | School of Architecture and Planning Publication Date : June 11, 2026 Press Inquiries Press Contact : Maria Iacobo Email: miacobo@mit.edu MIT School of Architecture and Planning : Jinhua Zhao has been appointed head of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning effective July 1.
Zhao is the Class of 1941 Professor of Cities and Transportation and is a renowned transportation planner, educator, and scholar, and a world leader in imagining and shaping better futures for mobility. Credits : Photo: CJ Gunther Previous image Next image Jinhua Zhao MCP '04, SM '04, PhD '09 has been appointed head of the Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP), effective July 1. Zhao is the Class of 1941 Professor of Cities and Transportation at MIT.
In making the announcement, dean of the MIT School of Architecture and Planning Hashim Sarkis noted that Zhao is a renowned transportation planner, educator, and scholar, and a world leader in imagining and shaping better futures for mobility. "Jinhua is one of those rare scholars who moves seamlessly between cutting-edge research and real-world policy," says Sarkis. "His work with governments and transportation agencies around the world is a model for what MIT's impact can look like beyond our campus."
For more details please read the original article at MIT News AI.
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