Graduate Student Spotlight
October 2025 Spotlight
Mahgam (Maggie) Tabatabaei
PhD student, Civil Engineering (Transportation Engineering), CEAE
Maggie has published and presented multiple conference papers on different research projects since joining KU in Spring 2023, including traffic operations, safety, and simulation. Maggie has held first and second place at the MOVITE conference poster competition twice now. Outside of the lab and classes, she enjoys reading, cooking, and watching movies. She visits Clinton Lake when the weather is nice.
What made you choose KU's School of Engineering?
I was very interested in my (now) advisor’s research such as driver behavior, traffic operations, simulation, and highway safety. When she shared about new PhD openings on LinkedIn, I immediately reached out to her. She encouraged me to apply, and after an interview, I was offered admission.
What is something that makes KU's School of Engineering different?
One thing that makes KU’s School of Engineering stand out is the many opportunities it provides for students to connect. There are student clubs, organizations, professional events, and conferences that help you connect with KU students and people outside the school. I have friends pursuing PhDs at other universities who haven’t had nearly as many opportunities to build connections as I’ve had here. This has been especially important for me as an international student, since KU has made it easier for me to feel like I belong.
What opportunities, beyond classes and research, have you participated in through KU’s School of Engineering?
Besides the conferences I have presented at, last year my teammates and I competed in a Jeopardy-style Traffic Bowl tournament organized by the Institute of Transportation Engineers “ITE”, where universities compete regionally, then globally. Our team won the regional competition for the Missouri Valley section (MOVITE) and represented KU SoE at the ITE International. It was a great experience, not only for the achievement but also for the teamwork and the memories we created together.
I have also been an active member of student organizations. Since fall of 2023, I have served in the Graduate Engineering Association (GEA), been part of ITE KU team, and KU International Toastmasters. Being active in these clubs has given me the chance to connect with people outside of research and classes, practice leadership and teamwork, and gain valuable experience overall.
Visit Maggie's LinkedIn