Clemson University’s Dr. Mashrur “Ronnie” Chowdhury Earns Prestigious National Research Award

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)— Dr. Mashrur “Ronnie” Chowdhury, a nationally and internationally recognized leader in intelligent transportation systems, cybersecurity, and connected and automated mobility at Clemson University in South Carolina, is the 2026 recipient of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) S.S. Steinberg Award.   

The honor, named after ARTBA’s Research & Education Division’s founding president, recognizes “an individual who has made remarkable contributions to transportation education.” 

Dr. Chowdhury, the Eugene Douglas May Chair of Transportation at Clemson University, has helped shape national conversations on safe, secure, and connected transportation as the founding director of two U.S. Department of Transportation supported centers: the National Center for Transportation Cybersecurity and Resiliency (TraCR) and the Center for Connected Multimodal Mobility (C2M2). 

His work has helped advance transportation research from emerging concepts to real-world systems that are safer, more secure, and more connected. He leads the South Carolina Connected Vehicle Testbed (SC-CVT), a real-world platform for validating connected transportation technologies, and has pioneered the integration of artificial intelligence, wireless networking, and cybersecurity into real-world intelligent transportation systems. In recognition of these contributions, C2M2 (which he founded and directs) received the 2021 IEEE Intelligent Transportation Systems Institutional Lead Award for contributions to cyber-physical transportation systems by addressing sensing, communication, and computing aspects of computerized mobility.    

Dr. Chowdhury also has made significant contributions to education and workforce development, mentoring over 60 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows while teaching and mentoring hundreds of undergraduate, high school, and middle school students across engineering and computing disciplines. Through his sustained commitment to mentoring and teaching, he has helped shape the next generation of transportation professionals and innovators.   

About ARTBA
Established in 1902, Washington, D.C.-based ARTBA is the “consensus voice” of the U.S. transportation design and construction industry before Congress, federal agencies, the White House, news media, and the public.