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Staff

  • Ayman Smadi, PhD, Director
    (701)231-8101

    Ayman provides leadership to the Center; responsible for its programs; management and support of staff and graduate students; and coordination with FHWA, external and internal users. Dr. Smadi has extensive research and educational experience in transportation systems analysis, traffic engineering, ITS, transportation planning, and computer modeling. Dr. Smadi has also managed significant research grants and worked with multi-disciplinary research teams.

    Ayman has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant and will be spending 10 months teaching and helping develop research programs at the University of Jordan in Amman. Beginning in January, Smadi will teach a graduate course in urban transportation planning and help develop the university's transportation research program. Smadi will continue to serve as director of ATAC during the Fulbright award term. UGPTI Bio - Ayman Smadi

  • Shawn Birst, PE, MSCE, Associate Director
    (701)231-1063

    Shawn supports the operational aspects of the Center and its activities. During Ayman's Fulbright Scholar grant, he will also manage the Center's staff and projects. Shawn's education and research experience include transportation engineering, traffic signal operations, advanced traffic analysis tools, and traffic data collection and management. Shawn joined the Center fulltime in 1999 after completing a Master's degree in Civil Engineering. He is a registered Professional Engineer of the State of North Dakota. UGPTI Bio - Shawn Birst

  • Jason Baker, Associate Research Fellow
    (701)231-1086

    Jason became an Associate Research Fellow with ATAC as of May 2005 to work in the areas of traffic operations and ITS. Jason started working for ATAC in February of 2002 as an Undergraduate Research Assistant. His work focuses on data collection procedures and enhanced traffic analysis through the use of advanced traffic sensors. Baker is currently pursuing a master's degree in Civil Engineering at NDSU. UGPTI Bio - Jason Baker

  • John MacGowan, National Program Coordinator
    (701)224-2422

    John will work part-time in Washington, D.C., collaborating with the Federal Highway Administration to match their needs with expertise at the ATAC and help in its mission to apply technology to improve transportation in small- to- medium-sized cities. MacGowan retired from federal service in 2001 after more than 30 years of work with federal transportation agencies. He served as director of the Office of Research and Development and director of the Office of Bus and Truck Standards and Operations for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. UGPTI Bio - John MacGowan

  • Mohammad Smadi, MSc, Associate Research Fellow
    (701)231-8085

    Mohammad's primary focus at the Advanced Traffic Analysis Center (ATAC) is on the areas of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Systems Engineering. He has experience in developing ITS Architectures for the state of North Dakota as well as the metropolitan areas of Fargo-Moorhead, Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, and Bismarck-Mandan. Mohammad oversees software and web development projects at ATAC, capturing and formulating user requirements and generating designs. He assists local agencies in ITS deployment projects and performing the required Systems Engineering steps in the deployment process. UGPTI Bio - Mohammad Smadi

  • Mary Marquart, Administrative Assistant
    (701)231-8058

    Mary has been an administrative assistant for ATAC since 1999. She coordinates contract administration, oversees the center's finances, directs the day-to-day operations, and supervises the center's internal support activities. Mary attended Bismarck State College and has held administrative secretarial positions at colleges in Bismarck, Moorhead and Fargo. Mary is the voice most likely to greet you when you call ATAC.

Research Assistants

  • Andrew Bratlien
    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Civil Engineering

    Andrew is a junior in Civil Engineering and has been with ATAC since March 2007. He assists in traffic data collection and analysis, simulation analysis, and transportation planning projects.

  • Daniel Farnsworth
    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Civil Engineering

    Daniel is a senior in Civil Engineering and has been with ATAC since May 2007. He assists in traffic data collection and analysis, simulation analysis, and transportation planning projects.

  • Nicole Flint
    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Civil Engineering

    Nicole is a junior in Civil Engineering and has been with ATAC since March 2007. She assists in traffic data collection and analysis, simulation analysis, and transportation planning projects.

  • Michael Grundman
    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Civil Engineering

    Michael is a junior in Civil Engineering and has been with ATAC since November 2006. He assists in traffic data collection and analysis, simulation analysis, and transportation planning projects. Michael also provides computer-aided drafting (CAD) support for ATAC.

  • Adam Konieska
    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Computer Science

    Adam is a junior in Computer Science and has been with ATAC since December 2007. He will assist in developing a traveler information website for the Northwest Passage project.

  • Diomo Motuba
    Graduate Research Assistant, Transportation Logistics

    Diomo Motuba earned his B.S degree in botany from the University of Buea in Cameroon and has a M.S. degree in Agribusiness and Applied Economics with an emphasis in Logistics from NDSU. His work with ATAC started in May 2004 to in the travel demand modeling and transportation planning program. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D in Transportation Logistics at NDSU with a research emphasis on urban freight transportation.

  • Mohammad Naser
    Graduate Research Assistant, Civil Engineering

    Mohammad has been working with ATAC since August of 2004. He holds a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering from the Jordan University and an M.S. degree in Civil Engineering from NDSU. Mohammad is primarily involved with transportation planning and travel demand modeling at ATAC. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Civil Engineering at NDSU.

  • Kevin Novacek
    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Electrical Engineering

    Kevin is a senior in Electrical Engineering and has been with ATAC since December 2007. He is primarily supporting ATAC's Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation and Controller Interface Device project.

  • Andrew Ouradnik
    Undergraduate Research Assistant, Computer Engineering

    Andrew is a junior in Computer Engineering and has been with ATAC since December 2007. He is primarily supporting ATAC's Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation and Controller Interface Device project.