Zack Aemmer
PhD, Civil Engineering and Data Science
About Me
Many of the world’s most vibrant landscapes and cities are under increasing pressure from human development.
The challenge we face is not just preserving these environments, but doing so while advancing technological and societal progress for all.
By integrating sustainability, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making, we can build smarter, more resilient systems and infrastructure. These are the principles I strive to pursue.
Background
I hold a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington, with a focus on applying data science to support and improve transportation and energy systems.
My past research integrates open-source tools to support sustainable and efficient movement of people and goods across conventional and emerging technologies.
Since graduating in 2024, my work has centered on supporting the deployment, management and optimization of transportation infrastructure for electric vehicles.
When procrastinating I like to climb, bike, ski and travel with whoever I can convince to join me. I also enjoy cooking, reading, and playing board games with my family.
Curriculum Vitae
Publications
- Aemmer, Z., Sørbø, S., Clemente, A., Ruocco, M., (2024). Generalization Strategies for Improving Bus Travel Time Prediction Across Networks. Journal of Urban Management, Volume 13, Issue 3, 372-385.
- Akcicek, C., Aemmer, Z., Shankari, K., & Duvall, A. (2023). Freewheeling: What Six Locations, 61,000 Trips, and 242,000 Miles in Colorado Reveal About How E-Bikes Improve Mobility Options (No. NREL/TP-5400-86388). National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
- Aemmer, Z., Malarkey, D., & MacKenzie, D. (2023). Emissions Reductions from Electrifying High-Mileage Vehicles. Energy Findings.
- Aemmer, Z., Ranjbari, A., & MacKenzie, D. (2022). Measurement and classification of transit delays using GTFS-RT data. Public Transport, 14(2), 263-285.
- Aemmer, Z., & MacKenzie, D. (2022). Generative population synthesis for joint household and individual characteristics. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems, 96, 101852.
- Zou, T., Aemmer, Z., MacKenzie, D., & Laberteaux, K. (2022). A framework for estimating commute accessibility and adoption of ridehailing services under functional improvements from vehicle automation. Journal of Transport Geography, 102, 103357.
Conferences
- Speaker, National Bureau of Economic Research, Data Infrastructure for Decarbonizing Transportation, 2025: Empowering Electric Bus Deployment with Standardized Transit Data
- Speaker, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, 2025: Empowering Electric Bus Deployment with Standardized Transit Data
- Speaker, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, 2024: Bus Travel Time Prediction: Comparative Study of Deep Learning Generalization Strategies with Open Source Data
- Poster, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, 2023: Synthetic Controls Evaluation of Transit Performance at Camera Enforced Intersections
- Speaker, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, 2022: Emissions Reductions from Electrifying High-Mileage Vehicles
- Poster, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, 2022: Generative Population Synthesis for Joint Household and Individual Characteristics
- Speaker, International Conference on Advanced Systems in Public Transport, 2022: Measurement and Classification of Transit Delays Using GTFS-RT Data: Converting GPS Coordinates to Performance Metrics
- Poster, Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting, 2021: Measurement and Classification of Transit Delays Using GTFS-RT Data: Converting GPS Coordinates to Performance Metrics
Awards
- Valle Scholarship and Scandinavian Exchange | University of Washington | January 2023-August 2023
- Allison Endowed Departmental Fellowship | University of Washington | September 2020-September 2021
- J. Irwin Miller Scholarship | University of Washington | September 2017-June 2018