Dr. Alexandre Bayen is a distinguished leader in computational systems engineering and transportation innovation, holding multiple prestigious positions at the University of California, Berkeley. He currently serves as Director of the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) and the Banatao Institute, Liao-Cho Innovation Endowed Chair, and Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences and Civil and Environmental Engineering. Bayen also holds the critical role of Associate Provost for the Berkeley Space Center where he leads the academic mission and development of this strategic initiative at NASA Ames. He received his engineering degree in applied mathematics from École Polytechnique in France in 1998 and completed his M.S. and Ph.D. in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University in 1999 and 2004 respectively, with research conducted at NASA Ames Research Center. His distinguished career includes serving as Director of the UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies from 2014 to 2021 and working as research director at France's Laboratoire de Recherches Balistiques et Aerodynamiques.
Bayen's groundbreaking research focuses on the modeling and control of distributed parameter systems with applications to transportation networks and infrastructure, pioneering innovative approaches to traffic management and intelligent transportation systems. He is the architect behind the influential Mobile Century and Mobile Millennium projects which developed real-time traffic monitoring systems using mobile sensing data and earned multiple industry awards including the Best of ITS Award for Best Innovative Practice and a Tranny Award from the California Transportation Foundation. His research integrates control theory optimization and machine learning to address complex transportation challenges authoring two books and over 200 peer-reviewed articles that have significantly advanced the field of intelligent mobility systems. Bayen's work has demonstrated practical applications in reducing traffic congestion through strategic driver behavior modifications and optimizing traffic flow with connected vehicle technologies with Mobile Millennium featured more than 200 times in major media outlets worldwide. His contributions to water sustainability earned recognition as one of NASA's Top 10 Innovators in that field in 2010.
Beyond his research achievements Bayen has emerged as a key visionary in shaping the future of transportation and space technology integration through his leadership roles at CITRIS and the Berkeley Space Center. He currently spearheads multiple high-impact projects including large-scale pilots using connected vehicles to smooth traffic flow in Contra Costa County and research examining how collaborative autonomy can reduce emissions and improve traffic efficiency. Bayen's current work focuses on the intersection of transportation and space technology leveraging satellite capabilities to enhance terrestrial mobility systems while advancing the development of advanced air mobility solutions for California. His laboratory continues to bridge theoretical frameworks with real-world applications addressing pressing urban challenges through the integration of computational methods and infrastructure systems. As a thought leader Bayen is helping define the trajectory of next-generation transportation systems that will transform urban mobility reduce environmental impact and create more resilient infrastructure networks for the future.
