Dr. Monica Menendez

Professor

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Biography

Monica Menendez is a Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and a Global Network Professor affiliated with the Tandon School of Engineering at New York University. She is the Director and Lead Principal Investigator of the NYUAD Research Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES) and received the NYUAD Distinguished Research Award in 2021. Before joining NYUAD in 2018, Prof. Menendez was the Director of a research group focused on Traffic Engineering at ETH Zurich. She obtained her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2006, and holds a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the same institution, as well as a dual Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering from the University of Miami in 2002. Her research interests encompass multimodal transportation systems, with a particular emphasis on the integration of new technologies and information sources. She is also a member of multiple editorial boards for leading journals in the field of Transportation and has participated in various international organizations, including the International Advisory Committee for the International Symposium on Transportation and Traffic Theory (ISTTT) and the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists (MBRAS). To date, Prof. Menendez has authored over 100 peer-reviewed journal publications and contributed to 200 conference papers, book chapters, editorials, and technical reports.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

— Present

New York University Abu Dhabi • Abu Dhabi

Joining as a Professor and Director of the Research Center for Interacting Urban Networks.

Director

— Present

ETH Zurich • Zurich

Led a research group focused on Traffic Engineering.

Awards

#

NYUAD Distinguished Research Award

Requirements for New York University Abu Dhabi

Bachelor Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.7
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:22
Reading
Required:22
Writing
Required:22
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:100
Duolingo
Overall Score
Required:125
Overall
Required:125
Prerequisites
High School Diploma or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • Common Application
  • NYU Supplement
  • Official Transcripts
  • Common Application School Report
  • Counselor Recommendation
  • Self-reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS)
  • Standardized Testing (Optional for 2025-2026)
  • Teacher Recommendation
Specialization Notes

Undergraduate programs at NYU Abu Dhabi are cross-disciplinary. Departments such as Computer Engineering, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Philosophy, and Psychology fall under the undergraduate Bachelor of Arts/Science tracks.