Dr. Sean Qian

Professor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Sean Qian. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Sean Qian is the H.J. Heinz III Professor at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), jointly appointed in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. He directs the Mobility Data Analytics Center (MAC) at CMU. In 2020, he founded TraffiQure Technologies, a technology spinoff firm commercializing AI and Machine Learning technologies in the infrastructure mobility service domain. His research focuses on large-scale dynamic network modeling, large-scale data analytics, multi-modal transportation systems, and the development of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) while understanding infrastructure system interdependencies. His research is supported by various public agencies and private firms, including the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, and IBM. He serves as an Associate Editor for multiple transportation journals and is an active member of several committees related to network modeling and AI in civil engineering. He has received significant awards including the NSF CAREER award and the 2018 Greenshields Prize from the Transportation Research Board.

Research Interests

Experience

Professor

2018-01-01 — Present

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Instructor and researcher focused on advanced transportation systems and data analytics.

Founder

2020-01-01 — Present

TraffiQure Technologies • Pittsburgh, PA

Founded a technology spinoff to commercialize AI/ML technologies in transportation.

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.