2026 da Vinci Fellow Yao-Jan Wu takes safety seriously

Thousands of Arizona drivers complete their morning commute without a second thought for traffic signals. Behind those split-second decisions, from the timing of a yellow light to the placement of a turn arrow, is the work of Yao-Jan Wu, the College of Engineering’s 2026 da Vinci Fellow. 

His research shapes how people move and, more importantly, how they stay safe on the road.

“I wanted to save lives,” said Wu, professor of civil and architectural engineering and mechanics. 

Wu’s path to the University of Arizona began in Taiwan, where his parents encouraged him to play sports.

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“I played outside a lot,” he said with a laugh. “My grades were not really good.”

That changed in middle and high school when he started focusing on his studies. He eventually attended the National Central University in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, and then National Taiwan University in Taipei, where he earned his master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on transportation.

“I took a transportation class, and it was the only one talking about something moving,” Wu said. “I realized I could use technology to improve traffic.”

Since then, Wu has built a career around understanding traffic flow, driver behavior and infrastructure changes that can prevent tragedy. 

Generous donors to the College of Engineering’s da Vinci Circle select a fellow annually. The award comes with a one-time grant of $10,000 to support exceptional research.

“He’s deserving of the da Vinci Award for a multitude of reasons,” said Dominic Boccelli, head of CAEM. “He’s got his cutting-edge research, emerging technologies, moving things forward, data-driven artificial intelligence, community engagement … The next time you’re sitting here in traffic in Tucson, just remember that without Yao, that wait would actually be even worse.”

One of Wu’s recent projects optimized yellow light timing in Phoenix. The result was a 50% reduction in drivers running red lights.

“Changing the length of a yellow light, sometimes by half a second, can dramatically change driver behavior,” he said.

Bringing students along for the ride

As the founder and executive director of the Arizona Transportation Institute, Wu applies these changes across Arizona.

AZTI unites the state’s three public universities to address transportation issues. Backed by $11.5 million in funding from the Arizona Department of Transportation, the institute supports research and workforce development.

“We bring everyone together to solve transportation problems,” Wu said. 

One AZTI project close to the finish line is looking at methods to accelerate native plant recovery and minimize roadway degradation from wildfires and erosion, reducing maintenance expenses for Arizona taxpayers.

Wu also leads the Center for Applied Transportation Sciences. CATS connects public agencies, students and faculty tackling traffic challenges. Supported by ADOT, the City of Tucson and Pima County, the center collects and analyzes statewide transportation data. 

“His projects are very practical,” said Pouya Jalali Khalilabadi, a CAEM PhD candidate working in CATS. “It’s research that’s applied to the field, so you can see that there are tangible results.”

CATS data helps develop tools and recommendations for local agencies to make informed decisions and implement strategies that improve road safety and efficiency. 

“He’s been bringing in about $1 million of research a year through CATS … and that money has gone, then, to support his graduate students,” said Boccelli. “He’s also been one of our bigger supporters of bringing undergraduates into the laboratory.”

Wu’s most meaningful influence still happens in the classroom.

“My students are my best teachers,” he said, adding that their feedback shapes how he teaches.

Wu will invest the award in his students, funding conference travel and research projects that explore artificial intelligence applications.

“Everything has a solution,” he said. “And if we can find it, we can make people’s lives better.”