Graduate internships help Parking and Transportation Services tackle strategic work

When important projects compete with the day-to-day demands of running a large parking and transportation operation, finding the time and resources to take them on can be difficult.

Parking and Transportation Services found a made-at-University of Calgary solution through the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Transformative Talent Internship (TTI) On-Campus Program.

From May 1 to Aug. 31, the department hired two graduate students to work on projects in areas it wanted to understand better: electric vehicle-charging infrastructure and campus parking signage and wayfinding.

“The partnership has allowed us to undertake strategic projects that often compete with the operational demands of running a large parking and transportation program,” says Michael Wilson, director, Parking and Transportation Services.

“As universities work to create student-centred services, direct access to graduate student perspectives is incredibly valuable. The internship program not only expanded our capacity, but also helped ensure our future planning is informed by the experiences and expectations of the students we serve.”

Graduate expertise applied on campus

Shervin Ataeian, a PhD candidate in civil engineering specializing in transportation engineering, joined the department as its Graduate Studies Intern in EV Charging Strategy and Analysis. Her doctoral research uses AI to make bus transit more reliable, and she recently applied quantum optimization to electric bus charging as a visiting researcher at the University of Melbourne.

Ataeian developed a strategic implementation plan for on-campus EV charging infrastructure. She compared approaches at eight Canadian universities, evaluated charging technology, assessed campus infrastructure needs and identified potential funding opportunities.

She also built an interactive tool that lets the department explore how different combinations of charging stations could affect costs, grant eligibility, revenue and carbon impacts.

The project let Ataeian apply her research background to a practical campus decision and required her to look beyond a purely academic approach.

“At first, I approached this the way I would a research problem,” says Ataeian. “But, as I got deeper into it, I realized there wasn’t enough real data available on some parts of it. I had to look at similar institutions and other sources of data to fill those gaps and make the recommendations solid.

“That shifted my focus from finding the ideal answer to finding the one decision makers could actually act on with the data available.”

Ataeian presented her findings to UCalgary Ancillary Services leadership, adding another experience she would not normally get through her academic work: explaining complex research and answering questions from senior decision makers.

Master of Planning student Fanru Sun joined the team as its Wayfinding and Signage Intern.

Sun assessed how parking signage helps drivers navigate main campus, including what information drivers receive, where they receive it and whether it appears at the right point in their journey.

Her report identifies damaged, faded and inconsistent signs while also highlighting broader issues with sign placement, information hierarchy and key decision points. It also organizes potential improvements by parking lot, priority and possible implementation timeline.

The internship allowed Sun to apply geographic information system (GIS) software she had learned about in class only months earlier, using GIS to map existing signage, identify spatial gaps and support her analysis of the driver experience across campus.

Both reports provide Parking and Transportation Services with detailed recommendations it can draw on when assessing future needs.

Supporting graduate student success

The TTI On-Campus Program launched in fall 2024 and has supported more than 200 internships across 65 UCalgary departments.

The program offers paid, short-term, part-time positions designed to fit alongside graduate students’ academic responsibilities. The opportunities can also help international students gain Canadian work experience in a familiar environment.

“Departments tell us they have important projects they want to complete, but they do not always have the capacity,” says Lorelei Lachambre, MC’05, graduate work-integrated learning specialist with the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

“At the same time, graduate students are looking for opportunities to gain experience in an increasingly competitive job market. The program brings those two needs together.”

For Ataeian, getting experience outside of academic research matters.

“Graduate students often come to a dilemma: Do I stay in academia, or do I want to work in industry?” she says. “Going into industry without real-world experience is difficult. That’s where these internships come in. Getting an opportunity like this through the university is the ultimate support we can get. This one gave me the chance to work on a real decision with real stakeholders.”

Parking and Transportation Services has now partnered with the TTI program on four internships over two semesters, including this fall. Two graduate students are working with the department on transportation analytics and parking infrastructure assessment.

“The program can help departments increase capacity, support projects and bring fresh perspectives to their teams,” says Lachambre. “It also gives departments a chance to discover the range of skills graduate students possess for future projects.”

Faculties, departments and units interested in hiring a graduate student can connect with the TTI team to learn more about the program and how to get started.