Event Calendar
Past Event
NUTC Seminar Series | "Improving the management of transportation infrastructure: An overview of recent and future research opportunities" - Professor Pablo Durango-Cohen, Northwestern
Northwestern University Transportation Center
4:00 PM
//
Lower Level - Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall
Details
Abstract:
The nation’s transportation infrastructure is the backbone of a complex network providing access to goods, services, activities, and people. The capabilities of this infrastructure, therefore, play a crucial role in driving economic activity and growth, while supporting quality of life. Expenditures in the design and management of these systems are significant not just due to their scale―tens of billions of dollars per year in the United States―but, importantly, because of their far-reaching economic, social and environmental impacts.
In this talk, I will provide an overview of my recent research, which advances methodologies and analysis tools that capture the effects of resource allocation decisions, made by owners and operators, on the performance of infrastructure systems. My work supports and optimizes strategic investments aimed at improving both direct and indirect impacts. I will also highlight ongoing research on health monitoring and management, as well as on decarbonization of large-scale transportation systems, including freight rail and public transit.
Bio:
Pablo L. Durango-Cohen is an associate professor in the Transportation Systems Analysis and Planning Program at Northwestern University. He completed his Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at the University of California, Berkeley. His research activities involve developing and analyzing optimization and econometric models to support monitoring, management and operation of transportation systems. He has also published in transportation economics and policy, as well as in environmental design and life-cycle assessment of transportation systems. Among others, his research has been recognized with a Faculty Early CAREER Development Award from the National Science Foundation, and with a Young Author Prize at the World Congress on Transport Research. Among Prof. Durango-Cohen’s professional activities, he serves as Associate Editor for the ASCE Journal of Infrastructure Systems, and has served as proposal and project reviewer for a number of federal and state agencies, as well as universities from around the world.
Time
Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location
Lower Level - Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center
Welcome & Breakfast for New McCormick PhD Students
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
9:00 AM
//
LR2, Technological Institute
Details
Enjoy a welcome from Dean Christopher A. Schuh and other McCormick leaders, and receive a Northwestern Engineering T-shirt. A free breakfast on the Tech East Plaza will follow.
Time
Monday, September 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Location
LR2, Technological Institute Map
Contact
Calendar
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
NUTC Exec Ed - Freight Transportation & Logistics, Day 1
Northwestern University Transportation Center
8:00 AM
//
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall
Details
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SERIES
Freight Transportation & Logistics:
Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight
September 22-24, 2026
CLICK TO REGISTER - September 2026
Northwestern University Transportation Center’s (NUTC) 2026 Executive Education Freight Transportation & Logistics program, Resilient Freight Leadership - Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight, will be offered on September 22-24 at NUTC headquarters in Evanston.
Over the last couple of years, the global logistics community has managed challenges across the first, middle, and final mile. The ongoing global turbulence associated with war-related disruptions and complex tariff policies in the supply of various commodities, labor recruitment challenges, and inflation have continued to pressure supply chains and increase volatility on both the demand and supply sides. Even with a gradual recovery from the “freight recession,” other economic and operational uncertainties will continue to impact the freight transportation system across every mode and across all geographies. In this essential three-day Executive Education program, Northwestern faculty and industry experts will provide fundamental knowledge and practical insights for managing through these challenges and beyond.
NUTC’s Freight Transportation & Logistics three-day Executive Education program has a proven track record of delivering current and forward-looking insight and actionable knowledge into North American/global transportation and supply chains. From domestic transportation (intermodal, parcel and last mile delivery, rail, third-party logistics, trucking, warehousing), to international transportation (air cargo, ocean shipping, ports, sourcing), the program provides an unmatched view into how freight moves. Attendees will get a first-hand look at domestic and international logistics and supply chain trends and learn how to leverage freight management technology and data analytics for greater efficiency and resilience. This program is specifically designed for early- to mid-level transportation managers, at both carriers and shippers, to deepen their overall knowledge of the freight transportation ecosystem.
Program content will be thoroughly integrated by our instructors, so that participants will gain a comprehensive understanding and view of both domestic and international transportation sectors. The program is interactive in nature and will provide many opportunities for discussions with faculty and fellow participants. Prior knowledge and experience in logistics, transportation and supply chain management will be useful, but is not a prerequisite.
INSTRUCTORS
Mark Baxa - President and CEO, CSCMP
Mike Burton – CEO, MEDLOG
Eric Jakubowski - Rail consultant
Shawn McWhorter - President (Americas Region), Nippon Cargo Airlines
Marty O'Hara - CenterPoint Properties, VP Strategic Projects & Planning
Chris Pickett - Chief Operating Officer, Flock Freight
Steven Rothberg - Founding Partner, Mercator International
Ian Savage - Associate Chair and Professor of Instruction in Economics, Northwestern
Joseph L. Schofer - Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern
Bill Seliger - Director, Amazon Delivery Central Operations, Amazon
Dana Thompson - Transportation and Logistics Strategy Consultant, Timothy L Jones & Associates
Jan Van Mieghem - A.C. Buehler Professor & Deputy Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern
Justin Zubrod - Managing Partner, Justin Zubrod & Co.
TOPICS
Freight Transportation & Logistics Trends
Data Science & Transportation Analytics
Managing Under Uncertainty
Global Sourcing (On / Near-Shoring) Strategy
Freight & Logistics Operations:
> Air Cargo
> Intermodal
> Ocean Shipping and Ports
> Rail
> Trucking
> 3PL/4PL, Brokerage, Warehouse
Package / Parcel Shipping & Last-Mile Services
Freight Performance Measurement
Transportation Pricing & Costs
Future of Freight Technology and Trends
REGISTRATION
Registration includes attendee tuition, materials, breakfast, lunch and a welcome reception.
For group rates, please contact Bret Johnson.
General Registration (early bird $2500) (increase to $3,000 on Sept. 1)
Business Advisory Council Company Employees ($2,200)
Look up Business Advisory Council companies
Government & Academic Professionals ($2,300)
CLICK TO REGISTER - SEPTEMBER 2026
Time
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center
Welcome & Luncheon for New Full-time Graduate Students
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
11:00 AM
//
Ryan Family Auditorium, Technological Institute
Details
Enjoy a welcome from Dean Christopher A. Schuh and other McCormick leaders, and receive a Northwestern Engineering T-shirt. A free lunch on the Tech East Plaza will follow.
Time
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Location
Ryan Family Auditorium, Technological Institute Map
Contact
Calendar
McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science
NUTC Exec Ed Freight Transportation & Logistics, Day 2
Northwestern University Transportation Center
8:00 AM
//
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall
Details
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SERIES
Freight Transportation & Logistics:
Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight
September 22-24, 2026
CLICK TO REGISTER - SEPT 2026
Northwestern University Transportation Center’s (NUTC) 2026 Executive Education Freight Transportation & Logistics program, Resilient Freight Leadership - Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight, will be offered on September 22-24 at NUTC headquarters in Evanston.
Over the last couple of years, the global logistics community has managed challenges across the first, middle, and final mile. The ongoing global turbulence associated with war-related disruptions and complex tariff policies in the supply of various commodities, labor recruitment challenges, and inflation have continued to pressure supply chains and increase volatility on both the demand and supply sides. Even with a gradual recovery from the “freight recession,” other economic and operational uncertainties will continue to impact the freight transportation system across every mode and across all geographies. In this essential three-day Executive Education program, Northwestern faculty and industry experts will provide fundamental knowledge and practical insights for managing through these challenges and beyond.
NUTC’s Freight Transportation & Logistics three-day Executive Education program has a proven track record of delivering current and forward-looking insight and actionable knowledge into North American/global transportation and supply chains. From domestic transportation (intermodal, parcel and last mile delivery, rail, third-party logistics, trucking, warehousing), to international transportation (air cargo, ocean shipping, ports, sourcing), the program provides an unmatched view into how freight moves. Attendees will get a first-hand look at domestic and international logistics and supply chain trends and learn how to leverage freight management technology and data analytics for greater efficiency and resilience. This program is specifically designed for early- to mid-level transportation managers, at both carriers and shippers, to deepen their overall knowledge of the freight transportation ecosystem.
Program content will be thoroughly integrated by our instructors, so that participants will gain a comprehensive understanding and view of both domestic and international transportation sectors. The program is interactive in nature and will provide many opportunities for discussions with faculty and fellow participants. Prior knowledge and experience in logistics, transportation and supply chain management will be useful, but is not a prerequisite.
INSTRUCTORS
Mark Baxa - President and CEO, CSCMP
Mike Burton – CEO, MEDLOG
Eric Jakubowski - Rail consultant
Shawn McWhorter - President (Americas Region), Nippon Cargo Airlines
Marty O'Hara - CenterPoint Properties, VP Strategic Projects & Planning
Chris Pickett - Chief Operating Officer, Flock Freight
Steven Rothberg - Founding Partner, Mercator International
Ian Savage - Associate Chair and Professor of Instruction in Economics, Northwestern
Joseph L. Schofer - Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern
Bill Seliger - Director, Amazon Delivery Central Operations, Amazon
Dana Thompson - Transportation and Logistics Strategy Consultant, Timothy L Jones & Associates
Jan Van Mieghem - A.C. Buehler Professor & Deputy Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern
Justin Zubrod - Managing Partner, Justin Zubrod & Co.
TOPICS
Freight Transportation & Logistics Trends
Data Science & Transportation Analytics
Managing Under Uncertainty
Global Sourcing (On / Near-Shoring) Strategy
Freight & Logistics Operations:
> Air Cargo
> Intermodal
> Ocean Shipping and Ports
> Rail
> Trucking
> 3PL/4PL, Brokerage, Warehouse
Package / Parcel Shipping & Last-Mile Services
Freight Performance Measurement
Transportation Pricing & Costs
Future of Freight Technology and Trends
REGISTRATION
Registration includes attendee tuition, materials, breakfast, lunch and a welcome reception.
For group rates, please contact Bret Johnson.
General Registration (early bird $2500) (increase to $3,000 on Sept 1)
Business Advisory Council Company Employees ($2,200)
Look up Business Advisory Council companies
Government & Academic Professionals ($2,300)
CLICK TO REGISTER - SEPT 2026
Time
Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center
NUTC Exec Ed Freight Transportation & Logistics, Day 3
Northwestern University Transportation Center
8:00 AM
//
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall
Details
EXECUTIVE EDUCATION SERIES
Freight Transportation & Logistics:
Resilient Freight Leadership: Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight
September 22-24, 2026
CLICK TO REGISTER - SEPT 2026
Northwestern University Transportation Center’s (NUTC) 2026 Executive Education Freight Transportation & Logistics program, Resilient Freight Leadership - Navigating Recovery, Disruption, and the Future of Moving Freight, will be offered on September 22-24 at NUTC headquarters in Evanston.
Over the last couple of years, the global logistics community has managed challenges across the first, middle, and final mile. The ongoing global turbulence associated with war-related disruptions and complex tariff policies in the supply of various commodities, labor recruitment challenges, and inflation have continued to pressure supply chains and increase volatility on both the demand and supply sides. Even with a gradual recovery from the “freight recession,” other economic and operational uncertainties will continue to impact the freight transportation system across every mode and across all geographies. In this essential three-day Executive Education program, Northwestern faculty and industry experts will provide fundamental knowledge and practical insights for managing through these challenges and beyond.
NUTC’s Freight Transportation & Logistics three-day Executive Education program has a proven track record of delivering current and forward-looking insight and actionable knowledge into North American/global transportation and supply chains. From domestic transportation (intermodal, parcel and last mile delivery, rail, third-party logistics, trucking, warehousing), to international transportation (air cargo, ocean shipping, ports, sourcing), the program provides an unmatched view into how freight moves. Attendees will get a first-hand look at domestic and international logistics and supply chain trends and learn how to leverage freight management technology and data analytics for greater efficiency and resilience. This program is specifically designed for early- to mid-level transportation managers, at both carriers and shippers, to deepen their overall knowledge of the freight transportation ecosystem.
Program content will be thoroughly integrated by our instructors, so that participants will gain a comprehensive understanding and view of both domestic and international transportation sectors. The program is interactive in nature and will provide many opportunities for discussions with faculty and fellow participants. Prior knowledge and experience in logistics, transportation and supply chain management will be useful, but is not a prerequisite.
INSTRUCTORS
Mark Baxa - President and CEO, CSCMP
Mike Burton – CEO, MEDLOG
Eric Jakubowski - Rail consultant
Shawn McWhorter - President (Americas Region), Nippon Cargo Airlines
Marty O'Hara - CenterPoint Properties, VP Strategic Projects & Planning
Chris Pickett - Chief Operating Officer, Flock Freight
Steven Rothberg - Founding Partner, Mercator International
Ian Savage - Associate Chair and Professor of Instruction in Economics, Northwestern
Joseph L. Schofer - Professor Emeritus of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern
Bill Seliger - Director, Amazon Delivery Central Operations, Amazon
Dana Thompson - Transportation and Logistics Strategy Consultant, Timothy L Jones & Associates
Jan Van Mieghem - A.C. Buehler Professor & Deputy Dean, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern
Justin Zubrod - Managing Partner, Justin Zubrod & Co.
TOPICS
Freight Transportation & Logistics Trends
Data Science & Transportation Analytics
Managing Under Uncertainty
Global Sourcing (On / Near-Shoring) Strategy
Freight & Logistics Operations:
> Air Cargo
> Intermodal
> Ocean Shipping and Ports
> Rail
> Trucking
> 3PL/4PL, Brokerage, Warehouse
Package / Parcel Shipping & Last-Mile Services
Freight Performance Measurement
Transportation Pricing & Costs
Future of Freight Technology and Trends
REGISTRATION
Registration includes attendee tuition, materials, breakfast, lunch and a welcome reception.
For group rates, please contact Bret Johnson.
General Registration (early bird $2500) (increase to $3,000 on Sept 1)
Business Advisory Council Company Employees ($2,200)
Look up Business Advisory Council companies
Government & Academic Professionals ($2,300)
CLICK TO REGISTER - SEPT 2026
Time
Thursday, September 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center
NUTC Seminar Series: Jürgen Hackl, Princeton University
Northwestern University Transportation Center
4:00 PM
//
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall
Details
Time
Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center
NUTC Seminar Series: Sikai Chen, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Northwestern University Transportation Center
4:00 PM
//
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall
Details
Time
Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Location
Ruan Conference Center, Chambers Hall Map
Contact
Calendar
Northwestern University Transportation Center