INSTEP (Integrating Sociology in Technology, Engineering, and Policy) is a Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) team now recruiting students for Fall 2026 who want to explore how transportation, infrastructure, and social justice intersect at UMD and in surrounding communities. Anchored around the upcoming Purple Line and its 2027 arrival, INSTEP examines how large-scale transit projects reshape campus mobility, housing, commerce, and community life, emphasizing that infrastructure is never just technical, but also deeply social and political.
Working with faculty mentors Dr. Timothy Reedy and Dr. Roan Parrish, students meet weekly in the STS Lab (Kim Engineering Building 1105, Mondays, 1:00–2:00 p.m.) and conduct research both on campus and in nearby communities using qualitative, quantitative, spatial, and policy analysis methods. All majors are welcome, with particular relevance for students interested in engineering, public policy, sociology, geography, environmental studies, information science, and related fields, as well as anyone curious about accessibility, sustainability, safety, and equity in everyday mobility systems.
Post expires at 11:59 pm on Friday, April 24, 2026.
