TAMU-CC Professor Earns Prestigious Award for Autonomous Transportation Research
Every text message sent, GPS route calculated, and traffic update received depends on a vast digital network moving information at incredible speeds. Much like the nation’s busiest highways, those communication networks can become congested, creating delays that affect everything from daily commutes to emergency response efforts.
At Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, one researcher is tackling congestion in both the digital and physical worlds.
Dr. Mehdi Sookhak, Associate Professor of Computer Science, is developing innovative technology that could transform how autonomous vehicles, wireless networks, and transportation systems communicate. His work recently earned one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for early-career faculty: the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program CAREER Award.
The five-year award will provide $632,414 in funding to support Sookhak’s project, “SIM-Integrated Air-to-Ground Autonomous Vehicle Networks,” which explores how unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, can help create faster, smarter, and more resilient communication systems for the transportation networks of the future. Widely considered one of the NSF’s most competitive awards, the CAREER Award recognizes faculty members who demonstrate exceptional promise as both researchers and educators.
“Receiving an NSF CAREER Award is an incredible honor,” Sookhak said. “I am grateful for the support of my students, collaborators, department, college, and university.”
Since joining the Island University five years ago, Sookhak has quickly established himself as a leader in emerging technologies. He directs the university’s Collective Intelligence in Motion Lab, where students and researchers tackle challenges involving artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, wireless networking, autonomous vehicles, and resilient infrastructure.
His growing research portfolio includes more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and funding from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Texas General Land Office, and the National Science Foundation.
“This award strengthens our ability to build a nationally visible research program at TAMU-CC and contribute to the future of intelligent transportation and resilient wireless systems,” Sookhak said.
As transportation systems become increasingly connected, they generate enormous amounts of data. Self-driving vehicles, smart traffic signals, sensors, and navigation systems are constantly sharing information that must be processed in real time. Existing wireless networks can struggle to keep pace, particularly during emergencies or in areas with limited infrastructure.
This award strengthens our ability to build a nationally visible research program at TAMU-CC and contribute to the future of intelligent transportation and resilient wireless systems."
Dr. Mehdi Sookhak, Associate Professor of Computer Science
Through his NSF-funded research, Sookhak is investigating how UAV’s can serve as mobile communication and computing platforms. Rather than relying solely on fixed infrastructure, UAV-assisted systems could be deployed to support communication in congested transportation corridors, rural communities, or disaster-stricken areas where connectivity is limited.
A key component of the project involves Stacked Intelligent Metasurfaces, or SIMs. These programmable, multi-layer wireless surfaces function almost like digital traffic controllers for communication signals, helping direct and optimize the flow of information. By shifting some signal-processing tasks away from energy-intensive hardware and into the wireless environment itself, the technology could reduce delays, improve energy efficiency, and make future transportation networks more responsive.
“This research is about creating wireless networks that can automatically adapt to changing conditions,” Sookhak said. “The goal is to make communication faster, use less energy, and keep people connected more reliably when communication is needed most.”
Because the NSF CAREER Award places equal emphasis on education and workforce development, Sookhak will incorporate research discoveries into undergraduate and graduate courses, expand opportunities for student researchers, and develop hands-on learning experiences through drone coding activities and transportation-focused engineering challenges.
Among the students benefiting is computer science Ph.D. candidate Abdolazim Rezaei ’26, who has worked alongside Sookhak since fall 2022. During that time, Rezaei has collaborated on multiple research projects, co-authored scholarly publications, and mentored master’s students in research methods, gaining invaluable experience along the way.
“Dr. Sookhak is always available to discuss research challenges and is willing to do whatever he can to help us grow as researchers,” Rezaei said. “He has strengthened my problem-solving, research, and implementation skills while exposing me to cutting-edge technologies. His commitment and hands-on mentorship have made a lasting impact on my research journey.”
Sookhak’s commitment to student success has not gone unnoticed. Earlier this year, he received the 2026 TAMU-CC Outstanding Doctoral Mentor Award.
“Research and education go hand in hand,” Sookhak said. “The technologies we’re developing have the potential to transform transportation and communications, but they also provide powerful opportunities to inspire students and prepare them for careers.”
As the project enters its first year, Sookhak and his team are laying the groundwork through simulations, publications, and foundational research that could eventually lead to real-world deployment.
“Within five years, I believe this project can help strengthen Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s national visibility in wireless networks, artificial intelligence, and transportation systems,” Sookhak said. “We are helping chart a smarter path forward — one where innovation on the ground is supported by technology in the sky.”