Fifth year Ph.D. student, Andrew Green, from the Political Science department, was selected to receive a $15,000 dissertation grant from the University of California Transportation Center (UCTC) for the 2003-2004 academic year. The grant is expected to significantly contribute to his concentrated research study of local transportation policy and his dissertation topic, “Life in the Fast Lane: Transportation Finance and the Local Option Sales Tax.” His dissertation specifically examines why state legislation allows local counties to levy local taxes on transportation. Prior legislation, required federal and state level intervention.

Green discovered the grant through web searches and the recommendation of a faculty committee member from UC Berkeley and UCTC Director. He then began the application process.

Green has been working closely with Political Science graduate advisor Max Neiman on his dissertation for nearly a year. In explaining how Neiman assisted in his research Green commented, “He opened my eyes into transportation policy, he is a great advocate for academic work, a true mentor.”

“Andrew has been among our hardest working and most successful students,” Neiman describes. “He is a leader, and he has taken on leadership roles in representing graduate students on campus and in the department. He has worked hard to develop his statistical skills and contributes ideas about how to take ideas and turn them into researchable topics. He has become a real policy expert in the field of state-local transportation policies, and that is why his dissertation will focus on this important topic.”

Regarding the effect the grant will have on others, Neiman responded “The size of the award should get their attention. That is a sizeable award for dissertation research, and it will perhaps direct others in the direction of University-wide research programs.” The award is anticipated to increase grant seeking in such statewide programs such as the Transportation Institute, Energy Studies, Water Resources Center, and Pac Rim Studies.

Green is the first to receive such grant for CHASS and he believes it will impact current and future graduate students at UCR. Green said, “It allows those in the Humanities and Social Sciences to pursue transportation studies, which is not just about building roads, but also about policy.” In addition, Green hopes the grant will further enhance the image of UCR as a research institution and he is pleased to have the opportunity to contribute.