Profile
Christopher M. Monsere, Ph.D., P.E., Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
When Dr. Christopher Monsere completed his Ph.D. in civil engineering at Iowa State University, he knew he wanted to pursue an academic career, but he also felt that having the practical application of working in industry would be good for his students and good for research. As the Highway Safety Engineer at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) from 2000 to 2004, his responsibilities included the identification of statewide high crash locations, developing and managing tools for the evaluation of safety projects, approving highway illumination, and technical evaluation of highway safety improvements. Dr. Monsere directed significant improvements in the highway safety program at ODOT and continues to serve on highway safety panels and task forces. In April, he was appointed co-chair of ANB20 – Safety, Data, Analysis and Evaluation committee of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies.
Monsere’s current research portfolio is currently anchored by three key initiatives: 1) developing and housing a transportation safety data archive; 2) efforts to improve arterial performance monitoring; and 3) efforts to expand and increase the Portland Oregon Regional Transportation Archive Listing (PORTAL). Monsere directs the Intelligent Transportation Systems Lab and together with his transportation colleagues the lab currently supports over 30 students, has over 80 alumni, and has over 20 active projects with budgets exceeding $2 million.
Dr. Monsere has strong student-centered focus, and works to provide his students opportunities to be involved in research, get involved with the profession, and support their career development. Incorporating real examples in his class projects is a theme of most of his courses - his students have studied many real-world problems for local public agencies. For example, his transportation safety class has now studied 20 high-crash locations and prepared detailed reports identifying improvements since the class was first taught.
In 2006, former PSU President Daniel Bernstine presented both Monsere and colleague R.L. Bertini with PSU’s Community-Based Research Civic Engagement Award. Dr. Monsere was the recipient of the ITE Oregon Section 2005 Outstanding Individual Achievement Award for his contributions to transportation education, research, and practice in the state of Oregon. In 2009, student officers of ASCE and Chi Epsilon selected Monsere for the “Instructor of the Year” award in Civil Engineering.
Monsere is the faculty advisor for Chi Epsilon, the national Civil Engineering Honor Society, and the Engineers Without Borders student chapter. In his free time, Dr. Monsere enjoys playing hockey (he grew up in Detroit, Michigan – Go Wings!), playing soccer, and backpacking.
Contact Information
Professor Christopher Monsere
website: http://www.cee.pdx.edu/~monserec/
phone: (503) 725-9746
email: monsere@pdx.edu
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
website: www.cee.pdx.edu
phone: (503) 725-4282
email: cee_dept@cecs.pdx.edu
Street Address:
PSU Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
1930 SW Fourth Avenue
Office 301B
97201Portland OR
Mailing Address:
PSU Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
PO Box 751
Mail Code CEE
Portland OR 97207-0751
