Miguel Jaller Named Chair of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Professor Miguel Jaller has been named the next chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of California, Davis. Jaller, who will begin his term on Jan. 1, 2026, brings a wealth of experience in sustainable transportation systems, resilience and logistics to the leadership role.
"As chair, I am committed to fostering a collaborative, inclusive and forward-thinking environment for faculty, students, staff and research partners," said Jaller. "I aim to build on this department's strong foundation of long-standing excellence, and I look forward to navigating the opportunities and challenges ahead with a shared vision and collective purpose."
Since joining UC Davis in 2014, Jaller has been at the forefront of research aimed at enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of freight transportation. In 2018, Jaller became the co-director of the Sustainable Freight Research Program in the Institute of Transportation Studies. His work has addressed critical issues such as decarbonizing freight systems, optimizing last-mile delivery and improving disaster response logistics.
Jaller's commitment to developing practical solutions for complex transportation challenges is reflected in his interdisciplinary integration of engineering principles with policy analysis and operations research. His work has been supported by agencies such as the U.S. Department of Transportation, the California Air Resources Board and the California Department of Transportation, focusing on projects that aim to reduce emissions and enhance infrastructure resilience.
Throughout his career, Jaller has been recognized by the UC Davis College of Engineering's Outstanding Junior Faculty Award and was named a Young Pacesetter, one of 20 high-achieving researchers and educators under 40, by the American Society for Engineering Education.
Jaller earned a Master of Engineering in transportation engineering, a Master of Science in applied mathematics and a Ph.D. in transportation engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in industrial engineering from the Universidad del Norte in Colombia.