STEPS, Institute of Transportation Studies, Davis
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STEPS, Institute of Transportation Studies, Davis

2028 Academic Surge
University of California, Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616

(530) 752-6548 phone

 

Sandy Allan's Home Page

Alexander (Sandy) Allan

Graduate Student Researcher
Institute of Transportation Studies
Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways (STEPS) Program

University of California Davis
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616

Email: aallan@ucdavis.edu


EDUCATION

Master of Science in Transportation Technology and Policy
University of California, Davis, (Expected June 2010).

Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, in Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Davis, June 2008.

Bachelor of Commerce in Business Studies and Accounting
University of Edinburgh, Scotland, July 1989.


INTERESTS

Alexander is intrigued by interactions between the transportation and power sectors as two components of an integrated sustainable energy system. He is interested in exploring how widespread adoption of grid-connected electric drivetrain vehicles might influence electricity demand, functioning both as an additional burden on the system and a potential distributed electricity generation source.


RESEARCH

Oil Production Cost Model: Alexander is currently developing a model to estimate future infrastructure investments and operating costs to support the current petroleum-based transportation sector under various demand and price scenarios. This will serve as a baseline for comparing infrastructure investments needed to support alternative transportation fuels such as biofuels, electricity and hydrogen.


AWARDS

While completing his undergraduate degree, Alexander was awarded a research fellowship by the UC Davis Sustainable Transportation Center to study alternative fuels. Alexander worked on three hydrogen-related research projects: maximizing hydrogen production from liquid fuels; lowering emissions from combustion fuels via hydrogen enrichment; and powering small-scale, off-road applications using fuel cells.

He has also received scholarships from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and represented UC Davis at the California Transportation Foundation Education Symposium.


EXPERIENCE

Prior to his interest in sustainable energy, Alexander pursued a 13-year career in graphic design and marketing communications, most recently as co-owner of Tanabe Allan Design and as Creative Director at Entercomm Interactive, a global communications agency headquartered in San Francisco, CA. During his tenure, Alexander oversaw the design and production of numerous online and print communications campaigns for clients in technology, education, government, and other sectors. Design projects include the Flex Your Power web site (www.fypower.org) and companion e-newsletter: California's statewide energy efficiency marketing and outreach campaign.


HOBBIES

Outside of research and a daily commute between Davis and his home in San Francisco, Alexander occasionally enjoys hiking and biking around the Lake Tahoe area. Less frequently, he entertains friends by playing the tenor saxophone - a former semi-professional pursuit that led to a handful of UK television and radio broadcasts as well as concert performances for Princess Diana and the Special Olympics.