Robert B. Binder is an urban planning and transportation expert with over a decade of experience in the private, public, and academic sectors. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Development from the University of Southern California and has twice been recognized as a Dwight D. Eisenhower Transportation Fellow. His research focuses on how public transit systems can promote equity, justice, and social mixing, with his dissertation exploring in-transit social interactions in Los Angeles and Detroit. Robert integrates public space theory, social psychology, and spatial analysis to highlight the social value of public transit and alternative transportation modes.
 
In addition to his research, Robert has taught courses on equity in transportation, sustainability, and planning theory at USC. He is currently serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Oregon where he is teaching undergraduate and graduate students in courses on urban transport planning and policy, bicycle planning, and visual communications. His extensive publication record includes work on smart cities, zero-emission curb management, and transportation modeling. He has received several accolades, including the 2023 Student of the Year award from the National Center for Sustainable Transportation. Robert’s interdisciplinary approach and commitment to equitable and sustainable urban design shape his work in creating livable, multimodal communities.