Academic Trip to University of Washington, Seattle, USA -- Making new friends and discovering new research direction
Posted by: Yuqiang Lin
At the end of 2024, I came across a research group in the United States doing impressive work on traffic monitoring for real-world engineering applications. Around the same time, I learned about the AAPS CDT travel scheme, which supports short-term academic visits overseas. With encouragement from my supervisors and a bit of luck, I was selected for the scheme and offered the opportunity to spend three months as a visiting researcher at the the Starlab (Smart Transportation Applications and Research) at the University of Washington (UW), Seattle, under the supervision of Prof. Yinhai Wang.
Everything looked promising: I had the green light from both UW and the AAPS CDT, and the plan was set. The only uncertainty was the visa—and it turned out to be the most stressful part of the whole preparation.
First Arrival: A Fast Start (After a Last-Minute Visa)
My visa was granted only five days before my scheduled departure. That meant five days to book flights, secure accommodation, pack, and wrap up everything in the UK. It was intense, slightly chaotic, and very real: a “now or never” sprint that forced me to plan quickly and act decisively.
When I finally arrived in Seattle, the experience immediately felt welcoming. Someone from the lab kindly picked me up from the airport, helped me settle in, and gave me an introduction to the lab and the campus. That first week was a mix of excitement and adjustment—getting used to the new environment, learning how things work at UW, and gradually turning a rushed departure into a stable daily routine.
A week later, I attended my first lab meeting. I met Prof. Wang and the rest of the STAR Lab members, and I gave a short self-introduction to share my background and research interests. It was the moment the visit started to feel truly “academic,” not just logistical.
Academic Experience: Connecting My PhD to Visual Language Models
After discussions with Prof. Wang and several lab members, I decided to focus my visit on a rapidly emerging direction: visual language models (VLMs). I wanted to connect this new wave of foundation models with my existing research interests—computer vision for intelligent transportation systems (ITS), especially around traffic understanding and safety.
For me, the key motivation was simple: traditional computer vision pipelines are strong at detection and tracking, but they often struggle to “explain” complex traffic situations in a way that supports decision-making. VLMs open an interesting possibility—moving beyond what happened to also reasoning about why it happened, and describing it in natural language that is more accessible for analysis, reporting, and future safety tools.
During my time in Seattle, one highlight was attending the PacTrans 2025 Conference in Portland, Oregon. It was the first transportation-focused conference I had ever attended, and it gave me a broader view of the field beyond my own research bubble. I met researchers from different universities and spoke with industry representatives as well.
One particularly memorable conversation was with the team from AIWaysion, a startup working on projects closely related to my PhD area. We had a deep discussion about problem settings, practical constraints in real deployments, and how research prototypes can (or cannot) translate into products. That kind of exchange was energising—both technically and professionally—and it also helped me think more clearly about how to position my research contributions for real-world impact.
Outside the Lab: Seattle’s Nature and a Needed Reset
Seattle isn’t just a strong research environment—it is also surrounded by extraordinary landscapes. Outside of research, I tried to experience the Pacific Northwest properly, and it became an important part of the visit. Academic work can be intense, and having access to nature made it easier to reset, reflect, and maintain balance.
I visited Mount Rainier National Park and hiked the Skyline Trail—an experience that genuinely exceeded my expectations. The scenery was vast and dramatic, and being in that environment made everything feel quieter and slower (in a good way).
I also explored Olympic National Park, including Hurricane Ridge. The view from the ridge was unforgettable—wide open, layered with mountains, and the kind of landscape that makes you stop talking for a moment just to take it in. Those trips gave me a different perspective on the visit: not only as a research milestone, but also as a personal experience that I will remember for a long time.
Closing Thoughts
Looking back, this three-month visit started with last-minute pressure but quickly became one of the most valuable parts of my PhD journey so far. It gave me exposure to a new research direction, a chance to learn from a leading transportation research group, and meaningful conversations with both academics and industry.
Just as importantly, the experience was not only about research. During my time at UW, I met many kind and inspiring people, and I was fortunate to make new friends in the lab and around campus. The support, daily conversations, and shared moments—both in and outside the workplace—made the visit feel warm and memorable, and those friendships are something I will genuinely carry forward.
Seattle gave me an environment that supported both progress and perspective. I left with clearer research ideas, stronger motivation, and real gratitude for the opportunity—and for the people who made the experience what it was.