Dartmouth versus UC Davis (Energy/Transportation systems PhD)

[1993_Hegde]

Hi folks, 

I am having sleepless nights over making this decision. So, I was hoping that you could help me make a pick. A little bit of a background for you to be able to help me better. Both the programs offer similar funding offers, with a promise of continuing funding as long as I remain in good standing. 

The Transportation Technology and Policy program at UC Davis and a professor at Dartmouth.

Institute of Transportation Studies @ Davis is of course very well established and has a broad research focus, with tons of partners and great funding. Here are some links to their research and affiliated centres: 

https://its.ucdavis.edu/

https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/

https://steps.ucdavis.edu/

While I do like the program, I am not sure how much of a switch I would want to make to a core policy program. I still want to have a tech-oriented profile with a good hold on policy. Though they invited me to visit, I still do not have a prospective advisor or specific projects to work on; a little vague at this point in time. They seem to have a lot of possibilities, though. 

https://engineering.dartmouth.edu/liines/index.html

^This is the other option I am considering. The professor (Dr. Amro Farid - google scholar) has a great track record and has invested a lot more time talking to me and developed a very cordial relationship. His work is quite broad and interdisciplinary. Plus, his focus is on tech with an emphasis on policy. He wants me to work on electrified transportation systems with a focus on the grid.  He has very close ties with MIT and has been a co-author of the MIT future of grid study. The lab's hetrofunctional graph theory for systems modelling has been well received and appreciated. 

My only concern is that Dartmouth isn’t particularly big and energy research is new. This is merely because of the lack of wider research topics and not a reflection of its calibre. The faculty that they do have seems to be the best in their respective fields and do fantastic research. Besides, being an Ivy League institution, its overall reputation is far better (doesn't really matter fo a PhD). Plus, there is the possibility that I could get accepted to the PhD in innovation program. 

My end goal is to perhaps work at an energy consulting position/a national laboratory, with a focus on energy-transportation nexus.

I thank you for your time.

[Chobits]

I am a graduate student at Dartmouth now. I just want to say the winter here is very very terrible...Since you will be a PhD candidate and live here for five years, maybe you should consider the weather as an important issue...