GAANN Fellow Nicole Elias

"I am glad to be part of the GAANN fellowship program, which will allow me to participate in professional development activities and develop my teaching skills during the supervised teaching experience."

Impact & student success | November 17, 2021
Nicole Elias

Elias is a Fellow in the GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) PhD Program, sponsored by the Department of Education.

GAANN Fellow Nicole Elias

"I am glad to be part of the GAANN fellowship program, which will allow me to participate in professional development activities and develop my teaching skills during the supervised teaching experience."

Impact & student success | November 17, 2021

Elias is a Fellow in the GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) PhD Program, sponsored by the Department of Education.

Nicole Elias

Elias is a Fellow in the GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) PhD Program, sponsored by the Department of Education.

Originally From: Lebanon
Fellowship Start Date: Summer 2021
Research Subdiscipline: Pavement Engineering and Science (PES) Program
Research Advisor Dr. Hand

What inspired you to pursue a PhD?

I have always been interested in developing my professional career based on the most innovative approaches and expertise in civil engineering. The research field was so appealing due to its advanced and emerging technologies, particularly in pavement engineering. I was mostly inspired by the successful career path of our professors in the PES program, along with the outstanding reputation of the program in the research field, and its thought-provoking research projects. Therefore, I am confident that my Ph.D. degree will enhance and expand my basic knowledge molding it into a professional and bright future career in the engineering field. Moreover, I am glad to be part of the GAANN fellowship program, which will allow me to participate in professional development activities and develop my teaching skills during the supervised teaching experience.

What are you most interested in learning more about during your PhD study?

Pavement engineering is being subjected to groundbreaking and advanced developments to generate more stable and sustainable roadways, which are being subjected nowadays to increased load levels and severe climatic conditions. Maintaining our roadways, ensure the whole society a safe and robust pavement system for our daily basis activities. My main target is to explore the latest methodologies to design asphalt concrete pavements at a superior performance level, which will make any driver experience less cracking and permanent deformation on the pavements. Moreover, asphalt is considered the most recycled material in the United States, which has driven my interest in designing more sustainable and environmentally friendly asphalt mixtures.

Related Link

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I enjoy travelling (especially to my country Lebanon), writing, playing cards and Zumba work out.

Impact & student success | November 17, 2021

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