Dr. Hassan Homami Memorial Scholarship

I grew up in my hometown Sirjan in the south of Iran․ My parents did not have the opportunity to receive formal literacy education. However, they deeply believed in the power of knowledge. They always encouraged me and my siblings to study, to think beyond our circumstances, and to believe that every successful path passes through learning. Even without formal education, they gave us one of the most valuable lessons of my life: there should be no limitation on belief, effort, or imagination. In high school‚ I was particularly interested in math and engineering․ I loved the idea that engineers took an idea from the mind and turned it into something real that made a difference‚ that made people's lives better․To me, engineering was not only about formulas; it was about creativity, innovation, and responsibility. I also believe that true creativity comes from a deeper source. Rumi writes in the Mathnavi, “For those brickbats were made solid by the brick-maker, the rock was hardened by Divine art.” This verse reminds me that human creativity can shape the world, but it should also be used with purpose. In Iran‚ I saw how much life‚ time‚ money‚ and environmental quality could be lost every day because of transportation problems․ So my interest became focused more and more on transportation after my undergraduate degree in civil engineering․ The crashes‚ congestion‚ unsafe roads‚ delayed response‚ and inefficient systems not only affect drivers‚ but also families‚ workers‚ and entire communities․ At the same time, I was strongly interested in technology and computer science. The possibility of combining transportation engineering with modern technology motivated me to continue in this field. Today‚ I am a PhD student in Transportation Engineering at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)‚ and my dissertation is in the field of smart transportation systems․ My dissertation focuses on improving traffic incident response through a system called IRIS, the Incident Response Intelligence System. The goal of this work is simple but meaningful: to help transportation operators make faster and better decisions when crashes or incidents happen on freeways. If incident response can become faster and more informed, it can help reduce delays, prevent secondary crashes, support emergency response, save money, reduce fuel waste, and potentially save lives. Other projects that have been connected to this mission include crash safety analysis‚ truck parking prediction‚ bicycle travel demand modeling‚ speed camera safety analysis‚ and traffic operations research․ While grounded in data and technology‚ the goal is to improve safety‚ mobility‚ sustainability and reliability of transportation systems for the benefit of the traveling public․ While I write my dissertation‚ I continue to work half time as a research assistant․ I hope to defend my dissertation proposal this summer and submit a couple papers to the Transportation Research Board․ This scholarship would help support my graduate education, research progress, conference participation, and the cost of presenting my work to the transportation community. Attending and presenting at conferences such as TRB would allow me to learn from experts, receive feedback, and share research that can contribute to safer and smarter transportation systems. Dr․ Hassan Homami inspires me because he represents education‚ perseverance‚ engineering‚ mentorship‚ and the courage to build a meaningful life as an immigrant․ I believe higher education should not only be a platform for individual advancement but also an opportunity to create value in others' lives- like Dr․ Homami has in mine․ I aspire to improve the responsiveness‚ safety‚ and life-saving nature of transportation systems through engineering‚ technology‚ and research‚ and help others on their paths to education․

My academic journey has been driven by a strong passion for engineering, scientific research, and education. As a PhD student in Chemical Engineering, I work with computational electrocatalysis, multiscale modeling, and sustainable catalytic systems, combining tools such as Density Functional Theory (DFT), reaction engineering, and scientific computing to study cleaner chemical processes. My research focuses on understanding catalyst stability and reaction mechanisms for carbon dioxide conversion, with the broader goal of contributing to technologies that support a more sustainable future. Coming from an international academic background, I learned how transformative education can be, especially for students pursuing opportunities beyond their original environment. As a Brazilian student studying abroad and engaging in international research experiences, I had to adapt to new academic cultures, languages, and expectations. These experiences taught me resilience, independence, and the importance of collaboration across disciplines and cultures. More importantly, they reinforced my ambition to become a professor capable of combining high-level research with mentorship and student development. Throughout my academic path, I have always tried to stay involved in initiatives that connect engineering with people. During my undergraduate years in Brazil, I participated in projects such as Espaço CrEativo and ABENGE Estudantil, experiences that significantly shaped my view of education and leadership. These initiatives allowed me to work closely with students, educational outreach activities, and discussions about the future of engineering education in Brazil. Through these experiences, I realized that engineering is not only about technical development, but also about creating environments where students feel motivated, welcomed, and encouraged to grow intellectually and professionally. In addition to research, teaching has become one of the most meaningful aspects of my academic life. I have experience assisting courses in thermodynamics and transport phenomena, and I genuinely enjoy helping students understand concepts that are often considered intimidating. I believe that one of the greatest responsibilities of a professor is not only transmitting knowledge, but also helping students build confidence in their ability to think critically and solve problems. This perspective motivates me to continuously improve both my technical knowledge and my communication skills. Another important aspect of my journey has been the integration of computation, visualization, and scientific communication. Beyond developing computational models and simulations, I am also interested in finding ways to communicate science more effectively and accessibly. I believe that researchers have a responsibility to make scientific knowledge understandable and engaging, especially for younger students who may be discovering engineering for the first time. The values represented by the Dr. Hassan Homami Memorial Scholarship strongly resonate with me because they reflect ambition, perseverance, and the desire to use engineering to positively impact society. My long-term goal is to pursue a career as a professor and researcher dedicated not only to advancing sustainable technologies, but also to mentoring and inspiring future generations of engineers. I want to contribute to an academic environment where students feel supported, challenged, and motivated to use their knowledge to create meaningful solutions for society.

Standing four stories underground at the HANA Financial Group construction site, I was supposed to be focused on the concrete pouring plan for the next day. But I kept thinking about the voids we'd found in our mockup test—air pockets below the EPS inserts that could compromise the entire Double Beam System. My supervisor wanted a quick fix, but I knew this wasn't just about passing inspection. Somewhere above this foundation, people would work for decades, trusting that we'd done this right. That's when it hit me: engineering isn't about having all the answers. It's about taking responsibility when you don't. I didn't always think this way. When I researched concrete at Nagoya University, I loved that everything had a clear answer. My work on moisture transport earned top presenter at a national conference, and I felt like I'd found my path—stay in research, keep things controlled and measurable. Then I started working at Hyundai E&C. The $343 million project didn't care about my lab protocols. We had weather delays, worker shortages, and schedules that didn't pause for problems. When workers couldn't get proper concrete consolidation around those EPS inserts, I had to get on site and demonstrate the technique myself, working with people who'd been doing this for twenty years. It was frustrating and messy. It was also when I actually started understanding construction engineering. I think about Dr. Hassan working full-time while doing his PhD, and I get it now. It's not just about being busy or determined. It's about seeing problems from both sides—the theoretical side that knows what should work, and the practical side that knows what actually can work. That tension is where real solutions happen. Being a first-generation immigrant adds another layer. I moved to Japan at eighteen, spent my first year translating every lecture in my head, always feeling one step behind. When I finally got comfortable, I started tutoring other international students because I remembered how isolating it felt. Later, working as a technical translator, I saw how communication breakdowns become engineering risks—a mistranslated specification can compromise an entire project. Now I'm at UT Austin starting my M.S./Ph.D., and I'm that international student again. But I'm also bringing something valuable: I've seen how different countries approach construction, and they each have insights the others need. My research focuses on construction productivity and quality management—finding better ways to bridge the gap between planning and execution on site. What really gets me about Dr. Hassan's story is that while battling cancer and managing everything else, he still mentored interns. That's understanding that the work doesn't end with your own achievements. As someone who's been the lost international student, the junior engineer making mistakes, I know how much it matters when someone takes time to help you. I'm not going to pretend I have Dr. Hassan's level of resilience—working through cancer while pursuing a PhD is extraordinary. But I understand the core of it: believing education matters enough to pursue it despite obstacles, staying committed to practical work while deepening your knowledge, and helping others navigate the path you've walked. Those aren't just nice values. They're what move our field forward. This scholarship would connect me to Dr. Hassan's legacy. Being a first-generation immigrant isn't just a challenge to overcome—it's a perspective that enriches engineering. We bring different approaches, different solutions, different ways of seeing problems. That's what Dr. Hassan brought to transportation systems, and that's what I hope to bring to construction engineering. Not despite the challenges of being an immigrant pursuing advanced education, but because of them.

Growing up in Kasoa, a small town in Ghana, I learned engineering before I knew what engineering was. With limited resources, my childhood was filled with creativity born of necessity. I crafted toys from discarded cans, transforming waste into wonder. Those early experiences taught me that engineering is fundamentally about problem-solving, resourcefulness, and seeing potential where others see limitations. This foundation, combined with exposure to science fiction and medieval technology in films during middle school, ignited my fascination with how humans have continuously innovated to overcome challenges, from ancient metalworking to futuristic transportation systems. My specific passion lies in Computational Materials Science, focusing on understanding how manufacturing processes affect material properties and performance. During my undergraduate studies, courses in Materials Science and Manufacturing revealed the intricate relationship between how we make things and what those things can accomplish. I became captivated by metal casting, one of humanity's oldest manufacturing techniques, which remains fundamental to modern transportation systems. From lightweight alloys that improve vehicle fuel efficiency to high-performance materials for aerospace applications, the materials we develop directly impact how people and goods move across our world. Currently pursuing my PhD in Mechanical Engineering, I am investigating the effect of post-processing treatments on the fatigue behavior of additively manufactured titanium alloys. This research directly connects to transportation applications, where lightweight, high-strength materials are critical for sustainable vehicle design. As a Teaching Assistant for Design of Machine Elements, I work daily with students analyzing cast components used in automotive and aerospace systems, helping them understand how material selection and manufacturing processes determine performance, safety, and efficiency. My plan for expanding knowledge and making an impact follows a dual path. Academically, I am deepening my expertise in computational modeling to predict material behavior, reducing the costly trial-and-error approach that makes advanced materials inaccessible to smaller manufacturers. I aim to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and practical implementation, ensuring innovations reach the industries and communities that need them most. Professionally, I envision a career in research and development followed by education, where I can mentor the next generation of engineers while contributing to our understanding of materials for transportation and other critical applications. Dr. Hassan's story resonates deeply with me as a first-generation immigrant pursuing graduate education. Like him, I believe education is the most powerful tool for creating positive change. My commitment extends beyond technical excellence to making engineering more accessible and sustainable. Growing up in Ghana, I witnessed firsthand how transportation infrastructure shapes economic opportunities and the quality of life. I have seen how resource constraints drive innovation, and how sustainable engineering practices are not luxuries but necessities for communities like the one where I was raised. My vision is to contribute to transportation systems through innovative materials that prioritize both performance and sustainability. Whether developing lighter alloys that reduce fuel consumption, improving manufacturing efficiency to lower costs, or mentoring students who will tackle tomorrow's challenges, I am committed to making engineering more accessible, sustainable, and impactful. Dr. Hassan dedicated his life to education and mentorship while advancing intelligent transportation systems. I aspire to honor that legacy by pursuing the same dual commitment: pushing the boundaries of Materials Science while empowering others through education, ensuring that the next generation has the knowledge and resources to build a more sustainable connected world.