Undergraduate Students in the COE and UNL Summer Research Symposium (08/05/2025)
Our two summer program students presented their final projects at the symposium! Since the beginning of the summer, they have shown incredible dedication, learning new concepts, overcoming challenges, and putting in consistent effort. Their presentations are the result of hard work and commitment. One of our students, Savannah Soto, joined us all the way from The Pennsylvania State University to be part of this experience. We're proud of everything they accomplished!
Isabella's Master’s Thesis Defense (07/28/2025)
We’re thrilled to share that Isabella Bueno has successfully completed her master’s thesis! Her research, titled “Evaluation of Waste Plastic Addition via Dry Method on Asphalt Mixture Performance,” marks an important contribution to sustainable pavement materials. Congratulations, Isabella!
Amasi's Master’s Thesis Defense (07/11/2025)
Our IMPAR member, Amasi Hajahja, successfully defended her master’s thesis! Her research, titled “Feasibility of Using Waste Plastic in Concrete Pavements in Nebraska,” explored the potential of incorporating waste plastic as fine aggregates or reinforcing fibers in concrete. It was a major experimental effort, and thanks to Amasi’s determination and dedication, she gave it her all. Congratulations, Amasi!
2025 Asphalt Institute Kirk Scholarship Award
We are proud to recognize Farzad Yazdipanah as a recipient of the Kirk Scholarship, a prestigious award presented by the Asphalt Institute Foundation. This scholarship supports exceptional students pursuing careers in civil engineering, construction, and related fields, with a focus on advancing the future of asphalt and infrastructure. We’ll deserved award, Farzad!
UNL UCARE Student Summer 2025
Bell Eurek has been with our group since May and received a UCARE award to deepen her knowledge in concrete mix design and performance evaluation. She is working with Amasi Hajahaja on our plastic in concrete research project. Keep up, Bell!
Taisa Medina Qualify Examination (06/24/2025)
Milestone alert! Congrats to our ÍMPAR member Taisa Medina for successfully passing her qualifying examination. This is an important step in her PhD journey and we are super happy for her achievement! Way to go, Taisa! 🤩
Opening ceremony of the first asphalt pavement with recycled plastic in Nebraska (06/11/2025)
Our research group attended the opening ceremony of the first asphalt pavement in Nebraska incorporating recycled grocery bags. This groundbreaking project was a collaboration between UNL and key stakeholders, including the Nebraska Department of Transportation, Sioux City Freedom Park, JEO Consulting Group, First Star Recycling, and the City of Sioux City.
ASCE ICTD 2025 and ASCE Pavements 2025 in Glendale, Arizona (06/11/2025)
Another conference checked for our IMPAR team member Farzad Yazdipanah. Farzad presented the work titled “Balanced Mix Design for Highly Recycled Asphalt Mixtures: Laboratory and Field-Testing in Nebraska”, co-author with Dr. Hamzeh Haghshenas, with great outcomes from our collaborative Nebraska Balance Mix Design Project, funded by NDOT! 🤩
European Asphalt Technology Association (EATA) 2025 Conference (06/10/2025)
Dr. Teixeira attended the EATA 2025 and RILEM Meetings in Ancona, Italy.
NSF-REU Student - Summer 2025
Savannah Soto, a freshman student in the Environment Engineering program from Pennsylvania State University, joined us this summer as part of her NSF-REU internship. She working with Taisa Medina on the slag research. Welcome, Savannah!
EMI 2025 (06/02/2025)
This week, two of our IMPAR team members, Farzad Yazdipanah and Nitish Bastola, presented their work at the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI) Conference. Way to go, team! 🤩
COE Engament Fellows at Rural Tour Nebraska
Dr. Teixeira and her three other fellow participants from the COE Engagement Fellow’s Program embarked on a rural tour across five selected Nebraska Rural communities.
Nitish’s Comprehensive Examination (05/19/2025)
Huge congratulations to Nitish Bastola for passing his comprehensive examination and officially becoming a Ph.D. candidate! Way to go, Nitish!!!
Outreach Event (05/08/2025)
We welcomed a group of Girl Scouts to the lab! What a fun and inspiring evening explaining what civil engineers do, the different areas within the field, and why our work is so important to society. Toward the end, we talked about the various materials used to build structures, followed by a hands-on activity: “Make Your Own Concrete!” I asked them, “Do you want to be a MasterChef or a MatterChef?” To our delight, they excitedly replied, “A MatterChef!”! What a fun evening!
CIVE 371 Final Project - Spring 2025 Class (05/05/2025)
Once again, the CIVE 371 course (taught by Dr. Teixeira) concluded with an outstanding showcase of student learning at the Symposium on Sustainable Construction Materials. Our graduate students had the opportunity to develop their mentoring skills by advising individual groups on the development of their final projects. It’s a win-win for both undergraduate and graduate students’ professional development. Great job, everyone!
Dr. Teixeira received the 2025 COE Distinguished New Faculty Teaching Award (04/18/2025)
Dr. Teixeira receive from Dean Perez the Henry Y. Kleinkauf Family Distinguished New Faculty Teaching Award at the 2025 COE Employee Awards Ceremony.
Woman of Courage, Character, and Commitment Award (03/27/2025)
Dr. Teixeira received the Woman of Courage, Character, and Commitment Award! Her dedication to the university and her students was rightfully recognized. Dr. Teixeira has been shaping future engineers with ethics, commitment, and responsibility. A well-deserved honor! Congratulations, Dr. Teixeira!
Farzad Yazdipanah received the 2025-2026 Dean’s Fellowship (03/27/2025)
In recognition of Farzad’s outstanding academic performance and scholarly potential, the UNL Graduate Fellowship Committee has recommended him to be awarded the Dean’s Fellowship for the 2025- 2026 academic year. Congratulations Farzad, and best wishes for continuing success at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Taisa Medina and Isabella Bueno received the Othmer Fellowship from the UNL Office of Graduate Studies (02/15/2025)
Two members of our group, Isabella Bueno and Taisa Medina, were selected to be the recipients of the Othmer Fellowship in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Othmer Fellowships are intended to assist in recruiting exceptional scholars who are seeking a terminal degree. Keep up the great work, girls!
COE Graduate Symposium (02/21/2025)
Amasi presented her work on the effects of ultra-high molecular weight waste plastic as aggregates in concrete fresh and mechanical properties during the CoE Graduate Symposium. Nice work Amasi!
GeoOmaha Conference (02/07/2025)
Our PhD student, Taísa Medina, presented her ongoing research at the GeoOmaha Conference with the title "Exploring the Potential of Electric Arc Furnace Slag as Paving Material: A Literature Review and Preliminary Characterization." Great job, Taísa!
Nebraska Asphalt Pavement Conference (02/04/2025)
Our group was invited to participate and speak at the Nebraska Asphalt Pavement Conference, hosted by the Nebraska Department of Transportation. This marks the second year our team has represented and showcased our research at this event. It’s an honor to be part of such an important gathering in our own state!
Outreach Event (01/30/2025)
We welcomed students from Norris High School’s Chemistry and Advanced Chemistry classes to our Materials Lab! It’s always amazing to host them and showcase our research to future engineers!
TRB Conference (01/06/2025)
Our group attended the TRB Annual Meeting 2025 to present our posters at the world’s largest transportation conference. It was an incredible opportunity to learn from leading experts in the field and connect with professionals doing amazing work. We are excited with the beginning of this great year!
Teixeira’s Research Group 2024 Holiday Party (12/12/2024)
Our end-of-year celebration was filled with gratitude and togetherness. 2024 was an amazing year for our group, and this gathering was the perfect way to honor it!
Seminar Talk - Visiting Scholar from TRAMA/UFC (12/06/2024)
Our visiting scholar, Larissa Ribas, presented her research progress from the past six months spent with our group. Prof. Veronica Castelo Branco and her mates from TRAMA joined us virtually to celebrate Larissa’s achievements.
Guess Speaker at CIVE 891 (11/18/2024)
Dr. Flavio Souza from Siemens Digital Industries visit at our lab. He also delivered an excellent lecture in CIVE891 course about Multiscale Modeling.
CEE Scholarship Banquet (10/11/2024)
Our group members, Nitish Bastola, Kaylee Cunning, and Joseph Tighi, were some of the awardees during the CEE Scholarship Banquet. Congrats!
Outreach Event (10/10/2024)
We welcomed students from Creighton Omaha Prep to our CEE Materials Lab! It was an incredible experience showcasing our equipment and materials.
NSA Annual Conference (09/16/2024)
Dr. Teixeira was an invited speaker at the National Slag Association Annual Conference and presented her research on Advancing Sustainable Transportation Infrastructure: The Role of Slag in Enhancing Soil and Asphalt Mixture’s Performance.
AAPT 100th Year (09/10/2024)
Nitish Bastola presented his work on Low-Temperature Cracking Resistance of Recycled Mixtures at the AAPT conference in Chicago. Congratulations Nitish for your amazing work!
ASEE Midwest Conference (09/08/2024)
Our undergraduate research student, Kaylee Cunning, presented her work on the use of grain bags rural waste plastics and the UCARE impact in her career trajectory at the ASEE Midwest Conference hosted by the Kansas University. She received one award as the 2nd best student paper! We are so proud of you, Kaylee!
PhD crew lunch (08/08/2024)
Our group enjoying lunch together after successfully working on the relocation of our equipments from the old lab to the new place! Teamwork paid off!
COE Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium (08/05/2024)
Kaylee Cunning presenting her poster at the Engineering Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium. She did an outstanding job!
Outreach Event (06/24/2024)
We welcomed students from the Sovereign Native Youth STEM Leadership Academy to our lab. It was a pleasure to showcase our research and share how things work at our university!
TEIXEIRA’S Research Team (07/23/2024)
Our group got together for an updated photo! We love to see the diversity of our group! Together we are stronger!
First Lunch Together (06/16/2024)
Our lunch to kick off the summer. These moments together mean so much to us!
CIVE 371 Final Project (05/18/2024)
Students from the CIVE 371 course (taught by Dr. Teixeira) showcased their learning at UNL’s First Symposium on Sustainable Construction Materials. Our team served as mentors helping the undergraduates on the development of their final projects! Great job, everyone!
ASCE NE Section Scholarship Banquet (06/18/2024)
Nitish Bastola received the Transportation Engineers Fellowship from ASCE, and of course, everyone was there to celebrate with him!
ISAP Conference (06/03/2024)
Isabella presented her poster titled "Enhancing Asphalt Concrete Cracking, Rutting, and Moisture Damage Resistance Through Dry Method Addition of Polypropylene Waste Plastic" at the international conference ISAP in Montreal, Canada. We are so proud of you, Isabella!
Dr. Teixeira BDAY celebration (05/05/2024)
We invited Dr. Teixeira to celebrate her birthday with us through a group painting activity! It was such a fun and creative time spent together in her honor.