Faculty
Dr. Teixeira is an assistant professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil (2004), and her master’s (2007) and Ph.D. (2011) degrees at UNL. Her research focuses on the characterization of infrastructure materials, including rheological, chemical, physical, and mechanical laboratory experimentation, and computational modeling of composite materials using multiscale and micromechanical models that consider viscoelasticity and cohesive zone fracture. Dr. Teixeira is an active member of national technical committees, including the ASCE/EMI Mechanics of Pavements Committee and the TRB AKM 40 Standing Committee on Asphalt Mixture Evaluation and Performance. She is currently the Chair of the TRB AKM40(1) Subcommittee on Advanced Models to Understand Behavior and Performance of Asphalt Mixtures. Dr. Teixeira is also a mother of two children, João and Maria, her greatest lifetime projects.
Graduate Research Assistants
PhD Student
Nitish Bastola is a PhD student. He is currently working on Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) funded research on understanding the low-temperature cracking performance of asphalt mixtures. He uses experimental methods, advanced characterization techniques, and numerical modeling approaches to understand low-temperature cracking phenomena in asphalt pavement. He has worked on numerous projects funded by the NDOT, encompassing high-RAP mixtures alongside recycling agents and antioxidants. He also has experience working on projects funded by TxDOT, the Transportation Consortium of the South-Central States, and the Department of Energy. Before starting graduate school in the United States, he worked in the construction industry for two years in his home country of Nepal.
Projects involved:
- Evaluation of Low-Temperature Cracking (LTC) Performance Testing Methods to Assess Nebraska Asphalt Mixtures, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
- Effect of Antioxidant Additives and Recycling Agents on Performance of Asphalt Binders and Mixtures Phase I, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
- Effect of Antioxidant Additives and Recycling Agents on Performance of Asphalt Binders and Mixtures Phase II, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
Phd Student
Civil Engineering researcher and Ph.D. candidate majoring in Geotechnical and Materials Engineering at UNL. He has his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and master’s degree in road and transportation engineering from FUM and IUST in Iran, his homeland country. Farzad’s research interest centers around the numerical and experimental characterization of aging in asphalt mixtures, and he has actively contributed to Nebraska Balanced Mix Design projects in collaboration with NDOT over the past two years. Beyond his academic life, Farzad enjoys cooking, playing volleyball, and spending quality time in nature.
Projects involved:
- Nebraska Balanced Mix Design Phase II, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
- Asphalt Binder Laboratory Short-Term Aging – Phase II, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
PhD Student
Civil Engineer passionate about making a difference in the world through environmental care. Graduated from the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES) in Brazil, with a technical degree in Port Management from the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo. She holds a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the UFES, focusing on life cycle assessment (LCA) of pavements and sustainability. She has experience in geotechnical and architectural project development, construction planning, and port planning. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Civil Engineering at UNL, working on a project focused on steel slag characterization. A dedicated professional, always striving to deliver her best in everything she does. She has a special passion for solving logic problems, learning new skills, and strategic planning.
Projects involved:
- Electric Arc Furnace Slag as a Paving Material – Phase I: Physical, Chemical, Morphological and Mineralogical Characterization and Environmental Analysis, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
Areas of interest: geotechnical engineering, environmental sustainability, soil stabilization, pavement materials, reuse of waste materials, by-products and steel slag.
Master's Student
Isabella Bueno is a master’s student and a Graduate Research assistant at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She obtained her bachelor’s degree at the Federal University of Espírito Santo-Brazil (2021). Her research focuses on the use of waste materials, especially waste plastics, in asphalt mixtures, including materials characterization (chemical, physical, and rheological characteristics) and mechanical laboratory experimentation. Isabella will be presenting her work “Enhancing Cracking, Rutting, and Moisture Damage Resistance Through Dry Method Addition of Polypropylene Waste Plastic” at the 2024 International Society of Asphalt Pavement Conference in Montreal, Canada in June.
Projects involved:
- The Utilization of Waste Plastic as a Polymer Modifier for Asphalt Binders, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
- The Use of Recycled Plastic in Asphalt Pavements: Feasibility Study, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
Master's Student
Amasi Hajahja is a second-year master’s student in Construction Engineering and Management at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Amasi earned her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology, where she gained a strong foundation in materials testing, structural analysis, and construction practices. During undergraduate studies, Amasi worked extensively in a materials laboratory, conducting various experimental tests on concrete, including strength testing, mix design optimization, and durability assessments. This experience sparked her interest in material innovation and sustainability, which has become the focus of her graduate research. Her current research at UNL involves integrating recycled plastics into concrete, with a focus on enhancing sustainability and promoting environmentally friendly construction practices. Through this work, she aims to contribute to advancing the circular economy and improving the long-term performance of construction materials.
Projects involved:
• Analyzing the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of plastic-modified concrete for feasibility in construction applications/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT.
• The feasibility of using the Recycled waste Plastic in concrete Pavements/ Nebraska Department of Transportation – NDOT.
Undergraduate Student Researchers
I am from Green Brook, New Jersey. I am a civil engineering major with a focus in structures but I am interested in seeing how all specializations intersect! In my free time I like to play guitar, workout and watch my favorite sports teams. I am a big Mets fan! In addition to being a part of the team with Dr. Texiera, I am in the NROTC program here at UNL. In December later this year I will be commissioned into the Navy and begin the process to become a Nuclear Submarine officer.
Project involved:
- The Use of Recycled Plastic in Asphalt Pavements: Feasibility Study, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
Kaylee Cunning is a senior Civil Engineering student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has been a member of this research lab for nearly two years. Originally from Colorado, her research focuses on sustainability in asphalt pavements, specifically investigating the incorporation of waste plastic into asphalt mixes to enhance performance and promote environmentally friendly solutions. She previously participated in the UCARE program, where she conducted hands-on experiments to analyze and optimize asphalt materials. In addition to her research, she is actively involved in the College of Engineering as a NEST tutor and Dean’s Leader, mentoring students and supporting future engineers. Outside of academics, Kaylee enjoys hiking, paddleboarding, playing volleyball, and reading.
Project involved:
- The Use of Recycled Plastic in Asphalt Pavements: Feasibility Study, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)/ Nebraska Department of Transportation - NDOT
Former Students
Currently a senior civil engineering student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Joseph was a member of the research group starting in the fall semester 2022 and ending in the spring semester of 2024. Wanting to start influencing the built environment around him to utilize more sustainable construction, he saw Dr. Teixeira’s bulletin looking for new undergraduate students to help with the research and development of recycled waste plastics in asphalt concrete mixtures and figured that there would be no better place to start his journey. After around a year and a half of enjoying his work with the research group he left to gain some experience as a traffic engineering intern over the summer, and throughout the fall semester, of 2024. He is now looking towards finishing his degree with a focus in structural engineering in the fall of 2025, where he further works towards achieving his goal of positively influencing the built environment to be constructed in a more sustainable manner. In his free-time Joseph loves to walk, hike, bike, hang out with friends, and dance at school (he is also pursuing a minor in dance). He was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, did not like his initial choice of university, transferred to UNL in the spring of 2022 intending to use it as a stop-gap school before transferring to another, but liked UNL too much to want to leave ever since!
Visiting Scholars
Larissa Virginia da Silva Ribas
Fall 2024
Larissa Ribas is a Brazilian civil engineer with a Master's degree in Environmental Technology and Water Resources. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Transportation/Transportation Infrastructure at the Federal University of Bahia in the Department of Transportation Engineering and Geodesy at the Polytechnic School, and a PhD candidate in Transportation Engineering at the Federal University of Ceará.
Larissa's research and interests focus on the design of sustainable pavements by applying new nanomaterial solutions for pavement functionalization, analyzing the impact of cool pavement strategies on urban areas, and mitigating urban heat island effects.
Research Collaboration: Innovative solutions to enhance the thermal performance of asphalt pavements by integrating thermochromic materials, aiming to reduce heat absorption and contribute to more sustainable urban environments.
Adalberto Leandro Faxina
Fall 2023
Works on topics related to the rheology of asphaltic materials and the rheological characterization of asphalt binders and mastics; mechanics of asphalt mixtures; and formulation of modified asphalt binders.
Research Collaboration: Applications of the nonlinear viscoelastic cohesive zone model for predicting fatigue cracking in asphalt mixtures.
Andrise Buchweitz Klug
Spring 2023
Andrise is a Ph.D. candidate at the Transportation Engineering from the University of São Paulo (EESC/USP), advised by Dr. Faxina. She graduated in Civil Engineering from the Federal University of Rio Grande (2011) and earned a Master's in Transportation Engineering from the University of São Paulo (2017). Primarily working on the following topics: fine aggregate matrix, reclaimed asphalt mixtures, fatigue performance, and viscoelastic continuous damage theory (VECD).
Research Collaboration: Application of the Viscoelastic continuum damage theory to study the fatigue performance of asphalt mixtures.