Posted Wednesday, 12/8/2021
Orono, ME – The Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center recognized 28 students during the 2021 Annual TIDC Student Recognition Night on Dec.1. The Annual Student Recognition Night recognizes the Student of the Year and Student Poster Contest winners. Each year, the U.S. Department of Transportation honors outstanding students from participating University Transportation Centers for their achievements and promise for future contributions to the transportation field. Students of the Year are selected based on their accomplishments in technical merit and research, academic performance, professionalism, and leadership.
The 2021 Student of the Year is Diarmuid Gregory of the University of Vermont. Diarmuid was selected based on his academic and professional merit. Diarmuid received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont and is on track to receive his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering in December 2021. Diarmuid has excelled in leadership. He is the recipient of the Tau Alpha Outwater Award, which recognizes his achievement in leadership within Engineering Honors at the University of Vermont.
In addition to the Student of the Year, the Annual TIDC Student Poster Contest recognizes excellence in student research. The winners of the 2021 Student Poster Contest are as follows: In first place is Danilo Botero-Lopez of the University of Maine with his poster on ‘Lateral Spreading and Basal Stability of Column Supported Embankments.’ In second place is Harsh Gandhi of the University of Massachusetts Lowell with his poster on ‘The Effect of Various Pile Head Displacement in Pile Design of IAB.’ In third place is William Hughes of the University of Connecticut with his poster on ‘Modeling Bridge Debris Accumulation Dimensions and Scour.’ In addition to the poster contest winners, 24 students were recognized by their advisors.
The TIDC is the 2018 U.S. DOT Region 1 University Transportation Center located at the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center. TIDC’s focus is on extending the life and improving the durability of transportation assets. The University of Maine has partnered with The University of Connecticut, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the University of Rhode Island, the University of Vermont, and Western New England University to create TIDC.
