NIATT Graduate Students

We've invited our graduate students to talk a little about their research as it progresses. Visit often to get updates on their progress. If you like to have an email exchange with one of NIATT's grad students, email NIATT and we'll put you in touch with that person. You can ask them what NIATT's program like, more about their research, etc.

Howard Cooley

Howard Cooley Howard Cooley drives north from Clarkston, Washington, three days a week, and does his graduate work remotely the rest of the week. When he's not studying or collecting data, Howard enjoys fishing (see his shirt!) for fun and profit. He and his wife enjoy their cats and three dogs.

Howard's research blog>

Lei Wu

Lei Wu came to UI to begin her studies in 2004. Her first experience with NIATT, however, was as a participant in one of our Traffic Signal Summer Workshops. We're glad she decided to come here to work on a PhD!

Lei balances her graduate studies with motherhood! She and husband Hua Wang are the proud parents of Weitong, a charming, growing (too fast!) daughter.

Guillermo Madrigal

Guillermo started his graduate studies in fall 2006 after receiving his BS in civil engineering at UI in the spring. He has had plenty of experience with transporta Guillermo Madrigal tion engineering already, having spent two summers as an intern with the US Department of Transportation--one summer in Boston and one in New York. Guillermo ALWAYS has a smile!

Ask him about VISSIM!
Guillermo's research blog>

Cyril Oluwagbenga Ige

You can call him Benga! And although he comes from a city of over 15 million (Lagos, Nigeria), he say's Mosc Cyril Olhwagbenga ow's not too big a change since Obafemi Awolowo University was also in a small town.

Benga's only been at UI for four weeks, so we'll have to wait and see how he adjusts to the fall and winter here.

Benga will be working with Ahmed Abdel-Rahim, Paul Oman, and Brian Johnson on a NIATT project about the survivability and security of transportation networks.

Ahmad Abu Abdo

Ahmad comes to UI from Jordan whe Ahmad Abu Abdo re he attended the University of Jordan. After his graduation in 2000, he worked in Riyadh as a steel structure design engineer. Ahmad came to the UI in 2003 and received his MS in the summer of 2005. Now pursuing his PhD, he works with Dr. Fouad Bayomy predicting the performance of asphalt mixes for Idaho pavements. He enjoys traveling around the US on his few days off--in the picture above, he is visiting the Hells' Gate Canyon area of Idaho.

Rachel Chipman

Rachel moved her academic life across the border from Pullman, Washington, where she completed her BS at WSU, to begin her graduate studies at NIATT. Rachel is working with Dr. Ahmed Abdel-Rahim on a safety study for the American Trucking Association.

Chris Fischer

Chris left his well-paying position at Auto-Liv to take up the life of a graduate student working for Dr. Karl Rink studying failures in bridge-wire connectors that are used in seatbelts.

Dan Cordon

What would the Small Engine Lab be without Dan's presence? Dan does his own research (on . . . ), keeps the engine bay up and running, and still has time for a life of his own! Dan's wife, Jenine, works at UI in the Center for Teaching Innovative. As a long-time member of the IEWorks team (first as an undergrad, then a grad), Dan sets a high standard for those with whom he works. That's what made him the Student-of-the-Year in 2004.

Andrew Findlay

Andrew is in his second year of grad school is working on clean snowmobile development designing direct-injection, two-stroke engines. He's been involved with the Clean Snowmobile Challenge for five years! For the last two summers, Andy worked for Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) at their Evinrude facility in Waukegan, IL. He will work there full-time when he finishes his MS degree. When he's not in school, he enjoys motorcycling, snowmobiling and flying airplanes.

Bob Lounsbury

Bob works with Dr. Judi Steciak out of the Boise Center. He was busy last year setting up the catalytic flow reactor in the new energy lab.

Naresh Pachauri

Biodiesel your interest? Contact Naresh, who works in Biological and Agricultural Engineering with Brian He and Jon Van Gerpen. Naresh holds a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering from NIT, India and is presently working on continuous production of biodiesel using reactive distillation as a technique. He is trying to cut down the excess molar ratio of alcohol that is used in conventional process. He is proud to be in a work force which are known as "Pioneers in Biodiesel". According to him, Naresh Pachauri he worked really hard to get admitted to this dept as a Research Assistant. He enjoys every bit of time working and gossiping particularly with Joseph Thompson. He is particularly fascinated by the winter and people of Moscow.

Justin Johnson

Justin is a second year grad student and this is the start of his fourth year on the Clean Snowmobile team. He's involved with developing direct-injected (DI), two-strokes and his particular research will be on high speed, stratified operation of a DI two-stroke. He interned this past summer at Bombardier Recreational Products in Waukegan, Illinois, where he has a job waiting when he completes his M.S.

Sanjeev Giri

Ever heard of plug-and-play? Sanjeev could give you a lesson. He's one of the new breed of electrical engineers who are finding an interest in traffic controls.