Kristen Derewecki is a Master’s of Science candidate at the School of Engineering at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Kristen’s graduate thesis is on developing specifications to use the 4 mm Dynamics Shear Rheometer (DSR) parallel plates to performance grade asphalt binders. Additionally, she is attempting to relate the results of other existing binder tests to the results obtained using the 4 mm parallel plates.

Timon Stasko conducted an independent research project entitled “School Bus Emission Reduction in New York City.” His advisors were Dr. Oliver Gao of Cornell University and Mark Simon of NYCDOT. This project analyzed the cost effectiveness of Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOCs), Passive Diesel Particulate Filters (PDPFs) and Active Diesel Particulate Filters (ADPFs) in reducing vehicular emissions, as well as early vehicle retirement.

For his independent research topic, Michael Silas conducted research into the effectiveness of policies to shift freight deliveries to the off-peak hours of the day. The objective of his research was to gain a better understanding of how to increase the participation in off-peak deliveries through the use of behavioral simulation and economic incentives.

Daniel Disario, a UTRC Advanced Institute of Education (AITE) Scholar was awarded the 2nd annual US DOT Outstanding Student Award for Region II. He was presented this award during the Transportation Research Board’s Annual Meeting by the then Secretary of Transportation, Andrew Card, and by Center Director, Robert Paaswell. Disario is a recent graduate with a Master of Transportation Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

This year’s outstanding student from Region 2 was Meena Kuriakose, currently an AITE scholar at Polytechnic University. Ms. Kuriakose was born and raised in India. Her interest in science and math in high school led her to study civil engineering at the Government Engineering College in Trichur, India. After coming to the United States in 1989, Ms. Kuriakose received a diploma in computer programming from New York University. She started working at New York State Department of Transportation in 1990 and continued her studies in structural engineering at CCNY.

Jeffrey M. Casello is a second year candidate for the Master of Science degree transportation at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. After graduation, he began working full time at the New York State Department of Transportation. In 1994, he was selected for an Advanced Institute for Transportation Education Graduate Scholarship from the University Transportation Research Center. As a Civil engineer in the Design Services Bureau, Mr.

Ms. Beth Wilson-Jordan is completing her Master’s of Science Degree in Transportation Management at the State University of New York, Maritime College. She received her bachelors of Science Degree in Marine Transportation from the United State Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point where she also earned a U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate’s (unlimited Tonnage) License to navigate ships of any size on all oceans, and received commission as an officer in U.S. Navy Reserve.

Francisco Rodriguez Dosal is a candidate for the master of science degree in the transportation program at the University of Puerto Rico (UPRM). Mr. Rodriguez Dosal Received a bachelor degree in both surveying and topography in May 1992 and a bachelor of science in civil engineering in December 1994, from the University of Puerto Rico. He is an active member of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) nd the College of Engineers and Survey of Puerto Rico (CIAPR).