Contacts
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Jessica Achebe
PhD Candidate
Adam C. Schneider
PhD Candidate
Research Interests
Mixed plastic/polymer modified asphalt mixes; sustainable and alternative pavement materials
Supervisors
Prof. Hassan Baaj and Prof. Pejoohan Tavassoti, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Biography
Adam is a Ph.D. Candidate with CPATT and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He began his program in Fall 2021. Adam also earned his M.A.Sc. at CPATT and UW from 2015 to 2017, under the supervision of Prof. Baaj, and his research work focused on sustainable alternative and recycled materials in unbound granular layers of pavement structures. Before joining CPATT, Adam graduated from Waterloo in 2011 with a B.A.Sc. in Geological Engineering.
Adam’s diverse professional experience includes positions with consulting engineering firms, pavement construction companies, and public-sector works and transportation agencies. He is registered as an Engineering Intern Trainee (EIT) with Professional Engineers Ontario, and is a member of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE).
Hanaa Khaleel Alwan Al-Bayati
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Haya Almutairi
PhD Candidate
Amani Saleh
PhD Student
Research Interests
Sustainable asphalt materials and pavement performance evaluated using performance-based testing and advanced imaging methods
Supervisors
Prof. Hassan Baaj, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Biography
Amani Saleh is a PhD student in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo, specializing in asphalt materials and sustainable pavement performance. Her PhD research focuses on developing high-performance fiber-reinforced asphalt mixes and evaluating their behaviour through performance testing and advanced imaging techniques. Amani earned both her BSc and MSc degrees from The American University in Cairo (’20, ’23). She has held several academic and leadership roles, including serving as a Teaching Assistant in construction materials and transportation engineering courses. Her interests include sustainable additives, balanced mix design, and advanced characterization techniques for improving long-term pavement durability.
Anahita Diyanoush
PhD Student
Research Interests
Asphalt binder modified with graphene-based additives
Supervisors
Prof. Hassan Baaj and Prof. Pejoohan Tavassoti, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Biography
Holding a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and a Master’s degree in Polymer Engineering from Amir Kabir University of Technology, Anahita received the Provost Doctoral Entrance Award (PDEA) for Women and is currently pursuing a PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Mike Aurilio
MASc Candidate
Roberto Aurilio
PhD Candidate
Hassan Baaj
P. Eng., Professor, Norman W. McLeod Chair, Director of the Centre for Pavement & Transportation Technology
Paula Barbi
PhD Candidate
Elaheh NasiriAmiri
PhD Student
Research Interests
- Asphalt binder and asphalt mixture modification
- Asphalt emulsions and emulsion-based technologies
- Hybrid polymer systems for enhanced pavement performance
- Incorporation of recycled and waste-derived materials in asphalt
- Mechanical performance evaluation of asphalt materials
- Chemical and thermal characterization of binders and mixtures
- Sustainable pavement materials and construction practices
Supervisor
Prof. Pejoohan Tavassoti
Mehran Kafi Farashah
PhD Candidate
Faraz Forghani
MASc Candidate
Hamid Farhad
Research Scholar
Research Interests
Pavement engineering and asphalt mixtures
Supervisors
Prof. Pejoohan Tavassoti, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Biography
Hamid Farhad is a Research Scholar in pavement engineering at the University of Waterloo, working with the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT). His work combines statistical and AI-based modeling with advanced material characterization to predict the dynamic modulus of asphalt, offering precise insights into mixture behavior under realistic traffic and environmental conditions. By integrating data-driven modeling with advanced materials characterization, he develops predictive frameworks that support the design of more durable, high-performance pavements. Hamid collaborates closely with academic and industry partners, contributing innovative tools that enhance design decisions and advance evidence-based practices in modern pavement engineering.
Abdulrahman Hamid
PhD Candidate
Hasti Shwan
P.Eng., PhD Candidate, MBET
Research Interests: Multisensory integration (LiDAR, thermal, UAV imaging) for infrastructure analysis; deep learning in drainage, runoff, and flood modeling; climate-resilient pavement and stormwater design
Vimy Henderson
Adjunct Professor
Ju Huyan
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Tamanna Kabir
PhD Candidate
Gerhard Kennepohl
Founding Principal, Ex Officio
Ningyuan Li
Adjunct Professor
Hui Liao
PhD Candidate
Michelle Liu
MASc Candidate
Yang Liu
PhD Candidate
Matea Ceric
MASc Candidate
Eskedil Abebaw Melese
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Melina Nazifi
MASc Student
Research Interests
Improving problematic pavement sub-grade soil using Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP)
Supervisors
Prof. Hassan Baaj, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Biography
Enthusiastic and academically accomplished, Melina Nazifi is a MASc student in Transportation Engineering at the University of Waterloo, supervised by Dr. Hassan Baaj and Dr. Kamelia Atefi Monfared.
Her research focuses on bio-mediated ground improvement, specifically microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP), and the performance of transportation infrastructure materials under varying environmental conditions.
She has maintained an 85% graduate average, reflecting strong technical proficiency. Melina completed her B.Sc. in Civil Engineering at Sharif University of Technology as the top-ranked student, receiving a formal plaque of distinction. She also conducted her undergraduate thesis on hydrological modeling and transboundary water resource systems. With over three terms of TA experience, she excels at communicating complex engineering concepts and fostering an inclusive learning environment.
Taher Baghaee Moghaddam
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Seyedata Nahidi
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Frank Ni
PhD Candidate
Grace Olaleye
PhD Candidate
Omar Elfarouk
PhD Student
Research Interests
Pavement Materials and Design
Supervisors
Prof. Hassan Baaj, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Biography
Omar is a PhD student at the Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. His work focuses on sustainable pavement materials and design, building on his Master of Applied Science at Alexandria University (2024), where he explored innovative asphalt technologies using alternative and waste materials. At CPATT, he continues to advance this interest through research on improving the use of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in Canada. Before joining CPATT, Omar gained several years of practical experience through involvement in major road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance projects in Egypt.
Peggie (Danrong) Wang
PhD Candidate
Milos Posavljak
PhD Candidate
Ali Qabur
PhD Candidate
Saeid Salehiashani
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Basel Shoueb
MASc Candidate
Abid Tabassum
PhD Candidate
Pejoohan Tavassoti
Assistant Professor, Jr. Norman W. McLeod Chair, Associate Director of the Centre for Pavement & Transportation Technology
Susan Tighe
P. Eng., Adjunct Professor, Fellow Canadian Academy of Engineering
Sina Varamini
Adjunct Professor
Amma Wakefield
PhD Candidate
Shenglin Wang
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Shunde Yin
P.Eng., Associate Professor
Taha Younes
PhD Candidate
Zahra Miri
PhD Candidate
Research Interests
3D Concrete Printing
Supervisors
Prof. Hassan Baaj and Prof. Marianna Polak, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Biography
Zahra (Leila) Miri is a Ph.D. candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Her research focuses on interlayer bonding in 3D-printed concrete through a combination of finite element modeling and laboratory testing. Leila has presented her work at international conferences including fib, CSCE, and ACI, and is a two-time recipient of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS). She earned her M.Sc. from the Iran University of Science and Technology and her B.Sc. from the University of Tehran. At Waterloo, she has served as a Teaching Assistant for structural engineering courses and as an Instructor for Structural Concrete Design.