TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Shashi Nambisan, a civil engineer and leading expert in transportation and infrastructure systems, has been selected to lead transportation research efforts at The University of Alabama.
Nambisan brings more than 27 years of experience, including roughly two decades leading the development and growth of research enterprises at several higher education institutions, to his new role at UA. He has led more than 165 projects on a broad range of multidisciplinary topics related to data-enabled decision support for transportation and infrastructure systems management, safety, and education and workforce development.
In the UA College of Engineering Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Nambisan will work closely with a nationally recognized team of research and development professionals seeking innovative solutions to the challenges of building and maintaining a transportation system that protects lives, creates economic growth and saves time and energy resources.
“Dr. Nambisan brings a wealth of experience in subjects critical to our state and nation that will help our students in the areas of transportation and infrastructure learn from one of the brightest minds in the field,” said Dr. Charles L. Karr, dean of the UA College of Engineering.
“We are thrilled he is joining efforts across campus to make the University and the state of Alabama a leader in developing creative solutions to some of our greatest challenges.”
He comes to UA from the University of Tennessee, where he has been a professor of civil engineering and education director for the Southeastern Transportation Center since May 2014. Prior to UT, he was professor and director of the Institute for Transportation at Iowa State University. From 1989 to 2007 Nambisan worked at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he rose through the ranks to become a full professor of Civil Engineering, and was the assistant director and director of the Transportation Research Center from 1993 to 1998 and 1998 to 2007, respectively.
Nambisan has authored or co-authored more than 135 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications. His efforts have been sponsored by more than a dozen national, state and local government agencies. His students and advisees have received numerous scholarships and awards at local, regional and national levels.
Active in leadership roles of several professional societies and organizations, he was president of the Council of University Transportation Centers from 2014-2015. Nambisan has also held leadership roles within the Transportation Research Board, a unit of the National Academies, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education and the Institute of Transportation Engineers.
Among the awards and honors he has received is a proclamation by the governor of Nevada designating Jan. 31, 2007, as “Professor Shashi Nambisan Day” in recognition of his leadership role in and contributions to enhancing transportation safety.
Nambisan earned a bachelor of technology degree in civil engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, in 1984; a master’s in civil engineering from Virginia Tech in 1985; and a doctorate in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1989. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer in Nevada.
Contact
Adam Jones, engineering public relations, 205/348-6444, acjones12@eng.ua.edu