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Tarefder receives international award
October 15, 2014 - By Kim Delker
Rafi Tarefder, a professor of civil engineering, received the John Booker Excellence Medal, an international award presented by the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics (IACMAG).
He received the award in Kyoto, Japan, at the 14th IACMAG conference attended by more than 500 participants from 40 countries around the world.
This award is given in every three to four years to recognize individuals worldwide who have made significant contributions in research in geomechanics for nonlinear and time-dependent problems, including analytical and computational methods, constitutive modeling, consolidation, and contaminant transport.
Tarefder was selected for award for his significant contributions to the field of geomechanics through advancing mechanics-based design of infrastructures and developing integrated nanomolecular models of pavement materials leading to fundamental understanding and insight into engineering and physical phenomena.
Tarefder's research work in geo-pavement engineering problems, including design, materials, and sustainability has resulted in over 200 refereed publications. He has secured external funding more than $8.9 million as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator, and has participated in contracts totaling over $16 million at the University of New Mexico.
He is an associate director of two federally-funded transportation centers: Southern Plain Transportation Center (SPTC), and Safety and Operations of Large-Area Rural/Urban Intermodal Systems (SOLARIS).
Tarefder serves in several national and international committees. He is the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Advances in Civil and Environmental Engineering, the associate editor of the ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, lead editor of IACMAG Newsletter. He is a co-chair of New Mexico’s annual Paving and Transportation conference, and a registered professional engineer in the state of New Mexico and Idaho. In the past, Tarefder has received several awards for his scholarship, including the prestigious NSF CAREER award, the School of Engineering’s Junior Faculty Research Excellence award, the Stamm Endowed Lectureship, and the Regents' Lecturer award.