Each year the U.S. Department of Transportation honors the most outstanding student from each participating University Transportation Center for his/her achievements and promise for future contributions to the transportation field. Students are selected based on their accomplishments in areas that include technical merit and research, academic performance, professionalism and leadership.
Rodney Collins was born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. He received his bachelor's degree at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in 2009, followed by his master's degree in 2011. Collins' thesis was titled "Stabilization of Marginal Soils using Geofibers and Nontraditional Additives." In fall 2012, Collins moved to the University of Oklahoma to work with Dr. Gerald Miller as a Ph.D. student. His doctoral work focuses on in-situ testing in unsaturated soils and his dissertation will involve establishing a methodology for interpreting Pressuremeter and Cone Penetration tests in unsaturated soil deposits.
Collins is in the second year of his doctoral studies and expects to complete his degree in spring 2016. He has published four technical papers, coauthored one reviewed conference paper, authored another conference paper that is in press and an additional paper is under review. In his spare time, Collins enjoys playing in an adult ice hockey league and spending time with his wife and two dogs.
Collins was selected for this award because of his decision to build his career in the transportation field, as well as his academic achievements, outstanding research, contributions to transportation improvement and a genuine interest in helping his peers.
