Statler College student selected for Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program

Brook Woldegabriel will be conducting researching that focuses on press-brake-formed tub girder bridges as part of the fellowship program. 

Brook Woldegabriel, a graduate research assistant for the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, has been selected for the Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program. 

Story by Brittany Furbee, Communications Specialist

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

The DDETFP awards fellowships to students pursuing degrees in transportation and related disciplines. The goal of the program is to attract the nation's brightest minds to the field of transportation, encourage future transportation professionals to seek advanced degrees and to retain top talent in the U.S. transportation industry. 

“I am honored to have received such a prestigious award in the transportation field,” Woldegabriel said. “The fellowship will provide me with opportunities to expand my knowledge and expertise in the field of bridge engineering.”  

Woldegabriel’s research is on bridge engineering with a focus on press-brake-formed tub girder bridges, a simplistic and affordable bridge model that was developed in part at West Virginia University. His research will assess the capacity of PBFTG bridges currently in use, monitor their long-term behavior and study how they behave under truck loads.  

His goal is to expand the use of PBFTG bridges through laboratory testing, field experimentations and analytical assessment. This can include static analysis to determine the internal forces and stresses within the bridges structure, as well as dynamic analysis to evaluate the response of the bridge to dynamic loads such as earthquakes and wind. The results of these analyses are used to verify that the bridge is safe and able to withstand the loads that it will be subjected to during its lifetime. 

“Press-brake-formed tub girders offer significant economic efficiency compared to other available systems and have now been employed in over 18 states,” explained Karl Barth, associate professor in the Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “Brook will be attending the 2023 Transportation Research Board meeting in January as a Dwight David Eisenhower Fellow where he will be making a presentation showcasing his work.” 

“I am grateful for the mentorship and support I received from Dr.Barth throughout my application process and research,” Woldegabriel said. “I look forward to applying the skills and knowledge I will gain from this fellowship to my future career.”  

DDETFP recipients receive funding for tuition, fees and a stipend. They also receive a budget for travel to attend the Transportation Research Board annual meeting and receive technical assistance and guidance on their research projects from the Federal Highway Administration.  

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