Schanck named a University Transportation Center Outstanding Student of the Year

Bangor resident one of 34 nationwide recognized by U.S. DOT

ORONO, Maine — Andrew Schanck of Bangor, a Ph.D. student in civil engineering at the University of Maine, was recognized with an Outstanding Student of the Year award by the U.S. Department of Transportation for his exceptional research efforts with the Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center at the University of Maine, a U.S. DOT Region 1 UTC.

Schanck, a student researcher at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center, was one of 34 students nationwide recognized by the U.S. DOT.

Each year, outstanding students from UTCs nationwide are recognized for their achievements and promise for future contributions to the transportation field. The outstanding students are selected based on technical merit and research, academic performance, professionalism, and leadership.

He received the award at a Jan. 11 ceremony at the 29th Annual University Transportation Centers (UTC) Conference, sponsored by U.S. DOT and administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology.

Schanck earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering at UMaine. Throughout his academic career, he has taken on numerous roles on a variety of research projects at the UMaine Composites Center. Schanck is advised by Dr. Bill Davids, P.E., Department Chair and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

The most significant component of Schanck’s research is working on developing novel, nonlinear finite-element methods for assessing the capacity of existing reinforced concrete bridges. This topic is one that he presented in a poster session during the annual TIDC conference which earned him the UTC outstanding student award, and on which Schanck and Davids recently published the first journal article from his research. In addition, Schanck is working on the newly patented composite tub girder system, the CT Girder, designed and developed at the UMaine Composites Center.

Upon completion of his Ph.D. next year, Schanck plans to work as a consulting bridge engineer.

About the Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center

The Transportation Infrastructure Durability Center (TIDC) is the U.S. DOT Region 1 UTC located at the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center. TIDC’s focus is on extending the life and improving the durability of transportation assets. The University of Maine has partnered with the University of Connecticut, the University of Massachusetts Lowell, the University of Rhode Island, the University of Vermont, and Western New England University to create TIDC.