Nitish Bastola

NITISH R. BASTOLA

ACADEMIC DEGREES:

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 2023-Present Civil Engineering (Ph.D.), Specialization: Geotechnical and Materials Engineering

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, NE 2021-2023 Civil Engineering (MS), Specialization: Geotechnical and Materials Engineering

The University of Texas at Tyler, TX 2019-2020 Civil Engineering (MSCE), Specialization: Pavement Structures and Materials

Khwopa Engineering College, Bhaktapur, Nepal 2012- 2017 Bachelor’s in Engineering (BE Civil)

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

· Performance analysis of asphalt mixtures.

· Numerical modeling and simulation of pavement materials and structures.

· Use of sustainable materials as pavement materials.

· Pavement recycling and rejuvenation.

RESEARCH EXPERIENCES:

Affiliated to The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 01/2021- Present

· NDOT Project: Research on High-RAP Mixtures with Rejuvenators-Field Implementation.

· NDEE Project: Application of Recycling of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Asphaltic Materials.

· NCB Project: Using Corn Oil for Improving Performance of Asphalt Pavements - Phase III.

· NSB Project: Research on Soybean Oil as a Sustainable Recycling Agent - Phase III.

· NDOT Project: Effect of Antioxidant Additives and Recycling Agents on Performance of Asphalt Binders and Mixtures – Phase I.

· NDOT Project: Effect of Antioxidant Additives and Recycling Agents on Performance of Asphalt Binders and Mixtures – Phase II.

Affiliated to The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 04/2019 – 12/2020

· Tran-SET Project: Expanding the Concept of Comprehensive Area Ratio Parameter to the South-Central States Towards Simplifying the Structural Evaluation of Flexible Pavements at the Network Level.

· Department of Energy (DOE) Project: Laboratory Evaluation of Recycled Plastic and Binder in Flexible Pavement.

· TxDOT Project 0-7025: Develop Surface Aggregate Classification of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement.

· TxDOT and City of Tyler Project: Developing an Efficient and Safe Bicycle Lane System in the City of Tyler.

TEACHING EXPERIENCES:

Affiliated to The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 01/2021- Present

o CIVE 378: Materials of Construction

Affiliated to The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX 01/2019 – 12/2020

o CENG 5351/4351: Traffic Engineering: Operations and Control

o CENG 3351: Transportation Engineering

o CENG 3434.031: Civil Engineering Materials, Codes, and Specifications

o CENG 3336: Soil Mechanics and Foundation Design

o CMGT 3320 - Soils and Foundations in Construction

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

· Reviewer: Journal of Engineering, ASTM Journal of Testing and Evaluation, Transportation Research Board, and ASCE Conferences.

· Associate Committee Member: ASCE Highway Pavement Committee.

· Associate Committee Member: ASCE Artificial Intelligence in Transportation Committee.

· Member: Younger Members Subcommittee AKP00(3)-Transportation Research Board (TRB).

· Member: Nepalese Student Association (NSA).

· Member: Graduate Student Association (GSA), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, UNL.

· Mentor: 1 undergraduate student from the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program, Summer 2023.

· Volunteer: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering outreach event, UNL.

o MATC Sovereign Native Youth STEM Leadership Academy Summer, 2023.

o Bright Lights Activity, 2023.

o COE Recruitment/Outreach Events for Fall 2023 (ENGR 10 Open House – Lincoln).

o ACT Mentoring Visit, 2021.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

· Bastola, N.R., Olson, B., Teixeira, J.E.S.L, & Haghshenas, H.F. (2024). Effects of Simultaneous Use of Post-Industrial Polypropylene Waste Plastic and Soybean Oil Recycling Additive on the Performance of High-RAP Recycled Mixtures, Construction and Building Materials (Submitted).

· Bastola N.R., Khedmati, M., Yazdipanah, F., & Haghshenas, H.F. (2023). Investigating the Field Performance of High-RAP Mixtures with Bio-Based Recycling Agent, Transportation Research Record (TRR) (Submitted).

· Bastola, N. R., Vechione, M. M., Elshaer, M., & Souliman, M. I. (2022). Artificial neural network prediction model for in situ resilient modulus of subgrade soils for pavement design applications. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 7, 1-12.

· Isied, M. M., Souliman, M. I., Zeiada, W. A., & Bastola, N. R. (2021). Predictive artificial neural network laboratory fatigue endurance limit model for asphalt concrete pavements based on the volumetric properties and loading conditions. Transportation Research Record, 2675(8), 630-642.

SELECTED CONFERENCES AND PRESENTATIONS:

· Evaluation of Polypropylene Addition Methods to Enhance the Performance of High-RAP Recycled Mixtures Modified by Soybean Oil as Recycling Agent, Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting 2024.

· Investigating the Field Performance of High-RAP Mixtures with Bio-Based Recycling Agent, Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting 2024.

· Enhancing Engineering Education through Undergraduate Research Experiences: A Case Study on Waste Plastic in Sustainable Infrastructure, ASEE Midwest Section Annual Conference, 2023.

· Evaluating the Performance of High-RAP Mixtures with Crude Vegetable Oils and Antioxidant: Mechanical and Environmental Perspectives, Petersen Asphalt Research Conference, 2023.

HONORS & AWARDS:

· Nebraska Transportation Center Travel Fellowship for TRB 2024. 2023

· ASEE Midwest Section Annual Conference Best Poster Award. 2023

· Geo-Omaha 2023 Best Poster Award. 2023

· Nebraska Engineering Recruitment Fellowship. 2021

· The Outstanding Graduate Student (UT Tyler). 2020

· Ben & Margy White Endowed Presidential Scholarship. 2020

· Travel Award -Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting. 2020

· The New Graduate Fellowship- UT Tyler Graduate School. 2019

· The Bachelor Level Municipality Scholarship- Khwopa Engineering College. 2012-2017

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitish-r-bastola-m-s-eit-b77581137/