Two University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering faculty, Nathan Huynh and Jamilla Teixeira, were invited to join leaders from academia, industry and government in the nation’s capital for The Science of Transportation, a national showcase highlighting ideas and innovations driving the future of America’s transportation infrastructure.
The Washington, D.C. event, organized by The Science Coalition on May 19, showcased how federally funded engineering research paves the way for safer roads and more durable highways and bridges. Huynh and Teixeira were among representatives from 10 Science Coalition member institutions - including Florida International University, Penn State, The Ohio State University and Washington State University - who presented work on university-led engineering research shaping transportation.
“It’s an important opportunity for us to showcase our work,” said Huynh, Keith W. Klaasmeyer Chair of Engineering and Technology and director of the Nebraska Transportation Center (NTC). “We wanted to highlight the innovative methods we’re incorporating into our research and the ways we’re working to improve transportation safety and efficiency.”
Research conducted by Huynh and his colleagues at NTC was featured through posters, transportation materials and samples, and videos highlighting a range of transportation research initiatives. Among the featured efforts were projects supporting the Federal Highway Administration’s Vision Zero initiative, which aims to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries, as well as research advancing the use of ultra-high-performance concrete in bridge preservation. Together, these efforts demonstrate how NTC engineers are improving transportation safety while developing infrastructure that performs better, lasts longer and requires fewer costly interventions over time.
Teixeira, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, presented research from her lab exploring how recycled plastics, reusable asphalt pavement and bio-oils derived from corn and soybeans can be incorporated into roadway materials without compromising long-term durability. In 2025, she piloted a project in South Sioux City, Nebraska where a first-of-its-kind roadway, a 4,000-foot stretch of Foundry Road, was paved using two million recycled plastic bags along with recycled asphalt, creating a real-world testbed for more durable and sustainable pavement design.
“This is a pilot project, but it is an excellent opportunity to partner with a rural Nebraska community and test how the mixture will perform under Nebraska’s extreme weather conditions,” said Teixeira, who is also investigating “smart” pavement systems that use thermochromic coatings to respond to temperature changes and reduce heat absorption in urban environments.
In addition to research presentations, The Science of Transportation event featured speakers from across the transportation sector, including Seval Oz, U.S. Department of Transportation assistant secretary for Research and Technology; U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Ryan Lindsey, executive vice president of Government Relations at CRH ; and Alexandra Skores, a transportation reporter for CNN.
