UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, published by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), recently selected civil engineering doctoral candidate Elnaz Kermani as an ASCE 2017 Outstanding Reviewer.
The journal covers the broad civil engineering research area known as geotechnical engineering. Papers are welcomed on topics such as foundations, retaining structures, soil dynamics, engineering behavior of soil and rock, site characterization, slope stability, dams, rock engineering, earthquake engineering, environmental geotechnics, geosynthetics, computer modeling, groundwater monitoring and restoration, and coastal and geotechnical ocean engineering.
Every scientific paper goes through a rigorous process of review for scientific accuracy, merit and significance by a selected number of experts in that field prior to getting accepted for publication. Of those who review submitted papers, the editorial board selects a number of top reviewers for this prestigious award based on the number of papers reviewed, dedication, correctness and overall review quality.
“The American Society of Civil Engineers is a well-known organizer of various scientific conferences, a source for design codes and standards, as well as a world-renowned publisher of high-ranking journals in the field of civil engineering,” Kermani said. “Being selected for this title is a great honor and privilege for me.”
Kermani joined the Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering as a reviewer in January 2016.
“As a graduate student, I have benefited from the variety of high-quality publications in this and other journals,” Kermani said. “At this point in my studies, I consider myself skilled in what I am doing, and I believe it is now my duty to pay tribute to the field. Reviewing papers provides a great opportunity for me to share my input and knowledge and to help improve others’ work prior to publication.”
Kermani’s doctoral research focuses on numerical modeling of granular material behavior under different flow conditions using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and Discrete Element Method as well as numerical simulations of flow of water through porous media.
She received her bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Tehran University in Iran, and her master’s degree in geotechnical engineering from Iran University of Science and Technology.
Kermani has successfully defended her doctoral dissertation and will officially graduate in May. Upon graduation, she hopes to find a position with a respected institution where she can apply her knowledge and expertise in design and develop various civil and geotechnical engineering projects.
Kermani has had other accolades while at Penn State, including a third-place award at the Penn State Graduate Exhibition (2016) and a best poster award in the College of Engineering Research Symposium (2016).
Her faculty adviser is Tong Qiu, associate professor of civil engineering.