UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Elham Rahimi, a graduate student in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, received the SME Ph.D. Fellowship grant from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME).
Rahimi said she felt a mixture of excitement and affirmation when she learned about receiving the fellowship.
"I never imagined I could win this award because it's very prestigious, but my husband always encouraged me and was so confident that I would get it," said Rahimi. "The moment I heard I was chosen, I was so thankful for him, and for the support from my advisers, Dr. Shimin Liu and Dr. Pedram Roghanchi, amazing faculty like Dr. Barbara Arnold, and, of course, Penn State, which has provided me with great opportunities and experiences."
Rahimi said she had always imagined a career in mining or academics. After interacting with crystals in a mineralogy class, she pursued an engineering degree to find potential resources of iron-apatite, copper and gold deposits in mining. It took several years of working in the mining industry for her passion for research, and the academic freedom to address the challenges in health and safety with new technologies, to mature. According to Rahimi, that passion for research goes hand-in-hand with teaching.
"I still feel thirsty to learn and do research in mining," said Rahimi. "Whenever I interact with a student, it is an opportunity to be surprised or learn more because they often suggest something you have never thought of. I've held many teaching assistantships and worked in many labs while completing my education in two different countries. I know being flexible, active and dynamic creates the best learning experience for students while also helping me quench my thirst to learn more."
Rahimi said her broad experience informed her belief that students will remember the professor who engaged their unique perspective best, and that the knowledge gained from compelling educational moments will be more impactful than a routine evaluation. At Penn State, she's embraced every opportunity to interact with students by participating in young leader committees within the SME student chapter, reviewing her peer’s work, and attending many seminars and research showcases within the professional mining communities.
"I believe mining is one of the most fascinating and dynamic majors that embraces new technologies and has such an enormous impact on the world,”said Rahimi. "I am so honored to be recognized and thankful for the support from Penn State and the great community in SME."
Rahimi earned her master's in geotechnical engineering from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 2020, and her master’s in mineral engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology in Tehran in 2015. She also earned a bachelor's in mining engineering from University of Kurdistan in Iran 2013. Her doctoral research is on methane-rich gas production from the co-bioconversion of coal and anaerobic digestion sludge.
SME is a professional society whose more than 15,000 engineers, geologists, metallurgists, educators, students and researchers serve the mining and minerals industry in more than 100 countries. The society seeks to advance the worldwide mining and underground construction community through information exchange and professional development.
SME offers these fellowship programs to address the long-term challenges that threaten the sustainability of U.S. mining and mineral processing/extractive metallurgy academic degree granting programs, as well as the looming future labor deficiencies associated with retirements over the next two decades.