InTrans / May 11, 2026
PROSPER’s Hasheminezhad earns Iowa State’s Zaffarano Prize
Araz Hasheminezhad, Program for Sustainable Pavement Engineering and Research (PROSPER) postdoctoral research associate, earned Iowa State University’s (ISU’s) Zaffarano Prize.
The award, named for the university’s vice president for research from 1973 to 1988, is offered each spring semester to recognize graduate students’ “superior performance in publishable research” in terms of both quality and quantity.
Hasheminezhad, who received his doctorate in December 2025, contributed to 12 peer-reviewed journal articles and has published 10 more peer-reviewed conference papers and research reports during his tenure as a graduate student.
“The [Zaffarano Prize] committee commends the quality, originality, and impact of your research, including your contributions on innovative geosynthetics manufactured from recycled plastics for sustainable and resilient infrastructure, as well as your strong record of publishable scholarship,” wrote ISU’s Graduate College Interim Dean Heather Greenlee in an announcement letter.
PROSPER Director Halil Ceylan, Hasheminezhad’s major professor, highlighted the strength and consistency of Hasheminezhad’s scholarly output, stating that his record reflects how “his work addresses critical challenges in transportation geotechnics through innovative applications of recycled plastic-based geosynthetics, combining material innovation with full-scale field validation.”
Roy Sturgill, who is Civil Engineering’s director of graduate education, also cited Hasheminezhad’s innovative work on geosynthetics made from recycled plastics in a letter endorsing his nomination.
“His research integrates rigorous laboratory studies, large-scale field implementation, advanced instrumentation, and long-term performance monitoring, reflecting exceptional technical skill, creativity, and real-world applicability,” Sturgill wrote.
He added that Hasheminezhad’s publications embody “excellence, originality, and influence.”
Hasheminezhad was presented with the award at Iowa State’s annual Sigma Xi Initiation and Awards Banquet on May 7.
“Receiving the Zaffarano Prize from the ISU graduate college is truly humbling. It reflects not only my dedication to research but also the innovative and impactful work of our research group,” Hasheminezhad said.
He has also been previously recognized for his innovative research from the Graduate and Professional Student Senate and Federal Highway Administration.