Hello everyone! My name is Woorood Alrawi and I am very excited to be joining the RUTA-HC lab at the UNM and to officially begin this new chapter in my life. I view this as more than just a next step in my academic path, but it is a journey that I believe will enrich me both professionally and personally. I look forward to learning from this community, collaborating with all of you, and contributing positively to the lab’s research and goals.

My academic journey has taken me through civil engineering. This path has been driven by a passion for understanding and improving the built environment. Also, I enjoy being in a constantly challenging environment where I must utilize creativity and analytical skills to solve complex real-world problems. I believe the work in civil engineering is intellectually stimulating and never dull, offering a perfect blend of logic and creativity. It involves an understanding of scientific and mathematical principles with a creative vision to develop innovative solutions, which is what I am mostly like.

During my graduate studies at the UNM, I became increasingly interested in transportation engineering. It’s a critical area that affects our daily lives and has a direct impact on public safety. With the rising rate of accidents and fatalities, I’m motivated to explore solutions that can reduce these outcomes, ideally to zero, to save lives. This has led me to develop an interest in studying more about safety criteria in transportation systems. I began to think deeply about two objectives: how we can design new roads with no conflict between commuters while promoting the concept of sharing the road, and how we can benefit from the new technologies to make our roads safer and more efficient.

Currently, my research focuses on integrating modern technologies into the transportation sector, which is part of what I was thinking about. Specifically, we are working on improving short-line railroads through developing affordable and practical tools that can help these overlooked systems improve their safety and extend infrastructure lifespan, which ultimately leads to building healthier, more resilient communities.

Beyond academics, I am someone who likes to be active and creative. I enjoy spending time with my family, going outside, and exploring nature. I believe in the importance of taking breaks to recharge and gain a fresh perspective. Drawing is my favorite hobby; it is a calming and expressive outlet for me. I also enjoy reading, cooking, and going for walks in the fresh air.