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Rouzbeh Ghabchi, who has developed a research-quality road construction materials lab during his tenure at South Dakota State University, has been awarded an endowed professorship.

Ghabchi, who has been at SDSU since August 2016, was appointed as the John M. Hanson Endowed Associate Professor in Structural and Construction Engineering in November, continuing the legacy of the professorship previously held by Nadim Wehbe, who retired in June 2025.

The professorship will provide Ghabchi with resources to enhance the research infrastructure in the construction materials labs and support doctoral research students. Collectively, these efforts enhance the civil engineering program’s impact and contribute to the university’s aspiration to progress toward R1 designation.

SDSU has set a goal to become an R1 university by 2031. To attain the highest classification by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, a university's research expenditures must total over $50 million annually, and it also must confer 70 doctoral degrees annually (calculated using a three-year average).

SDSU meets the research expenditure threshold but falls short in the number of doctoral degrees awarded.

Currently, Ghabchi’s lab is staffed with five doctoral students. A sixth, being recruited with funds from the endowed professorship, is slated to start in the summer.

When Ghabaci started at SDSU, the construction materials lab could only do basic asphalt mix testing, primarily for use in teaching.

Since his arrival, Ghabchi has developed a research-grade lab to test asphalt mixes and established a new asphalt binder lab to test bituminous binders. “Now our program is a nationally recognized program,” Ghabchi said. But he adds, “This is a work in progress.”

Foresees a national center

His goal is that the construction materials research program would not just be nationally recognized, but also rank among the leading programs in the nation.

Long term, he can see SDSU becoming a national center for transportation research and construction, which is is closely tied to developing and sustaining a strong cadre of doctoral students and research scientists.

Guanghui Hua, head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, complimented Ghabchi on his work to upgrade the construction materials lab.

“He strategically used portions of his tenure-track startup funds along with multiple U.S. Department of Transportation-Mountain Plains Consortium research grants to acquire and upgrade critical laboratory equipment. In addition, Dr. Ghabchi pursued collaborations with industry partners and secured research grants and donations to further enhance the construction material lab. 

“He also worked with the SDSU Foundation to acquire donor funds that supported the development of a modern concrete curing room,” Hua said.

He added that the new equipment “enables state-of-the-art concrete material processing and testing as well as asphalt mix and binder testing. These upgrades have opened doors to new research opportunities. In addition, the enhanced facilities strengthen construction materials education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.”

Ghabchi’s initial focus: structural engineering

Ghabchi did his doctoral studies at the University of Oklahoma, graduating in 2014. He said it was during those studies that he developed his passion for construction materials research. He arrived at Oklahoma with a focus in structural engineering.

He followed his Ph.D. with two years of postdoctoral work at the University of Oklahoma, working as principal investigator and co-principal investigator on several research projects funded by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, Southern Plains Transportation Center and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

He said he took an interest in that field because transportation is so vital for economic growth and public safety.

Ghabchi said his structural background meshes well with material analysis and construction techniques. “What type of bridge deck materials? What type of asphalt? What type of concrete?” are all questions that researchers can give guidance to for engineers working in the field, he said.

Positioned for international recognition

Hua said, “Dr. Ghabchi has demonstrated excellent achievements in research, teaching and service. His commitment to advancing construction materials engineering has significantly strengthened the department’s research profile while enriching the educational experiences of our students.

“With the support of this endowment, Dr. Ghabchi is well positioned to broaden his research portfolio, secure large nationally competitive grants, and elevate the reputation of SDSU in this field to both national and international recognition.”

An example of the applied research that Ghabchi’s lab is working on is a study of bridge deck sealants undertaken on behalf of the South Dakota Department of Transportation. The lab is evaluating four types of epoxy sealants used on six bridges to determine sealant durability and bridge structure health.

Ineffective sealants can lead to concrete corrosion as well as reduced vehicle traction, he said. The lab has done three years of testing with another two years expected.