REPS Center Celebrates Outstanding Student Recognition Mr. Petros Woldemariam Honored at 35th Annual UTC Awards

REPS Center Celebrates Outstanding Student Recognition

Mr. Petros Woldemariam Honored at 35th Annual UTC Awards

January 10, 2026 | Washington, DC

 

Howard University's REPS Center is proud to announce that Mr. Petros Woldemariam has been recognized at the 35th Annual Outstanding Student of the Year Awards, presented by the U.S. Department of Transportation's University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program and the Council of University Transportation Centers (CUTC).

The awards ceremony took place at the CUTC Annual Awards Banquet held at The Westin DC Downtown in Washington, DC. This prestigious recognition celebrates exceptional graduate students whose research advances transportation safety, efficiency, and innovation across the nation.

 

About Mr. Petros Woldemariam

Mr. Woldemariam is a Ph.D. candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park, conducting his research through the Research and Education for Promoting Safety (REPS) Center led by Howard University. His groundbreaking work focuses on integrating topological data analysis (TDA) and tensor decomposition to improve modeling of track geometry and ballast deterioration in railway systems.

As a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) with experience supporting infrastructure projects across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Mr. Woldemariam brings both academic excellence and practical expertise to his research. His work advances data-driven methods to enhance the safety and reliability of U.S. railway networks.

 

This recognition reflects the REPS Center's commitment to developing the next generation of transportation researchers and professionals who will shape the future of infrastructure safety and innovation in the United States.