Celebrating Student Excellence at the CenTiRe Spring IAB Conference

We’re thrilled to congratulate the outstanding student award winners from the recent CenTiRe Spring Industry Advisory Board (IAB) Conference. Each year, this event highlights the innovation, technical skill, and communication abilities of the next generation of tire researchers—and this spring was no exception.

Three students were honored for their exceptional project presentations, evaluated across key criteria including:

Technical Content – The depth of technology developed and demonstrated during the project

Presentation – Clarity, structure, and delivery of the presentation

Response to Questions – Ability to address IAB questions and explain complex technical concepts

Please join us in congratulating the following award recipients:

Best New Project Presentation

Nadiira Hassan, University of Akron

“Bio-Derived Styrene from the Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin Oil”

Nadiira impressed the board with her work on sustainable materials, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach to chemical engineering and bio-based solutions.

Best Ongoing Project Presentation

Dhruvin Jasoliya, Virginia Tech

“Characterization and Modeling of Deformable Soils for Tire Performance Simulation”

Dhruvin's research offered meaningful advancements in simulation accuracy, with practical implications for terrain performance modeling.

Best Overall Project Presentation

Yogesh Surkutwar, Virginia Tech

“Characterization and Modeling of Different Snow Attributes for Tire Performance Simulation”

Yogesh delivered a standout presentation that combined technical rigor with clear communication, earning top marks across all evaluation categories.

These students exemplify the high standards and future-forward innovation that CenTiRe is proud to support. Thank you to all presenters, advisors, and industry partners who made this event a success!