Louisiana Tech College Civil Engineering doctoral student Debojit Sarker has attained 1 of only 20 fellowships awarded to students around the globe by the Geosynthetic Institute (GSI) for the 2020-21 academic calendar year.
The GSI initiated its fellowship program for fantastic students performing on innovative, study similar to the geosynthetic field in 2008 and has continued to honor scientists who build novel ways to geosynthetics.
Sarker earned the GSI fellowship to finish his doctoral analysis on “Moisture Influence on Geosynthetic-Strengthened Pavement over Expansive Soils,” in which he is operating on an engineering software to research the geosynthetic reinforcement for pavement on expansive soils.

The project is an growth of a novel, easy methodology to discover expansive soil-induced stresses on highway pavement that Sarker made with his advisor, Jay Wang, software chair of civil engineering and professor of civil engineering and development engineering technology at Louisiana Tech.
Just after efficiently producing a new thought of the digital load system, an adaptable mechanical system that can reasonable the uplift tension from the expansive soils subgrade and safeguard the pavement floor, Sarker added geosynthetics on the pavement to mitigate longitudinal cracks brought about by seasonal variation of moisture material in the subgrade layer.
This challenge will supply the very first uncomplicated analysis method offered in the civil engineering sector, foremost to a feasible and uncomplicated style strategy employing the examination of geosynthetic-strengthened pavement on expansive soils to employ in the pavement design and style marketplace. The software package will be implemented in some pavement patterns dealt with by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Enhancement.
Sarker has presented elements of the perform in numerous venues, which includes the 2018 Worldwide Foundations Congress and Products Expo, the 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers Geo-Congress, the 2020 Louisiana Transportation Convention and the Louisiana Tech University of Engineering and Science 3-Moment Thesis level of competition, which gained him a Peoples’ Alternative Award. Sarker has also acquired the Faculty of Engineering and Science Tullis Endowed Scholarship for the benefit of his study.
“Debojit is resourceful, strongly determined and self-disciplined. Also, he is a good team player, uncomplicated-going and incredibly cooperative,” Wang said. “His knowledge and determination display in his academic effectiveness and dissertation analysis.”
Sarker gained a Master of Science degree in Supplies and Infrastructure Methods Engineering with a focus in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technologies.
“I am honored to acquire the fellowship award by GSI and grateful to Dr. Wang for his direction as a supervisor and a mentor all through this undertaking and my journey as a graduate scholar.,” Sarker said.