In 2005, alumnus Rafic Helou (BE ’10) began his studies as a sophomore in computer engineering at LAU because he enjoyed coding. However, a class on statics with Professor Camille Issa changed his perspective and sparked an interest in structures, which led him to transfer to civil engineering.

That shift was one of many that would shape Dr. Helou’s career, all the way to his recent honoring by the US government with the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).

After graduating from LAU, Dr. Helou earned a master’s in Structural Engineering from Syracuse University in New York, followed by a PhD from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). He is currently a research structural engineer at the US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).

In this interview, Dr. Helou spoke about the path to the PECASE nomination, his research focus and the guiding principles that helped him both academically and professionally.

How did the PECASE nomination come about?

One must be working on a federally funded research project to be eligible for the award. In 2022, my team leader and office director drafted a proposal for my nomination based on the impact of the research I was working on and mentoring interns and newcomers to the team.

Two years later, I received an email from the Office of the Secretary of Transportation asking for clearance to run a background check. I was later notified that I got the award and a few weeks later received the certificate.

What was the project that helped you earn the award?

My work focuses on concrete bridge engineering, and I started working with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in various roles after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2016. My PhD dissertation focused on Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC)—an emerging construction material that is stronger than conventional concrete with better durability and resistance to environmental attacks. However, it could not yet be used for building bridges in the US because it lacked the mandatory design guidelines.

The dissertation paved the way for me to start my journey at FHWA as a post-doctoral fellow where I focus on conducting the necessary research to facilitate broader implementation of UHPC into the US highway infrastructure. My work involved UHPC material testing to understand its unique behaviors compared to conventional concrete and developing new design models that integrate these enhanced properties in structural design. To validate these models, we built and tested full-scale bridge beams in the laboratory.

Right after the testing completed, the pandemic hit and the center closed, so I found myself at home with a wealth of data that had been produced during the previous four years. Within one and a half years of pandemic lockdown, I wrote and published four papers, and a FHWA report containing design recommendations and a bridge design example utilizing UHPC. The design recommendations were later adopted and published by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) in 2024, marking the first US-based bridge design guide release for this type of concrete.

I believe that the impactful research I conducted, contributed to, and managed played a significant role in receiving the PECASE award.

How did your LAU years build up to your success?

LAU has a big place in my heart. Professor Camille Issa took me on as a research assistant, and I benefitted from a combination of financial aid and scholarships during my undergraduate years.

In my final semester, I won both the Best Civil Engineering Achievement Award and the President’s Award. At the same time, my faculty at the department encouraged me to apply for graduate school through the Abdallah Yabroudi Grant at Syracuse University.  

I will always be grateful to my LAU mentors and professors, especially the Civil and Environmental Engineering faculty.

What advice would you offer to current LAU students and fresh graduates?

Be persistent and do not get discouraged by obstacles. I experienced both setbacks and successes throughout my journey. For example, when I applied for graduate school, I got nine rejections—perhaps not because of my credentials but because I was looking for fully funded scholarships. I only got one acceptance out of the 10 I had applied for, and that was all that mattered. All you need is one acceptance or one thing to work out—not necessarily everything you apply for.

Put yourself out there, keep at it, and accept the fact that you might not get the opportunity you hope for on the first try.

Finally, a mindset of doing the bare minimum just to finish class and get done with your degree will not get you very far. Focus on asking a lot of questions and let curiosity help you aim higher and drive your passion.

This interview has been edited and condensed for the sake of clarity.