Dr. Somayeh Nassiri is the director of the UC Pavement Research Center (UCPRC) and a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Davis. She is interested in pavement materials and structural design techniques to improve pavement sustainability. These strategies include using more sustainable materials and construction practices for long-lasting and durable pavements. Others include improving pavement structural design for new and rehabilitation projects and optimizing repair jobs in terms of materials, timing, and construction to extend the life cycle of pavements, among others. Dr. Nassiri teaches courses on the materials, design, repair, rehabilitation, and management of asphalt and concrete pavements.