POTSDAM — Robert Thomas, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Clarkson is one of seven American Concrete Institute (ACI) professional members who will represent the organization during the Emerging Leaders Alliance (ELA) conference this November in Virginia.

The ELA is a partnership among engineering and science-based organizations that provides leadership training. For the past 10 years, the ELA has hosted an interdisciplinary leadership conference for young professionals, providing training in topics such as management, personal branding, social styles, problem-solving, presentation skills, and global diversity.

Thomas came to Clarkson in 2018. He earned his bachelor of science, master of science and Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from Clarkson.

Thomas concentrates his research in developing and characterizing alternative materials and technologies to improve sustainability and resilience in concrete construction. He is particularly interested in the sustainability of concrete, alternative binders for concrete, reclaimed aggregates for concrete, advanced engineered cementitious composites, high strain rate properties of cementitious composites (seismic, impact, blast), physical modeling of diffusion processes in cementitious composites, full-scale performance of reinforced concrete structures, and performance-based specifications for concrete.

He received the Outstanding Teaching Award for Graduate Students from Clarkson University for two consecutive years (2016 and 2015) and was named Student of the Year-Region 2 by the United States Department of Transportation in 2014.

He is a member of the American Concrete Institute, the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the American Society of Civil Engineers and Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honor Society.