After earning his Ph.D. in civil engineering, Mahmoud Shakouri did extensive research into the durability and impact of concrete and cement, including how to minimize the concrete industry’s carbon footprint. Now, he’s continuing his research at the Department of Construction Management as an assistant professor. Learn more about him in the Q&A below.

What brought you to the Department of Construction Management at CSU?

CSU has one of the most reputable CM programs in the country, and it’s been my career goal to join an R1 institute and work with such talented faculty and outstanding students at CSU.

What are your research interests, and how did you get interested in that topic?

My main field of research is concrete durability and corrosion. I got interested in this topic when I was doing my Ph.D. at Oregon State University, and since then, most of my effort has been focused on reducing the environmental impact of the concrete industry and increasing the service life of critical infrastructure systems.

What’s your teaching philosophy?

I like developing interactive lectures, where each topic is broken down into several easy-to-understand topics. In my lessons, I emphasize hands-on demonstration, using animations and interactive 3D models.

What’s your favorite thing about campus?

Its liveliness and seeing students’ involvement in different extra-curricular activities.