Iowa Local Technical Assistance Program

Program for Sustainable Pavement Engineering and Research (PROSPER) Director Halil Ceylan is the 2025 recipient of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA’s) S.S. Steinberg Award.

The prestigious national research award, named after ARTBA’s Research & Education Division’s founding president, recognizes “an individual who has made remarkable contributions to transportation education.”

Ceylan, who is also the Pitt-Des Moines, Inc. Endowed Professor in Iowa State University’s Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, earned the recognition in part due to his “most groundbreaking work” developing the first electrically conductive heated pavement site at the Des Moines airport as well as for being a prolific researcher and scholar.

“Receiving this recognition from one of the most respected and impactful organizations in the transportation sector is truly humbling. It reflects not only my dedication to research and education but also the innovative and impactful work carried out by our research group,” Ceylan said.

The award, announced in June, will officially be presented to Ceylan at the ARTBA Awards Luncheon at its National Convention later this fall.

“We are excited to honor you for your many contributions to further the transportation field in our nation and beyond,” read in part the letter from ARTBA Research & Education Division President Karen Philbrick and Managing Director Alison Premo Black congratulating Ceylan.

The press release announcing the award also notes that Ceylan is a “nationally and internationally recognized leader in transportation infrastructure engineering,” who has mentored over 70 graduate students and 17 postdoctoral researchers, and taught courses to more than 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

ARTBA, which was established in 1902 and based in Washington, DC, is the “consensus voice” of the United States transportation design and construction industry before Congress, federal agencies, the White House, news media, and the public.

For more details about the award and Ceylan’s contributions, see the ARTBA press release.