Engineering Graduate Student Wins NSBE Award

Iselobhor Ikhine, McNeese State University graduate student in the College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics, will compete for national recognition after presenting his research and earning first place at the National Society of Black Engineers Fall Regional Conference.  

Ikhine, from Nigeria, is pursuing a master’s degree in civil engineering. As part of McNeese’s National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), he attended the Fall Regional Conference in New Orleans.  

There, he competed in the poster competition for master’s students and placed first.  

“I presented preliminary findings of my research on the effect of corn husk fiber on the performance of concrete. This was done in comparison with plain concrete and concrete reinforced with glass fiber,” Ikhine explained. 

McNeese engineering assistant professor Dr. Firouz Rosti supervised his research and two undergraduate students, Pavel Kraus and Brant Courville, assisted.  

After earning his master’s degree, Ikhine plans on pursuing a doctorate in civil engineering.  

“I plan to build a career in structural engineering focused on the use of sustainable materials for civil engineering infrastructures,” Ikhine said. 

Ikhine will compete at the NSBE National Conference in March.  

Become a McNeese Cowboy! Apply today!