Dr. Ahmadreza Hedayat is the recipient of the 2014 Dr. N.G.W. Cook Ph.D. Dissertation Award. The award is given annually by the American Rock Mechanics Association for the best doctoral dissertation in rock mechanics or rock engineering.

The criteria for the selection consists of: 1) Advancement of State-of-the-Art (35%) - Extent and quality of new work; difficulty of problems and extent to which a solution is reached. 2) Appreciation of State-of-the-Art (20%) - Quality of literature review and bibliography; awareness of pertinent previous research; ability to convey concisely the state-of-the- art, and insight, etc. 3) Practical Application and Usefulness (35%) - Benefit to humankind in short and medium term, particularly in applied rock engineering, e.g. civil, mining and petroleum engineering; avoidance of natural hazards, economies and improved safety in construction, etc. 4) Quality of Presentation (10%) - Format, use of headings, style, clarity, clarity of introduction and conclusions, etc.

Dr. Hedayat received his Ph.D. in Geotechnical Engineering, from Purdue U., in 2013, for his thesis “Mechanical and Geophysical Characterization of Damage in Rocks.” Professors Bobet, CE, (chair) and Pyrak-Nolte, Physics with courtesy appointments in CE and EAPS, (co-chair) were the thesis advisors.

Dr. Hedayat will receive the award at the 48^th  U.S. Rock Mechanics and Geomechanics Symposium, 1-4 June 2014, in Minneapolis.