Rising Stars: Przemyslaw Rakoczy, Transportation Technology Center Inc.

Przemyslaw Rakoczy, 34

Principal investigator
Transportation Technology Center Inc. (TTCI)

Job description: Serves as research project manager and lead researcher in crashworthiness, blast-worthiness and structural integrity of rail vehicles at TTCI. Also creates project schedules and budgets, and oversees test planning, execution and analysis.

Education: Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, University of Technology and Sciences in Bydgoszcz, Poland; Master of Science in civil engineering-structures from the same university; and Ph.D. in civil engineering-structures, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Career path: After earning a Ph.D. in 2011, Rakoczy accepted a job as manager of dynamic studies at TUV Rheinland-Rail Sciences Inc. Two years later, he began his current position at TTCI.

Nominator's quote: "[Rakoczy] has shown outstanding leadership and technical abilities in every project he takes on. He has been instrumental in researching emerging technologies that can improve blast vulnerability, tank-car puncture resistance, crash energy management and rail-car coupling impacts."— Kenneth Laine, TTCI

How did you end up in the rail industry? I would never have guessed that I would be working with trains. However, when I was told I would be crashing trains in the name of science and even getting paid for it, I had no second thoughts. There is something about railroading that when you are hooked, you don't want to leave.

What career accomplishment are you most proud of so far? I can't say what I am most proud of because it's difficult to decide what is more important: improving crash energy management systems that save lives, or enhancing tank-car puncture resistance that may prevent a disaster.

What do you hope to be doing or learning in five years? In five years I would like to be involved in the development of biomechanical crash specifications, which, in my opinion, is the ultimate goal and natural path forward in development of train crashworthiness.

Who or what has been the biggest inspiration to you in your career? The biggest inspiration for me is the safety culture of the rail industry. There might be a difference of opinions between railroads and regulatory agencies, but when it comes to safety, everyone is on board.