Shane Ferrell became the first graduate of the Rail Transportation Program (RTP) at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech). He received his BS in Civil Engineering from Michigan Tech in 2008 and was awarded a MS in Civil Engineering with the completion of his thesis “Maintaining Stability Beneath Cold Climate Transportation Infrastructure with Special Emphasis on Railroads” in August 2009.

While working on his master’s degree, Shane focused his research on cold climate railroads. Collaborating on a project sponsored by the Alaska Department of Transportation and the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Shane’s research involved gathering and analyzing data relevant to construction of cold climate railroads. Through his report, geotechnical issues and engineered solutions related to embankment stabilization above permafrost soils were investigated.

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