Ing. Simeon Stevenson Turay, a dedicated PhD candidate specializing in Highway and Transportation Engineering at the Regional Transport Research and Education Centre Kumasi (TRECK), has achieved a significant milestone by securing a prestigious six-month fellowship in India. Simeon is currently pursuing his studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana, proudly representing Sierra Leone in the realm of academia.
This remarkable journey began in 2019 when Simeon became the first Sierra Leonean student to be honored with the World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence (ACE) award. With this scholarship, he completed a master’s degree in Road and Transportation Engineering at TRECK, demonstrating his dedication to advancing his knowledge in the field.
Upon the successful completion of his two-year program, Simeon’s commitment to advanced research and academic excellence led him to pursue a terminal doctorate degree, further solidifying his passion for scholarly pursuits.
One year into his doctoral research, Simeon applied for the highly esteemed CV Raman fellowship program, an initiative facilitated by the Department of Science and Technology through the Government of India.
In the face of stiff competition from numerous applicants across Sub-Saharan Africa, Simeon’s exceptional research proposal and scholarly achievements stood out, earning him the coveted fellowship. This fellowship will provide him with a remarkable six-month research and networking opportunity at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras in Chennai, India.
During his tenure in India, Simeon will focus on an in-depth study of the organization and operations of the Public Transport sector in select Indian cities. He will actively participate in seminars, conferences, and dedicate focused efforts to advance his doctoral thesis.
Drawing from his extensive experience as a research assistant and lecturer II at the University of Sierra Leone, Simeon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his research interests. His areas of expertise encompass urban public transport planning, transport demand modeling, traffic engineering, statistical analysis, and geotechnical analysis and design of dams. Simeon’s contributions are poised to make a substantial impact not only on Sierra Leone but also on society at large through his dedicated research endeavors.
