Skip to Content

A Smoother Drive: UMD Grad Student Helps Refine Pothole Fix

Jackie Drazan at NRRI

Years ago, at a summer youth camp experience, Jackie Drazan first developed an interest in rocks.

Today, having followed that passion for geology, Drazan is close to completing her master’s degree in earth and environmental sciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her time in the Swenson College of Science and Engineering has afforded her the opportunity not just to grow her knowledge, but also to apply it.

One highlight from this experience included taking on a real-world problem that Minnesotans face all too often, especially at this time of year: potholes. Drazan worked a summer job at UMD’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) helping Larry Zanko, a senior research fellow, further develop and demonstrate a road repair product he had previously invented.

The product, which found a new use for leftover taconite (a type of iron ore) that would otherwise go to waste, is the basis for a U of M startup company. Advanced Road Patch, launched in 2016 with the help of U of M Technology Commercialization’s Venture Center, is now working to bring the technology to market.

“I thought this was a great idea. It turns mining waste into something positive,” Drazan said. “And when I teach undergrad classes, I can talk about ideas for excess material, and get them thinking about the full life cycle.”

Drazan said she enjoyed conducting experiments to make the product better, finding more efficient ways to deploy it, and scouting out potholes for demo sites.

Story posted in NRRI Website

Kevin Coss

Kevin Coss

Kevin is a writer with the Office of the Vice President for Research.

coss@umn.edu

Latest Blog Posts

Sun setting over a prarie scene

After eight productive years, we are phasing out the Inquiry blog and launching a new monthly newsletter focused on news, information, and resources for our systemwide research community.

Read More
Dr. Friedemann-Sanchez and Dr. Grieve sitting at a table together.

In 2018, two University of Minnesota researchers traveled to a United Nations council meeting to advocate for changes to address an epidemic of violence against women in Colombia.

Read More
Senior man speaks with a health care provider while looking at a digital display

Researchers aim to help train pharmacists and educate patients with the goal of improving medication outcomes for groups with higher rates of kidney failure.

Read More
Sironix banner in a laboratory space

Sironix Renewables uses a patented method to make nontoxic, sustainably-sourced surfactants that replace their counterparts made from petroleum.

Read More

Announcements for the UMN Research Community