Education

• PhD, Civil Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1987 
• MS, Civil Engineering, Iowa State University, 1981 
• BS, Civil Engineering, South Dakota State University, 1978 

Professional Experience

• Professor of Civil Engineering, Iowa State University (ISU), January 2003 to present. 
• Geotechnical Engineering Specialist, Office of Infrastructure, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C., July 2013 through June 2014. 
• Focus Group Leader, Geotechnical & Materials Engineering, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department, ISU, August 2012 to present.
• James M. Hoover Chair of Geotechnical Engineering, ISU, August 2004 to May 2009.
• Associate Director for Research, Center for Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Technology, ISU, November 2004 to November 2006.
• Division Leader, Geotechnical & Materials Engineering, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department, ISU, May 2003 to May 2006.
• Visiting Scientist, EROS Data Center, Sioux Falls, South Dakota September 2000 to August 2003.
• Hydrologist (Faculty Appointment), U.S. Geological Survey, South Dakota District, October 1991 to October 1995 and September 1996 to July 2003.
• Head, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, South Dakota State University (SDSU), July 2000 to December 2002.
• Acting Head, Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, SDSU, July 1999 to June 2000.
• Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, SDSU, July 1996 to December 2002.
• Director, Northern Great Plains Water Resources Research Center, SDSU, August 1994 to December 2002.
• Associate Professor of Civil Engineering, SDSU, July 1991 to June 1996.
• Acting Director, Northern Great Plains Water Resources Research Center, SDSU, August 1990 to July 1994.
• Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, SDSU, August 1988 to June 1991.
• Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, University of New Mexico, January 1987 to July 1988.
• Geotechnical Engineer, Hoskins-Western-Sonderegger, Inc., December 1980 to August 1983. 

Selected Research

• A Pilot Study to Investigate the Use of Aggregate Screenings in Roadway Construction 
• Synthesis of Non-destructive Testing Technologies for Geomaterial Applications  
• Improving PCC Mix Consistency & Production by Mixing Improvements  
• Utility Cut Repair Techniques—Investigations of Improved Utility Cut Repair Techniques to Reduce Settlement in Repaired Areas, IHRB 03-11
• Determination and Evaluation of Alternative Methods for Managing and Controlling Highway-related Dust, Phase II Proposal for Demonstration Project
• Optimization and Management of Materials in Earthwork Construction
• Embankment Quality Phase IV (Scope Change): Measurements of Seasonal Changes and Spatial Variation in Pavement Subgrade Properties—A Link to Pavement Performance.
• Field Evaluation of Compaction Monitoring Technology–Phase II
• Iowa’s Pervious Concrete Pavement Water Quality Project–Phase I
• Design Guide for Improved Quality of Roadway Subgrades and Subbases  

Selected Publications

• Tong, B. and Schaefer, V. R. (accepted for publication). “Optimization of Vibro-compaction Design for Liquefaction Mitigation of Gravity Caisson Quay Walls.” Submitted to the International Journal of Geomechanics.   
• Douglas, S. C. and Schaefer, V. R. 2012. “Reliability of the Priebe Method for Estimating Settlements for Stone Columns.” Proc., Institution of Civil Engineers, Ground Improvement, DOI: 10.1680/grim.12.00012.
• Douglas, S. C., Schaefer, V. R., and Berg, R. R. 2012. “Selection Assistance for the Evaluation of Geoconstruction Technologies for Transportation Applications.” Geotechnical and Geological Engineering Journal, Springer, 30(5):.1231-1247.
• Haselbach, L., Boyer, M., Kevern, K. T., and Schaefer, V. R. 2011. “Cyclic Heat Island Impacts in Traditional Versus Pervious Concrete Pavement Systems.” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Concrete Materials 2011, pp. 107-115.
• Rupnow, T. D., Wang, K., Schaefer, V. R., and Tikalsky, P. J. 2011. “A Simple Method for Characterizing and Predicting Temperature Behavior of Ternary Cementitious Systems.” Journal of Construction and Building Materials, 25(5):  2290-2297.
• Schaefer, V. R., Kevern, J. T., Izevbekhai, B., Wang, K., Cutler, H. E., and Wiegand, P. 2010.  “Construction and Performance of the Pervious Concrete Overlay at MnROAD.” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Concrete Materials 2010, No. 2164, pp. 82-88.
• Rupnow, T. D., Schaefer, V. R., and White, D. J. 2010. “Investigation of the Use of Limestone Screenings in Roadway Construction.”  Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Geomaterials 2010, No. 2167, pp. 53-60.
• Cutler, H. E., Wang, K., Schaefer, V. R., and Kevern, J. T. 2010. “Resistance of Portland Cement Pervious Concrete to Deicing Chemicals.” Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, Concrete Materials 2010, No. 2164, pp. 98-104.
• Kevern, J. T., Schaefer, V. R., and Wang, K. 2009. “The Effect of Curing Regime on Pervious Concrete Abrasion Resistance,” ASTM Journal of Testing and Evaluation, 37(4).  

Professional Affiliations, Honors, and Service

• Chi Epsilon, Civil Engineering Honorary, 1977
• Tau Beta Pi, Engineering Honorary, 1978
• Phi Kappa Phi, University Honorary, 1979
• Outstanding Young Civil Engineer for 1991, ASCE–South Dakota Eastern Branch
• Researcher of the Year, 1998, College of Engineering, South Dakota State University
• Named “Friend of ASCE” by South Dakota State University ASCE Student Chapter, 2002.
• Silver Medal for innovative excellence in manufacturing at INPEX 2004, Pittsburg, PA, Hydropave Testing Device, in collaboration with Professor Ratnasamy Muniandy, Universti Putra Malaysia.
• Joseph C. and Elizabeth Anderlik Undergraduate Teaching Award, Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, Iowa State University, May 2013.