Jose Gustavo Ramos’ studies have led him far from his home in Brazil, but he plans to return to Brazil after completing his doctorate to apply his knowledge and research through teaching. He studied civil engineering in Brazil, specializing in transportation engineering, and received both his undergraduate and masters degree from the Federal University of Technology in Parana, Brazil. Ramos expects to graduate with his PhD in 2027, after which he will return to teaching in Brazil.
Before coming to the University of Illinois, Ramos taught at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Goiás (IFG), where currently he has been given leave in order to obtain his PhD. At the IFG, he worked with undergraduate students pursuing engineering degrees and gave lectures on transportation engineering, teaching courses focused on railroads. Since starting his masters, he explains, he has decided that he wanted to teach and research. Ramos’ research at the University of Illinois is on rail creep, or the longitudinal movement of rails on railway tracks. He investigates the mechanics and driving factors behind why it occurs. Rail creep can lead to maintenance and safety issues, and Ramos studies how it works and how to prevent problems from occurring.
Ramos’ describes his PhD cohort as very tight-knit, and he values the community he has built during his time here. He speaks highly of the advisors and professors’ support in his research, especially Assistant Professor J. Riley Edwards. “I believe the way he leads the group is really great. He, Marcus (Senior Research Engineer Marcus Dersch), and Arthur (Senior Research Engineer Arthur Lima) are always trying to better understand our research and how to connect with others’ research. I think it’s really a family.” In fact, Ramos’ twin brother, Augusto, is a recent graduate of RailTEC, and part of what led Gustavo to the University of Illinois.
RailTEC has also provided Ramos with opportunities to travel to attend numerous research conferences within the railway industry. “I think I’ve been to more states in the United States than in Brazil,” he laughs. Going to conferences, he says, allows RailTEC students to “see where research currently is, to talk with other people, make these networks, and exchange experiences.” In November, Ramos will present his research on rail creep at the International Heavy Haul Association Conference.
While pursuing his master’s degree, Ramos worked at an environmental state agency working with environmental permits of hydroelectrics. “It was nice,” he says, “but I really like the teaching and research part more.” Ramos hopes to become a professor to students in his field, and “to reproduce a little of what they do here, back in Brazil.”