Solomon Sesesie Ajasa, a Nigerian doctoral candidate in Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alabama, has been honored with the institution’s esteemed Graduate School Premier Award.
Recognized as the highest accolade for graduate students, the Premier Award celebrates excellence in research, teaching, and service—hallmarks of the University of Alabama’s mission.
Ajasa, a 28-year-old native of Badagry in Lagos State and a member of the Class of 2025, was commended for his remarkable contributions to the university community, reflecting its core values.
Speaking about his academic journey, Ajasa credited his mother for inspiring his belief in the transformative power of education—not just for individuals, but for entire communities.
Passionate about grooming future industry leaders, Ajasa emphasized that teaching remains the most fulfilling part of his career. His research focuses on advancing safety standards for homeowners, first responders, and vulnerable communities during disasters.
As President of the Graduate Student Association (GSA), Ajasa has championed initiatives to improve the quality of life for students, create professional development opportunities, and strengthen mental and physical health resources. His leadership also includes roles within the Graduate Ambassador Influencer Network, Tide Together mentorship program, and International Peer Advisory Council.
The award, presented during the Premier Awards Ceremony on March 31, 2025, recognized Ajasa’s outstanding leadership, academic achievements, and dedication to service at the University of Alabama and beyond.
Ajasa’s research is transforming construction safety engineering, particularly in preventing accidents in high-risk environments such as disaster recovery sites and hazardous weather conditions. His focus addresses OSHA’s “Fatal Four” construction hazards—Falls, Struck-By, Caught-In/Between, and Electrocutions—which account for a significant portion of workplace fatalities.
Incorporating technologies like machine learning and real-time data collection, Ajasa develops predictive models to mitigate risks before accidents occur. One of his notable studies, “Exploring the Impact of Weather Conditions on Construction Workers’ Safety: A Focus on Fall Accidents,” integrates OSHA data with weather information to propose adaptive safety measures. This research was presented at the 2024 International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering (i3CE).
Beyond construction sites, his work supports safer post-disaster reconstruction efforts, collaborating with UA SafeState and the Alabama Center for Insurance Information and Research to develop a safety framework for agencies like FEMA.
As an Instructor of Record, Ajasa teaches courses in Introduction to Construction Engineering and Safety Engineering & Management, blending theory with industry tools such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Microsoft Project. His student-centered approach has earned him high praise from learners, who highlight his dedication, clarity, and supportive teaching style.
Outside the classroom, Ajasa mentors undergraduate researchers at the Safety Automation and Visualization Environment (SAVE) Lab, helping students publish research, present at national conferences.
