Recyclable Materials

Texas A&M Transportation Institute
1111 RELLIS Parkway
Room 3136
Bryan, TX 77807
(979) 317-2299
[email protected]

Edith Arámbula-Mercado is a Research Engineer at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI), where she manages the Recyclable Pavement Materials Program and serves as Deputy Director of the Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR).

She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Monterrey Tech (Mexico). She is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Texas, with registration granted in 2011. With nearly 20 years of experience in pavement materials research, she focuses on practical solutions that enhance the performance, sustainability, and longevity of asphalt pavements.

Her research emphasizes the use of recycled materials in asphalt mixtures, pavement resistance to environmental and load-induced distress, and the design and rehabilitation of open-graded (permeable) friction course (OGFC/PFC) mixtures. She recently led a multi-year study to refine laboratory mix design procedures for full-depth reclamation (FDR) using foamed and emulsified asphalt binders, resulting in updated guidelines adopted in TxDOT’s 2024 Standard Specifications. She currently contributes to the implementation of Balanced Mix Design (BMD) in Texas, supporting performance testing, field validation, and specification development.

In 2021, Dr. Arámbula-Mercado received the K.B. Woods Award from the Transportation Research Board (TRB) for co-authoring an outstanding technical paper that advanced understanding of recycled binder use in asphalt mixtures. That same year she also received TTI’s Researcher Award for her versatility, innovation, and mentorship and was recognized as a prolific researcher, celebrated role model, and key contributor to the Institute’s efforts in sustainable pavement technologies.