Alethea Muno, Â鶹TVÍřŐľ Petrographer, was recently named a recipient of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Emerging Professional Award. The honor recognizes early‑career professionals who demonstrate technical excellence, professional engagement and leadership potential within the materials community. We caught up with Alethea to talk about her path into petrography, what excites her about the work and why this recognition feels so meaningful at this stage of her career.

For Alethea Muno, a career in petrography didn’t follow a traditional path — it began with curiosity and an unexpected connection.

As an undergraduate geology student at the University of Iowa, Alethea was often told her career options were limited to environmental consulting, groundwater remediation or oil and gas. Then a new possibility appeared. Jaclyn Ferraro, a University of Iowa alumna working in concrete petrography, reached out to the department looking for students interested in the field.

The opportunity immediately stood out. Petrography felt more technical, more investigative and better aligned with the kind of impact Alethea hoped to make. Although the role was already filled — and a master’s degree would likely be required — the idea stayed with her and reshaped how she viewed her future.

Rather than feeling limited by traditional expectations, she leaned into that curiosity. She began exploring petrography more seriously, drawn to its hands-on, problem-solving nature. Although graduate school hadn’t been part of her original plan, pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Iowa during the COVID era became a turning point. She entered the program with one goal: gain the knowledge and experience needed to build a career in petrography.

During graduate school, Alethea gravitated toward geotechnical coursework and developed a deeper appreciation for the applied side of geology. As graduation approached, she prepared to begin her career wherever it might lead — unsure when, or if, petrography would become a reality.

Then, not long after graduating, an unfamiliar number appeared on her phone. Normally, she wouldn’t answer. This time, she did.

It was Jaclyn, calling with an offer in concrete petrography — the opportunity Alethea has been working toward for years had finally arrived.

Today, materials science gives her exactly what she was searching for. Through petrography, Alethea examines materials at the microscopic level — helping explain how concrete behaves, informing decisions tied to durability and performance and contributing to infrastructure that serves communities over the long term.

“My whole life I wanted a career where I felt like I was having a real impact,” she says. “Working in material sciences has given me that — and so much more.”

That impact was recently recognized when Alethea was named a recipient of the ASTM Emerging Professional Award, which honors professionals demonstrating technical excellence, professional engagement and leadership potential within the standards and materials community. Recipients are selected by their peers and invited to take a more active role in ASTM’s standards development — helping shape best practices while continuing to grow as future leaders in the field.

For Alethea, the recognition represents both validation and motivation.

“It’s meaningful to have my work recognized so early in my career,” she says. “It affirms that I’m on the right path and encourages me to keep learning and expanding my expertise.”

Alethea will attend the ASTM June Meeting in Dallas to formally accept the award — an opportunity to connect with peers and continue contributing to the standards community.

Alethea first got involved with ASTM shortly after starting her career in April 2022, having encountered ASTM standards during academic research. She attended her first ASTM conference that same year and sees the organization as a long-term professional home — one where she can stay engaged while contributing to the future of the industry.

Mentorship and hands-on learning have played a meaningful role in her development.

She points to the value of working alongside experienced petrographers who reinforced the importance of curiosity, attention to detail and asking the right questions.

One mentor, in particular, continues to stand out. Jaclyn Ferraro, a senior petrographer at Â鶹TVÍřŐľ, encouraged Alethea to look beyond narrow definitions of petrography and pursue material science questions that genuinely interested her. That perspective has helped her approach projects with a broader, more multidisciplinary mindset.

Outside of work, Alethea values balance — something she sees as essential in a detail-driven profession. She recharges outdoors through biking, hiking and camping, and she has had a long-standing interest in American Sign Language (ASL). She hopes to one day become a certified ASL interpreter. When she’s not working with materials, she enjoys another creative outlet: cooking — a path she once considered pursuing professionally.

Looking ahead, Alethea is excited about the future of materials science and the role new technologies can play. Her graduate research explored new applications of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to analyze the elemental composition of geologic sediments. She remains interested in how evolving technologies like XRF can expand understanding of materials and support new approaches across the field.

Her biggest ambition, however, is education. Alethea hopes to teach petrography at the university or trade-school level, helping bring awareness of a career path many geology students never encounter.

“There aren’t many petrographers,” she notes — not because of a lack of interest, but because most students simply don’t know the field exists. By bringing petrography into the classroom, she hopes to help others discover the same sense of direction that once changed everything for her.

At Â鶹TVÍřŐľ, technical excellence extends beyond project delivery — it includes advancing the standards, practices and people that shape the construction industry. Jaclyn Ferraro, Senior Concrete Petrographer and Team Manager, and Jay Dorst, National Practice Manager – Forensics and Structural Investigations, highlight their work at Â鶹TVÍřŐľ, the complex infrastructure projects they support and their leadership within professional organizations such as the American Concrete Institute, ASTM International and various certification programs.

Together, Jaclyn and Jay embody Â鶹TVÍřվ’ commitment to technical rigor, collaboration and industry leadership — advancing not only projects, but the standards and practices that shape the built environment.

Both of you work in highly technical disciplines. How would you describe your focus at Â鶹TVÍřŐľ?

Jaclyn Ferraro: My role centers on petrography — understanding construction materials at a microscopic level to answer real, practical questions. At Â鶹TVÍřŐľ, I manage our petrographic laboratory services while also working nationally on forensic investigations, aggregate evaluations and condition assessments of concrete and construction materials. Whether we’re investigating issues that present themselves during construction, damage that develops over time such as chemical reactions within the concrete, or singular events such as fire damage, the objective is always the same: to provide clear information so clients can make informed decisions about their structures and materials.

Jay Dorst: My focus is broader but complementary to Jaclyn’s work. I support structural and metallurgical engineering, welding, corrosion and specialty testing — often on large, complex infrastructure and building projects. At Â鶹TVÍřŐľ, I lead teams involved in quality assurance programs, forensic investigations, source inspections and structural testing. A core part of my role is translating highly technical findings into actionable guidance so owners, agencies and contractors can address challenges while keeping projects moving forward safely.

Much of Â鶹TVÍřվ’ work involves quality assurance and independent oversight on complex infrastructure projects across the country. Are there any projects you’ve worked on that you find particularly rewarding as a professional in this industry?

Jay Dorst:
One effort that stands out involved providing independent quality assurance and oversight on a large, statewide transportation program. I led teams evaluating weld quality, prestressed concrete girder performance and fabrication conditions across multiple structures. The level of rigor required on projects like this is exceptionally high, as the work supports safety, long-term durability and confidence in major infrastructure investments.

Another impactful example was a high-rise building investigation, where our team performed independent forensic evaluations and laboratory testing to understand contributing factors related to structural performance concerns identified during construction. Projects like these highlight the importance of objective, technical oversight — particularly on fast-paced, complex projects where coordination, accountability and performance expectations are high.

Jaclyn Ferraro: Forensic concrete investigations are always impactful because they help explain what’s happening within the material and why certain behaviors or conditions develop. My work frequently involves evaluating deterioration related to freeze-thaw exposure, chemical attack, strength deficiencies or aggregate reactivity. I also support aggregate qualification and air-void system analyses for airfield paving and heavy-duty pavements.

Professional organizations and certifications play a major role in your work. Why is this involvement so important?

Jaclyn Ferraro: Professional organizations are essential to advancing quality, consistency and technical excellence in the concrete industry. I’ve been an active member of the American Concrete Institute Illinois Chapter (ACI-IL) for more than 10 years and have served on its Board of Directors since 2021. I stepped into executive leadership roles beginning in 2024 and currently serve as Chapter President.

ACI plays a vital role in developing technical resources, best practices and certification programs that influence how concrete is designed, produced, tested and evaluated. At the chapter level, we focus on providing education, professional networking and certification support for practitioners across the state, while remaining closely aligned with national and international standards.

This year’s ACI Convention in Rosemont, Illinois, was especially meaningful. Â鶹TVÍřŐľ was a sponsor and ACI-IL was the host and sponsoring chapter. I had the opportunity to co-chair the convention and to welcome attendees during the Opening Session.

Beyond ACI, I’m deeply involved with ASTM International (the American Society for Testing and Materials). ASTM develops industry-standard specifications and test methods used to evaluate the strength, durability and performance of cement and aggregate materials. These standards provide consistency across laboratories, job sites and investigations, and are foundational to quality and repeatability in construction projects. I’m also active with the Society of Concrete Petrographers (SCP), which supports collaboration, peer learning and mentoring within this highly specialized discipline.

Supporting the next generation is one of the most rewarding aspects of this work. I’m especially proud that my Â鶹TVÍřŐľ colleague, Alethea Muno, Petrographer II, was recently selected as an ASTM Emerging Professional — a recognition that reflects both her technical potential and Â鶹TVÍřվ’ broader commitment to cultivating future industry leaders.

Jay Dorst: From an engineering and construction perspective, standards and certifications provide the framework that allows complex projects to move forward with confidence. I’ve been a member of the American Concrete Institute since 2014 and am actively involved in several technical committees that influence construction quality and safety.

I serve as a voting member of ACI Committees C680 and C681, which oversee certification programs for installers and inspectors of post‑installed anchors in concrete, and as a voting member and Vice Chair of ACI Committee 355, which focuses on anchor qualification and performance. I currently serve as Task Group Chair leading efforts to improve anchor testing in moving cracks — work that supports structural performance in seismic and dynamic conditions.

I have also been actively involved with ASTM International for more than 20 years, serving as a member of Committees E6.11 and E6.13. Throughout that time, I have contributed to and drafted multiple ASTM standards related to testing of fiber‑reinforced polymers and anchors to concrete. These standards support consistency and reliability across engineering, construction and forensic investigations.

How do your disciplines intersect when it comes to advanced expertise in safety management and risk mitigation — critical considerations when solving client challenges?

Jay Dorst: Many challenges don’t fit neatly into a single category. A structural concern may be influenced by material behavior, fabrication practices, welding quality or environmental exposure, which makes collaboration essential.

Alongside Jaclyn’s petrography laboratory, within my team, we maintain a forensic metallurgical laboratory, structural engineering support and field-testing teams that provide complementary support depending on the scope of the investigation. This approach allows us to evaluate materials, structural performance and construction practices together, helping clients understand what occurred and how those factors affect durability, performance and safety.

Jaclyn Ferraro: Exactly. Petrography often answers the “why,” while engineering answers the “so what.” At Â鶹TVÍřŐľ, those conversations happen naturally across disciplines, allowing us to deliver more complete conclusions.

What keeps you motivated in your work at Â鶹TVÍřŐľ?

Jaclyn Ferraro: Solving problems that matter, contributing to the profession through standards development and mentoring the next generation of materials professionals.

Jay Dorst: The combination of technical challenges and real-world impact. When our work strengthens decision-making and supports the quality and safety of the built environment, that’s incredibly rewarding.