News Stories - Civil and Environmental Engineering

CEE Professors Burcu Akinci and Greg Lowry have been elevated to the rank of University Professor, the highest distinction a faculty member can receive at Carnegie Mellon.

Asch Awarded National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Asch Awarded National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

CEE PhD student Noah Asch has been granted the 2023 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Award by the US Department of Defense.

2023 CEE Alumni Awards

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

2023 CEE Alumni Awards

CEE is proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 Alumni Awards, which were presented at the CEE Buggy Breakfast at Carnival.

Xing Awarded Robert E. Uhrig Graduate Scholarship

Friday, April 14, 2023

Xing Awarded Robert E. Uhrig Graduate Scholarship

PhD student Jinding Xing has been awarded the Robert E. Uhrig Graduate Scholarship. Her research focuses on mitigating human error in dynamic contexts, particularly in the operation of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs), by employing advanced techniques such as Digital Twin, Augmented Reality, and Machine Learning.

Hidden Ice Melt in the Himalaya

Monday, April 03, 2023

Hidden Ice Melt in the Himalaya

A new study has revealed that the extent of mass loss of lake-terminating glaciers in the greater Himalaya has been significantly underestimated due to the inability of satellites to detect glacier changes occurring underwater. The study combines multi-temporal satellite data with bathymetric measurements and highlights the need to incorporate subaqueous mass loss from lake-terminating glaciers in future mass-change estimates and glacier evolution models.

Hendrickson announced as 2023 recipient of the ASCE James Laurie Prize

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

Hendrickson announced as 2023 recipient of the ASCE James Laurie Prize

Professor Chris Hendrickson has been awarded the James Laurie Prize by the ASCE Transportation and Development Institute for his distinguished career spanning over four decades, which includes significant contributions to transportation engineering, planning, and management, and his dedicated volunteer work for T&DI.

Wice Accepted into SAME Academy of Fellows

Wednesday, March 08, 2023

Wice Accepted into SAME Academy of Fellows

Rick Wice, CEE part-time remediation engineering instructor, was recently accepted into the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Academy of Fellows Class of 2023.

Remembering Irving Oppenheim (1948-2023)

Monday, February 27, 2023

Remembering Irving Oppenheim (1948-2023)

Dr. Irving Oppenheim, emeritus professor in Carnegie Mellon University’s Civil and Environmental Engineering and Architecture Departments, passed away on February 26, 2023, at 74 years old. Oppenheim served on the faculty with great distinction from 1972 until retiring in 2022.

Lederman Consults for Client, Climate, and Water Challenges

Monday, February 20, 2023

Lederman Consults for Client, Climate, and Water Challenges

George Lederman (MS ‘15, PhD ‘16) was attracted to Aliaxis, a family-owned global company with a strong purpose to solve the world's water challenges and transition to clean energy. As the Head of Strategy, he serves as an in-house consultant, aligning the future-planning strategy with the company's purpose to address climate change and water challenges.

Sampson Provides Growth Opportunities for Women & Minority-Owned Businesses

Friday, February 17, 2023

Sampson Provides Growth Opportunities for Women & Minority-Owned Businesses

Daymanuel Sampson (BS ’13) has held various roles in Turner Construction Company over ten years, and his current position is Community and Citizenship Director. He operates within the School of Construction Management, which aims to support small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned businesses and promote growth in the construction industry by building genuine business relationships.

Two CEE Professors Elected as 2022 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Thursday, February 02, 2023

Two CEE Professors Elected as 2022 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Professors Burcu Akinci and Jeanne VanBriesen were Elected as 2022 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Martinez Keeps Airport Projects Flying Forward

Monday, January 30, 2023

Martinez Keeps Airport Projects Flying Forward

Arturo Martinez, PE, ENV SP (BS ’15; MS ’15) is an Aviation Project Manager at EXP, an engineering, architecture, design, and consulting firm with over 4,000 employees. He recently kicked off a project at Miami International Airport (MIA) that is still in its infancy and will keep him busy for a few years as he leads the airfield civil updates that will modify over 15 aircraft gates to accommodate bigger aircraft. These changes will support MIA’s continued growth.

Team Projects Two Out of Three Glaciers Could Be Lost By 2100

Friday, January 13, 2023

Team Projects Two Out of Three Glaciers Could Be Lost By 2100

CEE professor David Rounce led an international effort to produce new projections of glacier mass loss through the century under different emissions scenarios.

Alumni in Service: Bringing Clean Water to Honduras Community

Wednesday, January 04, 2023

Alumni in Service: Bringing Clean Water to Honduras Community

Alumna Tessa Roscoe (MS ’15) has always had a passion for international development and travel. Her interest in other cultures and engineering came together at CEE, leading her to a career designed to help others.

Alumni’s Projects Enhance Baha Mar’s Destination Status

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Alumni’s Projects Enhance Baha Mar’s Destination Status

Aniebo Ebong (MS ’10) lives and works in what most people would call paradise. As the Director of Projects at Baha Mar, a luxury resort destination in Nassau, Bahamas, he manages all of the property’s capital improvement and construction projects.

Tang Awarded Dowd Fellowship to Develop Simulations

Monday, December 12, 2022

Tang Awarded Dowd Fellowship to Develop Simulations

Supported by the Dowd Fellowship, Professor Pingbo Tang will integrate data-driven simulation games into two existing courses and one new course for “learning operations by trying” experiences with various civil systems.

Sanghavi Volunteers with EWB to Supply Clean Water, Infrastructure

Tuesday, December 06, 2022

Sanghavi Volunteers with EWB to Supply Clean Water, Infrastructure

Kavin Sanghavi (BS ‘16), a product manager at Booz Allen Hamilton, uses his engineering and project management experience to help others across the globe. As a member of the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) DC Professionals Chapter, he volunteers to create community-driven solutions that meet basic human needs.

Frederick’s UN Internship Focused on Preservation, Sustainability

Thursday, December 01, 2022

Frederick’s UN Internship Focused on Preservation, Sustainability

Bradley Frederick hails from outside of Chicago, but he spent his first summer living in a big city during 2022, when he interned in New York City with the United Nations. Frederick focused on planning, design, and construction in the U.N.’s Manhattan campus, which spans six city blocks.

Peng Receives Commendation for Excellence at Thrill Design Invitational

Monday, November 21, 2022

Peng Receives Commendation for Excellence at Thrill Design Invitational

Junior Justin Peng was one of 127 students from 18 university teams who took competed in the Toronto Metropolitan University’s Thrill Design Invitational—presented by Universal Creative™.

Gioffre’s Volunteerism Delivers STEM to Kids

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Gioffre’s Volunteerism Delivers STEM to Kids

Service has always been important to Maddie Gioffre. As an undergraduate at CEE, she served on the student executive board of ASCE, helping to plan and run events within the department. This experience developed her leadership skills and led her to her current position as CEO of S.Y.STEM Coalition, a volunteer-run nonprofit that works to deliver hands-on, community-centered STEM experiences to students, in partnership with industry.

Kulkarni and Karve Marry Education, Life at CEE

Friday, November 11, 2022

Kulkarni and Karve Marry Education, Life at CEE

Tanay Kulkarni and Devashri Karve are a unique pair at CEE—a married couple going through the program together. Originally from the small town of Amravati in central India, they’ve known each other since childhood.

The Rise of Digital Twins

Tuesday, November 08, 2022

The Rise of Digital Twins

PART THREE: A Space Ripe for Innovation & Industry Collaboration For decades, civil and environmental engineers have relied on digital models to assess and strengthen designs before they enter the physical world. Now, with improved sensing and computing technology, the way engineers use and maintain models is evolving, and a concept called digital twins is taking hold.

The Rise of Digital Twins

Monday, November 07, 2022

The Rise of Digital Twins

PART TWO: A Space Ripe for Innovation & Industry Collaboration For decades, civil and environmental engineers have relied on digital models to assess and strengthen designs before they enter the physical world. Now, with improved sensing and computing technology, the way engineers use and maintain models is evolving, and a concept called digital twins is taking hold.

The Rise of Digital Twins

Tuesday, November 01, 2022

The Rise of Digital Twins

PART ONE: A Space Ripe for Innovation & Industry Collaboration For decades, civil and environmental engineers have relied on digital models to assess and strengthen designs before they enter the physical world. Now, with improved sensing and computing technology, the way engineers use and maintain models is evolving, and a concept called digital twins is taking hold.

Li Spins Success in Engineering, Table Tennis

Monday, October 31, 2022

Li Spins Success in Engineering, Table Tennis

CEE PhD student Yuanhao Li is putting a spin on integrating engineering with sports. As a table tennis champion, he uses fundamental principles of engineering to continually improve his performance.

Analyzing Waste Pit Contaminants

Monday, October 24, 2022

Analyzing Waste Pit Contaminants

Professor Greg Lowry is using robots to increase both safety and speed in the remediation process. He is working to develop terrestrial robots that can potentially autonomously explore natural environments, select sample locations, extract samples, and analyze the data online without exposing humans to hazardous conditions.

Andrade and Grzybowski Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Friday, October 14, 2022

Andrade and Grzybowski Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

CivE/EPP seniors Carmen Andrade and Matthew Grzybowski have been named as Andrew Carnegie Scholars for the 2022-2023 academic year.

DEI Hackathon Challenges Students to Develop Solutions

Thursday, October 13, 2022

DEI Hackathon Challenges Students to Develop Solutions

CEE’s recent Hackathon challenged students to create Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) focused solutions for problems. Teams focused on developing solutions to issues that they find to be personally fulfilling and winning ideas earned students cash prizes. All participants had the opportunity to network with industry experts as well.

Flanigan Named Wimmer Faculty Fellow

Thursday, October 06, 2022

Flanigan Named Wimmer Faculty Fellow

Flanigan is revising 12-200: CEE Challenges - Design in a Changing World, a sophomore-level design course in Civil & Environmental Engineering in which students are challenged with solving problems related to conventional, cutting-edge, and emerging issues in CEE.

Mixing Engineering, Architecture, and Wooden Coasters

Wednesday, October 05, 2022

Mixing Engineering, Architecture, and Wooden Coasters

Hunter Lawrence (BS ’18) has a fascination for the aesthetics of roller coasters. She grew up riding the coasters at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh. And she worked at the park as a ride operator for two summers–cementing her interest in the engineering and architecture behind wooden roller coasters.

New Master's Program: AI Engineering in CEE

Thursday, September 29, 2022

New Master's Program: AI Engineering in CEE

Carnegie Mellon University’s new Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence Engineering (MS AIE) combines the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning with engineering domain knowledge and culminates in an integrated capstone project — in other words, the rare know-how to develop and apply AI-based solutions within an engineering context.

Kagdi Named HECC Fellow

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Kagdi Named HECC Fellow

The Higher Education Climate Consortium (HECC) has selected Labdhi Kagdi as one of two fellows to help advance the collaborative Consortium and support its 2022 strategic planning effort.

Wells Named Steinbrenner Institute and Heinz Presidential Fellow

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Wells Named Steinbrenner Institute and Heinz Presidential Fellow

The Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research at Carnegie Mellon University has selected Albin Wells as a Steinbrenner Research Fellow. The graduate fellowship program provides support to exceptional, second-year Carnegie Mellon students who work on cutting-edge environmental research. The interdisciplinary research projects' topics align with the Institute's strategic focus areas of energy transition strategies, and urban infrastructure and sustainable cities.

Gaining Mentorship, Experience in Summer Internships

Friday, September 23, 2022

Gaining Mentorship, Experience in Summer Internships

CEE Senior Kojo Aduhene spent his summer in Ghana being mentored by structural engineers. He says that his experience showed him the importance of communication and project management—and proved that he could think like an engineer.

Acharya Named Simons Foundation Pivot Fellow

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Acharya Named Simons Foundation Pivot Fellow

Professor Amit Acharya will be part of the first cohort of fellows for The Simons Foundation Pivot Fellowship. This fellowship supports seven accomplished researchers to apply their expertise in a new field in mathematics or natural sciences.

Nock Awarded Sloan Foundation Grant

Friday, September 02, 2022

Nock Awarded Sloan Foundation Grant

CEE Assistant Professor Destenie Nock was recently awarded funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to conduct a multi-year project to examine how household energy insecurity is experienced by different demographic groups at the state and national levels.

Senchur Steps into CEE Alumni Role

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Senchur Steps into CEE Alumni Role

Randi Senchur was recently named CEE’s Office and Alumni Relations Administrator. She’s been with the department for four years, most recently as a project coordinator.

Summer Research: Plant Nanotechnology REU

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Summer Research: Plant Nanotechnology REU

CEE rising senior, Vanessa Manzano studied plant nanotechnology with Professor Greg Lowry this summer.

Alumnus Inducted into National Academy of Construction

Friday, August 12, 2022

Alumnus Inducted into National Academy of Construction

Seth Pearlman (CE BS ‘78, MS ‘79) has been named a new member of the National Academy of Construction in recognition of his leadership in ground improvement, environmental remediation, and soil investigation.

Summer Research: Energy Inequities in Energy Transitions

Tuesday, August 09, 2022

Summer Research: Energy Inequities in Energy Transitions

Sophomore Chloe Brown worked with professor Destenie Nock to study the impacts of energy inequities in the USA.

Rodrigues and Samaras Suggest Drones for Efficient Last-Mile Deliveries

Monday, August 08, 2022

Rodrigues and Samaras Suggest Drones for Efficient Last-Mile Deliveries

Professor Costa Samaras and PhD candidate Thiago Rodrigues researched what they refer to as “an increase in the demand for last-mile delivery while trying to reduce the environmental impacts of the transportation sector.”

New Department Head Burcu Akinci Sets a Path for the Future

Monday, August 08, 2022

New Department Head Burcu Akinci Sets a Path for the Future

Since joining CEE 22 years ago, Akinci has led and contributed to significant progress and growth in the field, including serving as Associate Dean for Research of the College and conducting research on new tools and methods for streamlining construction and facility/infrastructure operations and management processes.

CEE Students Explore the Future in 3D with Mega City 2070

Monday, August 01, 2022

CEE Students Explore the Future in 3D with Mega City 2070

Professor Pingbo Tang’s course teams of students first spent time exploring Mega City 2070 before selecting and analyzing an infrastructure case study in the city and its related technical challenges.

Fethiye Ozis Helps to Organize ASEE’s Annual Conference

Monday, July 25, 2022

Fethiye Ozis Helps to Organize ASEE’s Annual Conference

Recently, Assistant Teaching Professor Fethiye Ozis assisted in coordinating The American Society for Engineering Education’s annual conference. The event brings together engineering educators from across the globe in Minneapolis, MN.

Dzombak Retires After 35 Years of Service

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Dzombak Retires After 35 Years of Service

Understanding Active Matter Unlocks New Material Properties

Friday, July 15, 2022

Understanding Active Matter Unlocks New Material Properties

Assistant professor Jerry Wang is defining the properties of active matter, a category of materials that take stored or ambient energy and convert it into motion.

Fakhreddine Joins CEE as Assistant Professor

Tuesday, July 05, 2022

Fakhreddine Joins CEE as Assistant Professor

Sarah Fakhreddine recently joined CEE as an Assistant Professor, bringing to the department a background in both engineering and earth sciences. Fakhreddine’s area of expertise is focused on developing approaches to improve the resilience of freshwater supplies to climate change and population growth.

Small Retires After 40 Years of Service

Friday, July 01, 2022

Small Retires After 40 Years of Service

Mitchell Small, H. John Heinz III Professor of Environmental Engineering, has retired after 40 years of commitment and service to the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Engineering and Public Policy (EPP). Small began a joint appointment in CEE and EPP upon joining the faculty in 1982, and he retires having helped strengthen both departments and their long-standing collaborations in education and research.

Oppenheim Retires After 50 Years of Service

Monday, June 27, 2022

Oppenheim Retires After 50 Years of Service

In 50 years as a joint faculty member in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and the School of Architecture (SoA), Irving Oppenheim educated many generations of students in both engineering and architecture, engaged in research that spanned the two disciplines, and contributed significantly to the strong relationship between CEE and SoA.

CMU Takes First Place at NASA Aeronautics Competition

Monday, June 13, 2022

CMU Takes First Place at NASA Aeronautics Competition

The Carnegie Mellon University team, with their project titled, Sustainability and Connected Autonomy: A New Era for Aviation, took first place in the inaugural Gateways to Blue Skies Competition. Competing among eight finalist teams who presented their ideas for future airport design updates needed to accommodate climate-friendly aviation advancements, the team earned the top award at the 2022 Blue Skies Forum, hosted at NASA’s Langley Research Center on June 2-3. The Forum was judged by subject matter experts from NASA and industry.

Remembering Tung Au

Thursday, June 02, 2022

Remembering Tung Au

Dr. Tung Au, emeritus professor in the Carnegie Mellon Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy Departments, passed away on May 31, 2022 at 98 years old. Au served on the faculty with great distinction from 1957 until retiring in 1992.

Yuan Presents Tang-Led Project at UTC Conference

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

Yuan Presents Tang-Led Project at UTC Conference

Recently, CEE student Chenyu Yuan presented “Towards Data-Driven and Continuous Safety Inspection of Commercial Trucks and Trailers” at the 7th annual UTC Conference for the Southeastern Region. The project, led by Professor Pingbo Tang and funded by Mobility21, has the goals of enhancing the safety of fleets of commercial trucks and trailers without compromising mobility and operating costs as well as effective use of historical and real-time telematics data for deterioration digital twinning of vehicle fleets for proactive inspection and maintenance.

Building Better Water Infrastructure Across the US

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Building Better Water Infrastructure Across the US

Having grown up in an under-served area, Michael Borrero, PE, (CEE BS ‘97) entered Carnegie Mellon with firsthand knowledge of water infrastructure problems—and a drive to fix them.

Thompson’s First Lecture

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Thompson’s First Lecture

As a sophomore, Andrew Thompson watched online presentations of “First Lectures,” given by CMU graduating seniors. Inspired by Dr. Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture,” these talks provide unique insight into what other students learned about themselves at CMU—and what they hoped to pass on to other Tartans.

CEE Updates Mission, Vision, and Values Statements

Thursday, April 21, 2022

CEE Updates Mission, Vision, and Values Statements

The new statements will guide the department in identifying, prioritizing, and continually evaluating activities, according to Professor Burcu Akinci. CEE’s previous strategic plan, completed in 2015, was intended to last for five years.

Real-world Engineering Solutions Exhibited in New Autonomous Infrastructure Systems Lab

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Real-world Engineering Solutions Exhibited in New Autonomous Infrastructure Systems Lab

“The projects in the Autonomous Infrastructure Systems Lab area gives students a clear understanding of how the theoretical and fundamental knowledge they are learning interfaces with, and enables, real-world engineering solutions,” says Professor Katherine Flanigan. She adds that it highlights the importance of the interdisciplinary skills students are being asked to develop.

Alumni Awards Showcase Graduates’ Successes

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Alumni Awards Showcase Graduates’ Successes

During Spring Carnival time at CMU, we gathered remotely to applaud CEE alumni who’ve made a positive, noteworthy impact through their research and work. The event, led by Dave Dzombak, Hamerschlag University Professor and CEE department head, connected CEE faculty, graduates, and friends to celebrate the school’s impressive alumni, high rankings, world-class facility, and internationally-recognized research. “Our students and professors are thought leaders, grappling with some of the most complex challenges in infrastructure and environment facing society today,” Dzombak said.

CMU and Fujitsu Collaborate to Develop ‘Social Digital Twin’ Technology for Smart Cities

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

CMU and Fujitsu Collaborate to Develop ‘Social Digital Twin’ Technology for Smart Cities

Carnegie Mellon University researchers recently announced an exciting collaboration with Fujitsu Limited, a leading Japanese information and communication technology company, to develop social digital twin technology, with an emphasis on exploring practical applications for the work.

Mentoring Program Matches Undergrads with CEE Alums

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

Mentoring Program Matches Undergrads with CEE Alums

The Alumni/Undergraduate Mentor Program, which welcomed its first cohort in the fall of 2021, matched 21 student-alumni pairs with the goal to develop deeper connections between participants.

Burcu Akinci Named Head of CEE

Monday, April 11, 2022

Burcu Akinci Named Head of CEE

Burcu Akinci, the Paul Christiano Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been appointed the new head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), effective July 1, 2022. Akinci will succeed Dave Dzombak, Hamerschlag University Professor of CEE.

Yam’s Global Education Leads to Singapore’s Ministry of Transport

Thursday, April 07, 2022

Yam’s Global Education Leads to Singapore’s Ministry of Transport

Singapore native Denise Yam (CiVE/EPP ’13) longed to explore the world before returning home to build her career. A strong believer in challenging herself and broadening her world view, Yam’s passion for international exploration led her to Carnegie Mellon.

New Scholarship Fund Honors Accomplished Alums DiGioia and Gray

Thursday, March 31, 2022

New Scholarship Fund Honors Accomplished Alums DiGioia and Gray

The scholarship will support CEE undergraduates in pursuing their degrees, as classmates Anthony DiGioia Jr. (BS ‘56, MS ‘57, PhD ‘60) and Richard Gray (BS‘56) attribute much of their own success to the strong academic foundation and relationships forged at Carnegie Tech.

Bram “Rethinks the Rink” for Hockey Player Safety

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Bram “Rethinks the Rink” for Hockey Player Safety

Rethink the Rink is a collaboration between the Pittsburgh Penguins, Covestro, Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, PPG, and Athletica Sport Systems. Students worked in teams of four at CMU's TechSpark and had hands-on coaching throughout the process

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

Monday, March 21, 2022

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

Part Four: CEE Classes Tackle Topics of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Engineering CEE undergraduates first encounter the topic of sensing in the first-year project course that introduces them to the domain of civil and environmental engineering. As sophomores, students explore computing and sensing in greater depth in CEE Challenges: Design in a Changing World.

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

Saturday, March 19, 2022

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

Part Three: Students Utilize Sensing Technologies in CEE Project Courses CEE undergraduates first encounter the topic of sensing in the first-year project course that introduces them to the domain of civil and environmental engineering. As sophomores, students explore computing and sensing in greater depth in CEE Challenges: Design in a Changing World.

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

Thursday, March 17, 2022

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

Part Two: New Labs Prepare CivE Students for Practice & Problem-Solving A new lab course sequence for Civil Engineering undergraduates is underway, designed to bolster students’ understanding of real-world applications and problem-solving.

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

Part One: The Start of a New Era for Environmental Engineering in CEE Environmental engineering has long been a mainstay of CEE’s undergraduate curriculum, and the November 2020 announcement of a new BS in Environmental Engineering (EnvE) program reflected expanded commitment to preparing graduates to make an impact in this critical field.

Kramer Awarded American Bridge Leadership Award

Friday, February 25, 2022

Kramer Awarded American Bridge Leadership Award

CEE/EPP Senior Kelby Kramer was recently awarded the American Bridge Leadership Award by The Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in recognition of his leadership accomplishments and community impact.

Kurz Joins CPDC to Guide Student Career Success

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Kurz Joins CPDC to Guide Student Career Success

Sarah Kurz joins Carnegie Mellon as the new career consultant supporting undergraduate students in CEE, ChemE, BME, and first-year engineering students. Kurz is already meeting and advising students for upcoming internship and post-graduation opportunities.

Choi Awarded Smith Graduate Fellowship

Friday, February 18, 2022

Choi Awarded Smith Graduate Fellowship

PhD student Byeongseong Choi was recently awarded the Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship. Choi earned his undergraduate and master's degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Seoul National University, Korea.

Guarda Awarded TCS Presidential Fellowship

Thursday, February 17, 2022

Guarda Awarded TCS Presidential Fellowship

PhD candidate Pablo Guarda has recently been awarded a Tata Consultancy Services Presidential Fellowship.

Naghibzadeh Awarded Bushnell Fellowship

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Naghibzadeh Awarded Bushnell Fellowship

PhD student Kiana Naghibzadeh was awarded the Neil and Jo Bushnell Fellowship in Engineering. Naghibzadeh earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran.

Lee Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

Wednesday, February 09, 2022

Lee Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

PhD candidate Daryn Lee has recently been awarded a Ruth Furman Miller and David H. Miller Presidential Fellowship in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from the College of Engineering and the University.

Lyle Awarded Fok Presidential Fellowship

Tuesday, February 08, 2022

Lyle Awarded Fok Presidential Fellowship

PhD candidate Zia Lyle has been awarded the Thomas and Maria Fok Presidential Fellowship. Lyle earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering as well as Bachelor of Arts in Plan II, a liberal arts honors program at University of Texas at Austin.

Xiong Awarded Smith Graduate Fellowship

Monday, February 07, 2022

Xiong Awarded Smith Graduate Fellowship

PhD candidate Ruoxin Xiong was recently awarded the Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship. Xiong earned his undergraduate Transportation Equipment and Control Engineering from Central South University and a master's degree in Transportation Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Wang Awarded Liang Ji-Dan Fellowship

Friday, February 04, 2022

Wang Awarded Liang Ji-Dan Fellowship

Wang's research is focused on simulating the airport ground operation based on historical data and improving the operational efficiency and safety level through artificial intelligence.

Waldvogel Works on LANL Sustainability and Zero-Carbon Plans

Friday, January 14, 2022

Waldvogel Works on LANL Sustainability and Zero-Carbon Plans

Genna Waldvogel (MS ‘17) took a somewhat non-traditional route to her current position as a sustainability program team leader at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico. Prior to earning her master’s degree at CEE, she spent four years teaching high school science. She explains that the skills she gained as a teacher and during her time as a CEE graduate student have given her a unique ability to solve advanced problems.

Junior Projects Experiment Studies Porter Hall Bottleneck

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Junior Projects Experiment Studies Porter Hall Bottleneck

The project was assigned in the students’ Junior Projects course, and came to life to solve the problem of real-world collision experiences the students had experienced while attempting to navigate the high-traffic area.

Ozis Joins CEE as Assistant Teaching Professor

Friday, January 07, 2022

Ozis Joins CEE as Assistant Teaching Professor

Fethiye Ozis recently joined CEE as an Assistant Teaching Professor. She brings to the department teaching expertise as well as research experience in sustainable cities, biotechnology for air pollution control, and sustainable methods of water treatment.

Senior Greta Markey Earns Marshall Scholarship

Monday, December 13, 2021

Senior Greta Markey Earns Marshall Scholarship

Carnegie Mellon University's Greta Markey, a senior double majoring in the Departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Engineering and Public Policy (EPP), has been named a recipient of the highly competitive Marshall Scholarship, which is awarded to less than 50 Americans each year to fund graduate education in the United Kingdom. She is the fifth CMU student to receive the award since 1955.

Professor Costa Samaras to Serve in Biden-Harris Administration in White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Professor Costa Samaras to Serve in Biden-Harris Administration in White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Carnegie Mellon University’s Professor Costa Samaras has been selected to serve in the Biden-Harris Administration in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). He will serve as Principal Assistant Director for Energy and OSTP Chief Advisor for Energy Policy in OSTP’s first-ever Energy Division. I

Dildine/Pindine’s Paper Predicts Benefits of Phosphorus Recovery

Monday, November 22, 2021

Dildine/Pindine’s Paper Predicts Benefits of Phosphorus Recovery

CEE MS student Garrett Dildine/Pindine recently published the paper “Equilibrium-Based Temperature-Dependent Economic Analysis of the Recovery of Phosphorus from Different Wastewater Streams via Chemical Precipitation” in American Chemical Society (ACS) Publications.

Markey and Thompson Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Friday, November 05, 2021

Markey and Thompson Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Alumni Survey Reveals Strength and Variety of Options Available to CEE Grads

Monday, October 25, 2021

Alumni Survey Reveals Strength and Variety of Options Available to CEE Grads

Backed by our CPDC career resources and CEE’s renowned programs, the data shows that CEE students can graduate confident that they are ready for what’s next.

Devin White’s Internship Focuses on FHA Software Prototype

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Devin White’s Internship Focuses on FHA Software Prototype

When Devin White (CEE/ETIM) was looking for summer research positions, he turned to his advisor and mentor, Professor Corey Harper, for recommendations. Harper suggested that White apply to the Summer Internship Program for Diverse Groups at the Federal Highway Administration Center for Accelerating Innovation. “Professor Harper said that it was a great way to get experience and expand my professional network,” states White.

Reimagining Advanced Infrastructure Systems: Inside CEE’s New AIS Facilities

Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Reimagining Advanced Infrastructure Systems: Inside CEE’s New AIS Facilities

This fall, CEE students and faculty conducting research in Advanced Infrastructure Systems (AIS) are gaining access to a new, custom-built space. There, they will continue to develop and showcase novel solutions to today’s toughest problems involving the planning, design, construction, and operation of built facilities and infrastructure.

Rounce’s Summer STEM Program Reaches High Schoolers

Thursday, October 07, 2021

Rounce’s Summer STEM Program Reaches High Schoolers

This past summer, CEE Assistant Professor David Rounce was approached to participate in a new opportunity—utilizing funding from a NASA/PA Space Grant Consortium to reach high school students. The program was led by Megan Fahey in the College of Engineering and Rounce also worked with CEE Junior Reilly McManus to co-teach virtual classes and supervise projects.

Ariss Awarded Ellegood Fellowship

Wednesday, October 06, 2021

Ariss Awarded Ellegood Fellowship

PhD candidate Rami Ariss has been awarded the Julia and Michael Ellegood Strategic Doctoral Fellowship.

Karimi Awarded Dowd Fellowship

Tuesday, October 05, 2021

Karimi Awarded Dowd Fellowship

PhD student Mina Karimi was selected as a Dowd Fellow by the College of Engineering. She earned her undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering and her master’s in Computational Mechanics at the University of Tehran, Iran.

Samudio Awarded D’Appolonia Fellowship

Tuesday, October 05, 2021

Samudio Awarded D’Appolonia Fellowship

PhD student Mateo Samudio was recently awarded the Dr. Elio D’Appolonia Graduate Fellowship. Samudio completed his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at Universidad Nacional de Asuncion, Paraguay, and masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering at CMU.

NHL’s Penguins Install Boards Designed by CMU Students

Friday, October 01, 2021

NHL’s Penguins Install Boards Designed by CMU Students

Professional hockey is getting ready to kick off the 2021-22 regular season. And CEE students’ innovative work is making the experience safer for players. Three years ago, through a “Rethink the Rink” project, students were tasked with creating dasher boards that would reduce the impact felt when players crashed the boards. After feedback and testing by the National Hockey League and USA Hockey, the Pittsburgh Penguins recently announced that the dasher boards had been installed in the practice rink at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex.

Joseph Awarded Cohon Graduate Fellowship

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Joseph Awarded Cohon Graduate Fellowship

PhD candidate Jordan Joseph has recently been awarded a Jared and Maureen Cohon Graduate Fellowship in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Joseph received his Bachelors in Engineering Science with an Environmental Engineering concentration from Saint Vincent College and Masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering from CMU.

70th Anniversary of Porter Hall

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

70th Anniversary of Porter Hall

September 2021 marks the 70th anniversary of the naming of the building in which the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been located in since December 1949, when the department moved from Engineering Hall (now Doherty Hall) to part of Industries Hall (now Porter Hall).

Hakimzadeh Named Steinbrenner Institute Fellow

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Hakimzadeh Named Steinbrenner Institute Fellow

The Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research at Carnegie Mellon University has selected Maryam Hakimzadeh as a Steinbrenner Research Fellow.

Joe Moore Joins CEE Faculty

Friday, September 10, 2021

Joe Moore Joins CEE Faculty

Joe Moore, CEE’s newest Assistant Teaching Professor, is excited to bring an active, interdisciplinary engineering educational experience to his students.

Rebuilding the World Trade Center Site: Looking Back 20 Years after 9/11

Thursday, September 09, 2021

Rebuilding the World Trade Center Site: Looking Back 20 Years after 9/11

Among those contributing to the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site were two CEE alumni, Seth Pearlman (BS ’78, MS ‘79) and John Wise (BS ‘84). Both men worked for Nicholson Construction Company, a firm that specialized in geotechnical engineering and foundation work, and, in total, Wise spent nearly a decade of his career working on and off at the World Trade Center site.

Lowry and Colleagues Receive Two NSF Awards for Nanoparticle Research

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Lowry and Colleagues Receive Two NSF Awards for Nanoparticle Research

Professor Greg Lowry of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) has received two grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) totaling $2.2 million to improve agricultural efficiency using nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted delivery of nutrients and plant protection products in crop plants.

Li Discusses Role of Fin Structures in Heat Transfer

Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Li Discusses Role of Fin Structures in Heat Transfer

What role do nanoscale fins (nanofins) play in heat transfer at the material interface? This is a question that PhD candidate Yuanhao Li and Assistant Professor Gerald Wang are looking to answer.

VanBriesen Named Division Director of the National Science Foundation’s CBET

Tuesday, August 03, 2021

VanBriesen Named Division Director of the National Science Foundation’s CBET

Duquesne Light Company Professor Jeanne M. VanBriesen has been appointed to lead the Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems (CBET) at the National Science Foundation (NSF).

CEE Capstone: Aquaponics for Center of Life

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

CEE Capstone: Aquaponics for Center of Life

For the fall senior capstone course, CEE students were tasked with designing a prototype of an aquaponics food production system and an energy-efficient facility to house it. “In an aquaponics system, fish and plants work together,” explains fellow CEE senior Joseph Iacobellis.

Ariss Looks at Environmental Impacts of Electric Delivery Fleets

Thursday, July 08, 2021

Ariss Looks at Environmental Impacts of Electric Delivery Fleets

CEE PhD candidate Rami Ariss presented interdisciplinary research completed in collaboration with Professor Jeremy Michalek, Shang Zhu (MechE), and alumna Leandre Berwe. The work, titled “Improving Operational Viability, Energy Efficiency, and Environmental Impact of Electric Delivery Fleets via Vehicle-to-Grid Integration,” looks at the logistical and economical challenges of transitioning from diesel trucks to electric vehicles.

Amekudzi-Kennedy’s Philosophy Encourages Diversity in STEM, Engineering Workforce

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Amekudzi-Kennedy’s Philosophy Encourages Diversity in STEM, Engineering Workforce

Adjo Akpene Amekudzi-Kennedy (MS ’97, PhD ‘99), Professor and Associate Chair for Global Engineering Leadership & Entrepreneurship in the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech, believes that diversity within the workforce benefits the engineering field.

Building Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Coursework

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Building Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into Coursework

CEE professors, Sarah Christian and David Rounce, were selected for a 2021-22 Provost’s Inclusive Teaching Fellowship. This fellowship program is designed to support the development and implementation of inclusive teaching techniques to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in coursework. -401

Drone Package Delivery Study Published by Scientific Data

Friday, June 18, 2021

Drone Package Delivery Study Published by Scientific Data

PhD candidate Thiago Rodrigues and Professor Constantine Samara recently published “In-flight positional and energy use data set of a DJI® Matrice 100 quadcopter for small package delivery” in Scientific Data.

Congratulations to Our Graduate Student CEE Commencement Award Winners

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Congratulations to Our Graduate Student CEE Commencement Award Winners

Congratulations to Our Undergraduate CEE Commencement Award Winners

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Congratulations to Our Undergraduate CEE Commencement Award Winners

CEE undergraduate graduation awards for class of 2021

Akinci Elected to NAC

Monday, May 24, 2021

Akinci Elected to NAC

Professor Burcu Akinci, the Paul Christiano Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Engineering Research Accelerator, has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Construction (NAC). Akinci has distinguished herself as an expert by way of her significant contributions in the utilization of BIM and sensing technologies to increase operational efficiency and support proactive decision-making in construction and facility/infrastructure management.

Ibekwe Awarded David A. Long Scholarship

Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Ibekwe Awarded David A. Long Scholarship

CEE PhD student Uwakmfon Ibekwe was recently awarded a David A. Long Scholarship from the Pennsylvania Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA).

Rusali Presents: Using Molecular Science to Explore Urban Structure

Friday, May 14, 2021

Rusali Presents: Using Molecular Science to Explore Urban Structure

Winding up his senior year at CEE, Ryan Rusali presented his College of Engineering Honors Research project titled “Using Methods from Molecular Science to Explore Urban Structure: Fractal structures, length scales, and getting two very different fields to work together" at the Meeting of the Minds undergraduate research symposium. Rusali’s project focuses on applying tools and methods from molecular analysis and simulation to urban textures in order to better understand the structure of cities.

Levene Presents: Pittsburgh’s Story of Environmental Justice and Renewable Energy

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Levene Presents: Pittsburgh’s Story of Environmental Justice and Renewable Energy

CEE Junior Meredith Levene has always been interested in how renewable energy could create a better, greener future. And after taking CEE courses that introduced her to environmental justice, she began to formulate sustainability-based ideas that could help others. “I want to look into how renewable energy could improve environmental justice—which is how I came up with the project idea,” she mentions.

CMU Connection Leads to Success at eIQ Mobility

Thursday, May 06, 2021

CMU Connection Leads to Success at eIQ Mobility

The years spent studying, researching, and growing at CMU forms a camaraderie between students that lasts long past graduation. For Emre Kara (CEE PhD '14) and Sila Berkol Kiliccote (CFA MS '95 and Tepper MBA 1999-2000), their shared CMU connection led to a business partnership at eIQ Mobility—where they work together to simplify and accelerate electrification of fleets. As VP of Engineering, Kara is tasked with building what’s now the leading software platform for fleet electrification assessments.

CEE Alumni Awards Shine Spotlight on Successful Grads

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

CEE Alumni Awards Shine Spotlight on Successful Grads

CEE celebrated our 2021 alumni award winners via a virtual presentation led by professor and department head Dave Dzombak.

Nock Awarded Wimmer Faculty Fellowship

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Nock Awarded Wimmer Faculty Fellowship

Assistant Professor Destenie Nock has received a 2021-22 Wimmer Faculty Fellow Award to evaluate how social justice based active learning activities impact student learning. This award will help her develop tools to integrate social justice considerations into course materials that will push students to think and design past theory-based lectures.

Martin Fertal Joins ASCE as New COO

Monday, April 19, 2021

Martin Fertal Joins ASCE as New COO

Martin Fertal, BS Civil Engineering (BS ‘83, MS ’84) was recently named Chief Operating Officer at ASCE, an organization he’s proud to note was “founded in 1852 and is the nation’s oldest engineering society.” As COO, he’s responsible for managing the society’s 150,000 members as well as its nine technical institutes, publications department, continuing education, and career services programming.

Akinci Named to NASEM BICE

Friday, April 09, 2021

Akinci Named to NASEM BICE

Professor Burcu Akıncı was recently named to the NASEM Board on Infrastructure and the Constructed Environment (BICE). This group advises government legislators and private sector organizations about the design, construction, security, impacts, maintenance, and evaluation of buildings and infrastructure systems.

Eybpoosh’s Works to Improve Renewable Energy Reliability

Monday, March 01, 2021

Eybpoosh’s Works to Improve Renewable Energy Reliability

When Matineh Eybpoosh (MS ‘12, PhD ‘15) was presented with the opportunity to co-found her own company, she jumped at the chance. Her entrepreneurial motivation led to the development of WattLearn Inc., a company that builds software for energy storage batteries—and by extension, increases the penetration of renewables across the electricity grid. Eybpoosh founded the company alongside fellow CMU alum Julian Lamy (EPP ‘16) and has led the company as its CEO since 2017.

Henry Randall Grooms: CEE Grad and Space Program Pioneer

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Henry Randall Grooms: CEE Grad and Space Program Pioneer

Civil engineer Henry Randall Grooms (CE '69) may be best known for his groundbreaking work at Rockwell International, which eventually merged its space division with Boeing. But before heading to California to work directly on the U.S. space program, Grooms completed his engineering education at CMU. His decision to pursue a terminal degree came after he’d graduated from Howard University and started his family.

CEE DEI Committee Builds on SDG Goals

Friday, February 19, 2021

CEE DEI Committee Builds on SDG Goals

The movements toward equality and acceptance have played out across the media—and at CMU. At the university, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are integral to CMU’s Sustainability Initiative which builds on the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), also known as Global Goals). The initiative supports the broader definition of sustainability afforded by the world's SDG, also known as the Global Goals.

Christian Named ASCE Pittsburgh Section Professor of the Year

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Christian Named ASCE Pittsburgh Section Professor of the Year

Professor Sarah Christian has been named the ASCE Pittsburgh Section 2020 Professor of the Year. An expert in structural engineering and sustainable materials, Christian has a deep commitment to her students and to education. During her five years at CEE, she’s developed many innovative courses that have enhanced the department’s undergraduate curriculum, and had a key role in formulating a distinctive project-course sequence.

Kramer Explores Relationship Between Social Distancing, Pedestrian Flow

Thursday, February 04, 2021

Kramer Explores Relationship Between Social Distancing, Pedestrian Flow

We’ve all become accustomed to maintaining six feet of space between ourselves and the next closest person. But how does this impact the way we move through a space—does social distancing lead to pedestrian traffic jams? CEE undergraduate Kelby Kramer (CE ’22) recently presented research on this topic at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics.

Shi Awarded Smith Graduate Fellowship

Wednesday, February 03, 2021

Shi Awarded Smith Graduate Fellowship

PhD candidate Ying Shi has been awarded the Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship. Shi earned her undergraduate and master's degrees in Bridge Engineering at Southeast University, China. Advised by Professor Pingbo Tang, Shi studies how falsified or missing data mislead multiple levels of bridge inspection and maintenance planning.

Li Awarded Bushnell Fellowship

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Li Awarded Bushnell Fellowship

PhD candidate Yuanhao Li has been awarded the Neil and Jo Bushnell Fellowship in Engineering. Li earned his undergraduate degrees Civil Engineering from Auburn University and his Master’s degree in Computational Mechanics from Carnegie Mellon University.

Merging Art and Engineering for Innovative Solutions

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Merging Art and Engineering for Innovative Solutions

Nika Finkelsteyn’s (CEE 2021) talent for both art and engineering allows her to discover innovative ways to tackle engineering problems. A passionate artist, she balances her engineering studies with coursework in photography and fine arts.

Adams Appointed as Thomas Lord Professor of Engineering

Friday, January 08, 2021

Adams Appointed as Thomas Lord Professor of Engineering

Peter Adams, Head and Professor of Engineering and Public Policy and Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, has been appointed as a Thomas Lord Professor of Engineering.

Trans-Disciplinary Team Investigates Topological Defects

Thursday, January 07, 2021

Trans-Disciplinary Team Investigates Topological Defects

Amit Acharya is leading a multidisciplinary, university-spanning team in an NSF Grand Convergence Research project to unravel one of the most ubiquitous physical phenomena known to science.

Peters Named CEE’s Distinguished Alumni

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Peters Named CEE’s Distinguished Alumni

During CEE’s 2020 Alumni Awards reception, Catherine Peters (CE ’90 and '92) was presented with the Distinguished Alumni Award. The award recognizes CEE alumni who have one or more major achievements that have improved the work of professional engineers or have improved people’s lives in some way.

CEE Annual Alumni Awards Goes Virtual to Highlight Graduates’ Successes

Monday, December 14, 2020

CEE Annual Alumni Awards Goes Virtual to Highlight Graduates’ Successes

For the first time in CEE’s history, our annual alumni awards went virtual! Dave Dzombak, Hamerschlag University Professor and CEE department head, hosted a virtual celebration honoring some of the best and brightest alums for their contributions and work. After accepting their awards, the winners answered questions submitted by current students, focusing on everything from work/life balance to overcoming bumps in a career path.

Lai Builds Location-Specific Climate Forecasting Tools for Engineers

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Lai Builds Location-Specific Climate Forecasting Tools for Engineers

Yuchuan Lai recently completed his PhD studies remotely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lai’s second paper, co-written with his advisor Professor Dave Dzombak, “Use of the Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) Model to Forecast Near-Term Regional Temperature and Precipitation,” was recently published in the AMS Journal of Weather and Forecasting.

Hendrickson Receives 2020 Torrens Award

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Hendrickson Receives 2020 Torrens Award

The Subcommittee on Technical Advancement announced that Hamerschlag University Professor Emeritus Chris Hendrickson is the recipient of the 2020 Richard R. Torrens Award for outstanding performance as Editor in Chief of the Journal of Transportation Engineering: Part A, Systems. This journal focuses on technical and professional engineering articles on the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of air, highway, rail, and urban transportation systems and infrastructure.

Electricity For All

Monday, November 09, 2020

Electricity For All

CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock led a study outlining a more equitable model of electricity planning in developing regions like Liberia.

Bielak Elected as Honorary Member of EERI

Wednesday, November 04, 2020

Bielak Elected as Honorary Member of EERI

Hamerschlag University Professor Emeritus Jacobo Bielak has recently been named as an Honorary Member of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute.

Alum Helps Organizations Construct the Workplace of Tomorrow

Wednesday, November 04, 2020

Alum Helps Organizations Construct the Workplace of Tomorrow

As Carnegie Mellon alum Harvey Beckham, P.E. (CE and EPP ’90), left his office in March of 2020, everyone around him was also departing. His colleagues were preparing to work from home in response to COVID-19, but Beckham was preparing for something more. Before the pandemic began, he had decided to launch his own business, GPS Partners, offering conception-to-completion project advising services in commercial real estate construction and design.

CEE and Coronavirus Research

Tuesday, November 03, 2020

CEE and Coronavirus Research

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked an unprecedented wave of research among investigators across varied disciplines. At Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, faculty are looking into detection and treatment methods as well as socio-economic impacts.

CEE Introduces Undergraduate Environmental Engineering Program

Monday, November 02, 2020

CEE Introduces Undergraduate Environmental Engineering Program

For decades, environmental engineering courses have been a cornerstone of the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering program at Carnegie Mellon, a program that has consistently been named among the best in the nation for studying environmental engineering. In Fall 2021, CEE will be starting a new BS in Environmental Engineering degree program that will continue to grow this legacy.

A Home for Innovation & Collaboration

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

A Home for Innovation & Collaboration

The second level of Porter Hall, last renovated in 1994, is now a newly-remodeled 6000 square-foot facility. It features a spacious layout that highlights the building’s original brick walls and natural light, flowing through arched windows.

The Multidisciplinary Way

Thursday, October 22, 2020

The Multidisciplinary Way

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, Michele Blazek (CEE/EPP BS ’87) and her team at Stanford Health Care jumped into action to keep their staff safe and their patients cared for—all while creatively tackling the challenges of limited space and personal protective equipment.

Ken-Opurum Awarded Business Case Award

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Ken-Opurum Awarded Business Case Award

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) awarded Bobuchi Ken-Opurum, PhD Candidate in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Management (AECM), the Business Case Award at the annual Climate Corps Summit.

Babaei Identifies Lipid Rafts as Way COVID-19 Invades Cells

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

Babaei Identifies Lipid Rafts as Way COVID-19 Invades Cells

As the coronavirus pandemic continues its march across the globe, researchers—including CEE Professor Kaushik Dayal and recent graduate Mahnoush Babaei—are discovering new information that could help to fight the disease in the future. Their work examined how viruses utilize what they call lipid rafts to change the walls of human cells.

Two CEE Students Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Monday, September 21, 2020

Two CEE Students Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Seniors Valentina Ortiz de Zárate and Ryan Rusali have been named as Andrew Carnegie Scholars. ACS Scholars are selected each year by their deans and department heads to represent their class in service and leadership.

Provost Garrett Elected to National Academy of Construction

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Provost Garrett Elected to National Academy of Construction

Provost and Chief Academic Officer for Carnegie Mellon University, James H. Garrett, Jr., the Thomas Lord Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and co-director of the Pennsylvania Smart Infrastructure Institute, has been selected for membership into the National Academy of Construction (NAC).

Rounce Joins CEE Faculty

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Rounce Joins CEE Faculty

David Rounce recently joined CEE as an assistant professor. For the past three years, he’s worked on an open-source global glacier evolution model to improve projections of glacier mass change and runoff. The opportunity to continue his research and help to develop the next generation of engineers motivates Rounce in his new chapter at CEE. “The department excels at seamlessly weaving together world-class science with societal applications,” he states.

Jones Named Steinbrenner Institute and Heinz Presidential Fellow

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Jones Named Steinbrenner Institute and Heinz Presidential Fellow

Jones is a dual degree PhD. student in Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon. He received his B.S. in Biological Engineering from the University of Florida in 2010 and his M.S. in Energy Science, Technology & Policy with a concentration in CEE from Carnegie Mellon in 2019. Jones is a certified middle school mathematics teacher, Teach for America alumnus and has several years of teaching experience in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Nanoparticles for Cleaner Water

Monday, August 17, 2020

Nanoparticles for Cleaner Water

For more than two decades, the material nanoscale zero valent iron (NZVI) has been used for groundwater remediation. It is a strong reductant that dechlorinates industrial solvents and reduces heavy metals in groundwater. However, it does not discriminate, also reacting with the water itself and reducing it to form hydrogen gas that fizzes away. Researchers throughout the field searched for a way to alter the material so it would react with water less and the contaminants more.

CEE Professor Samaras and Alum Francis Named to NASEM Committee

Wednesday, August 05, 2020

CEE Professor Samaras and Alum Francis Named to NASEM Committee

Wang Named Provost Inclusive Teaching Fellow at Eberly Center

Thursday, July 23, 2020

Wang Named Provost Inclusive Teaching Fellow at Eberly Center

Congratulations to CEE Assistant Professor Jerry Wang who has been selected as one of the 2020-2021 Provost’s Inclusive Teaching Fellows at the Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation.

Shooting for the Moon: Making Smart Cities Ethical and Sustainable

Monday, July 06, 2020

Shooting for the Moon: Making Smart Cities Ethical and Sustainable

Mario Bergés is the Principal Investigator on the Autonomous Technologies for Livability and Sustainability initiative, which recently won funding from the CMU College of Engineering’s Moonshot 2020 competition. United by a bold vision, the initiative brings together people from across Engineering as well as Architecture, Computer Science, Philosophy, and Heinz College. The group will also partner with industry and local government as they develop and test theories, methodologies, and technologies to solve wide-ranging ethical and sustainability concerns around autonomous systems.

Engineered Nanoparticles Target Specific Structures on Plant Leaves

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Engineered Nanoparticles Target Specific Structures on Plant Leaves

Carnegie Mellon University’s Greg Lowry is creating nanoparticle (NP) coatings that will revolutionize the agricultural industry. His research has demonstrated that molecules, such as vital nutrients, coated with his team’s NPs can be applied to plants with 99 percent uptake efficiency. This is in stark contrast to current methods of delivery, in which as little as one percent of the desired molecules will actually enter the plant—the other 99 percent will drain into the surrounding environment.

Hegglin Challenges Norms and Brings a Fresh Perspective

Wednesday, May 06, 2020

Hegglin Challenges Norms and Brings a Fresh Perspective

Miriam Hegglin knew she would be one of few women on the ExxonMobil offshore oil platform to which she was assigned in 2016 as part of a program for new employees. But she was determined to learn as much as she could during the six-month assignment, and to earn through hard work the respect of the platform crew she was joining.

LoGrande Named DoD SMART Scholar

Monday, May 04, 2020

LoGrande Named DoD SMART Scholar

PhD student Kevin LoGrande was recently named a SMART (Science, Math, and Research for Transformation) Scholar by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). LoGrande will receive research and educational funding, a summer internship, and a guaranteed position with the DoD after graduation.

Choudhary’s Team Takes “Best Overall Design” in Rethink the Rink Competition

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Choudhary’s Team Takes “Best Overall Design” in Rethink the Rink Competition

Rethink the Rink is a week-long Make-a-thon that challenged students, including sophomore Dhruv Choudhary, to find solutions that provide hockey players with a greater range of motion and flexibility—while still providing appropriate coverage.

Serving the Community: Donating Cloth Masks to Essential Workers

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Serving the Community: Donating Cloth Masks to Essential Workers

Inspired to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic, two CEE students pulled out their sewing machines and quickly jumped into action to create cloth masks for others. Eliza Bell (CEE 2021) and Emma Clement (CEE 2023) have created and donated masks to friends, family, restaurant workers, grocery store workers, and even nursing home employees. Both found patterns online and found that after some practice, they could create masks in less than 20 minutes.

Flanigan to Join CEE Faculty in Fall 2020

Thursday, April 09, 2020

Flanigan to Join CEE Faculty in Fall 2020

Katherine Flanigan, who will join CEE’s faculty this fall, was attracted to the university thanks to its philosophical discussions surrounding the identity and role of the civil and environmental engineers in a changing world. “The growing needs of society are changing the ways in which we carry out research and train students to serve the common good,” she says. “CEE is one of the first programs to rigorously embrace these technological advancements in both its research and curriculum.”

ANSYS HALL: A Creative Epicenter

Wednesday, April 08, 2020

ANSYS HALL: A Creative Epicenter

Fully opened in October 2019 as part of the College of Engineering’s larger maker ecosystem known as TechSpark, ANSYS Hall is a great boon for CEE courses. “What I can do with students just got bigger,” says Jim Thompson, who teaches the 12-401 Civil & Environmental Engineering Design capstone course.

Farrell Competes in Jeopardy 2020 College Championship

Friday, April 03, 2020

Farrell Competes in Jeopardy 2020 College Championship

Emma Farrell, a senior majoring in civil and environmental engineering and history, bested over 18,000 applicants to earn one of the 15 competitor spots in the Jeopardy 2020 College Championship.

Wall Premieres Film Festival Winning Documentary in Pittsburgh

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Wall Premieres Film Festival Winning Documentary in Pittsburgh

Mary Wall’s (CEE ’98) career path has taken her in a direction she may not have expected. While at CMU, she minored in Creative Writing and Spanish to balance out the intensity of her engineering courses. She soon discovered a love for visual storytelling. Today, she’s preparing to premiere her first movie in Pittsburgh—a documentary titled The Fan Connection. The film has already been named the Audience Award Winner of the 2019 Buffalo International Film Festival and an official selection of the 2019 Film Festival of Columbus.

Lee Awarded Fok Presidential Fellowship

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Lee Awarded Fok Presidential Fellowship

PhD candidate Daryn Lee has recently been awarded a Thomas and Maria Fok Presidential Fellowship. Lee earned her undergraduate degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Berkeley. She is co-advised by professors Sean Qian and Costa Samaras and her research focuses on developing reliable methods to evaluate the accessibility and equity impacts of transportation projects and optimizing transportation improvements in low-access areas.

Hegde Presents Data Privacy Paper at 2020 TRB Conference

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Hegde Presents Data Privacy Paper at 2020 TRB Conference

CEE senior Sharika Hegde’s 2019 summer internship at the Federal Highway Administration’s Saxton Transportation Operations Laboratory not only allowed her to work with connected and automated vehicles—it sparked her interest in the data privacy implications of connected vehicle data logs.

Leech Awarded ESWP Metcalf Award

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Leech Awarded ESWP Metcalf Award

CEE Adjunct and alumnus Thomas Leech, PE, SE (BS '69) was honored with the ESWP 2020 William Metcalf Award at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania (ESWP) awards dinner on February 6th.

Katti Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

Friday, February 07, 2020

Katti Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

PhD candidate Radhika Katti has recently been awarded a Ruth Furman Miller and David H. Miller Presidential Fellowship in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Stein Wins George Washington Prize

Friday, February 07, 2020

Stein Wins George Washington Prize

CEE/EPP senior Simone Stein was awarded the George Washington Prize at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania awards dinner on February 6. The honor is presented yearly to a College of Engineering senior who demonstrates qualities of academic excellence, service, and leadership.

Wang Awarded Smith Fellowship

Wednesday, February 05, 2020

Wang Awarded Smith Fellowship

Advised by Professor Pingbo Tang, Yanyu Wang uses simulators to model air traffic to better understand accidents on the runway as well as take-off and landing.

Martinez Awarded Fok Presidential Fellowship

Tuesday, February 04, 2020

Martinez Awarded Fok Presidential Fellowship

Martinez, co-advised by professors Sean Qian, Costa Samaras, and Scott Matthews and is focused on analyze changes which would result from America's public transportation transitioning to an autonomous, electric bus fleet.

Using AI to Detect Energy Waste

Monday, February 03, 2020

Using AI to Detect Energy Waste

Liu’s decision to work in asset management was in service of improving the Artificial Intelligence (AI) software he had spent years developing with Burcu Akinci, the Paul Christiano Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Associate Dean for Research. That software, now offered through Liu and Akinci’s 2016 CEE spinoff LeanFM Technologies, provides facilities managers with the means to analyze data collected from existing sensors to identify, diagnose, and eliminate energy waste in their building’s HVAC systems due to faults. LeanFM is a PropTech, a company uses information technology for the real estate industry.

Wei Awarded the Liang Ji-Dian Graduate Fellowship

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Wei Awarded the Liang Ji-Dian Graduate Fellowship

PhD candidate Yujie Wei has been awarded the Liang Ji-Dian Graduate Fellowship. Wei, who is advised by professor Burcu Akinci and is focused on using unstructured visual data, such as images captured by cellphones and tablets, to reconstruct a semantically rich 3D model of construction sites. These will be used for providing accurate as-built information to support change documentation, progress monitoring, and facility management.

Sainarayanan Awarded the Parnika ACS Legacy Fellowship

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Sainarayanan Awarded the Parnika ACS Legacy Fellowship

MS student Sadhana Sainarayanan has been awarded the Parnika ACS Legacy Fellowship. Sainarayanan, who is in the Engineering & Technology Innovation Management Master's Program, is advised by professor Scott Matthews. Currently, she is working to developing traffic color light detection from dash-cam video streams by creating ground-truth labels for traffic colors and trains aggregated channel features to to detect the traffic light colors in live dash-cam videos.

Divergent Path: Joining Engineering and Creativity

Friday, January 24, 2020

Divergent Path: Joining Engineering and Creativity

Jolita Mo (CEE BS ’13, MS ’14) works as a product designer with online high-end retailer Net-A-Porter. Her job allows her to merge both her engineering and analytical skills, with her passion for design

Ibekwe Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Ibekwe Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

PhD candidate Uwakmfon Ibekwe has recently been awarded a Ruth Furman Miller and David H. Miller Presidential Fellowship in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from the College of Engineering and the University.

Katti Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Katti Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

PhD candidate Radhika Katti has recently been awarded a Ruth Furman Miller and David H. Miller Presidential Fellowship in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering from the College of Engineering and the University.

Jacobs Retires after 32 Years of Service

Monday, January 13, 2020

Jacobs Retires after 32 Years of Service

In 1987, Dr. Alan Jacobs stood in front of a Carnegie Mellon CEE class for the first time, sharing his geology expertise with Dr. Paul Christiano’s Foundation Engineering course. Each year and under different professors, Jacobs returned to speak, even after moving from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Youngstown, Ohio. Eventually, that geology course module evolved into a full course offered twice a year at CEE and taught by Jacobs and James Kilburg in alternating semesters. Now, after 33 years of service, Jacobs is retiring from the CEE Department, grateful for the experiences he’s had here and the joy he’s gained from teaching.

Modeling Excellence, Chatterjee Brings Skills and Collaboration to Engineering Solutions

Wednesday, January 08, 2020

Modeling Excellence, Chatterjee Brings Skills and Collaboration to Engineering Solutions

When people comment on Sumon Chatterjee’s strong computational and modeling skills, he sees it as much a comment on what he learned at CEE as on his own innate abilities.

Pearlman to Receive ASCE’s 2020 Wallace Hayward Baker Award for Ingenious Innovation in the Field of Ground Modification

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Pearlman to Receive ASCE’s 2020 Wallace Hayward Baker Award for Ingenious Innovation in the Field of Ground Modification

Alumnus Seth Pearlman (BS '78, MS '79), President and CEO of Menard Group USA, has been selected by the Geo-Institute Board of Governors at the American Society of Civil Engineers to receive the 2020 Wallace Hayward Baker Award for Ingenious Innovation in the Field of Ground Modification.

Supporting Environment by Designing Water Treatment Plants

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Supporting Environment by Designing Water Treatment Plants

Vignesh Ramakrishnan (CEE 2012) is working as an Environmental Engineer for CDM Smith in Chennai, India. His passion for water and the environment led him to Pittsburgh and CEE to earn his master’s degree. “When I knew I wanted to pursue a career in this field, I began looking for programs in the United States. It was an easy decision to choose CEE,” he says.

Hands-on Engineering Mechanics: Fallingwater

Monday, December 16, 2019

Hands-on Engineering Mechanics: Fallingwater

Students in Tom Leech’s Engineering Mechanics class recently traveled to Fallingwater for a lecture and tour summarizing the history and architecture of the famous Frank Lloyd Wright property. The annual trip gives students the opportunity to visualize Fallingwater’s structure—and the maintenance needed to keep the building sound as well as understand the engineering principles utilized in the unique home’s construction.

Carbon Intensity of Power Sector Down in 2019

Friday, December 13, 2019

Carbon Intensity of Power Sector Down in 2019

Power generation from coal fell significantly, while natural gas, solar, and wind generation all increased, leading to a reduction in the overall carbon intensity of the U.S. power sector from 2018 Q2 to 2019 Q2, according to the Power Sector Carbon Index supported by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems.

Building Global Successes: Jonathan Tanner

Monday, December 09, 2019

Building Global Successes: Jonathan Tanner

As a management consultant in the automotive, aerospace, travel, and information sectors for A.T. Kearney, Johnathan Tanner (CEE ‘15, ETIM ‘15) brings to bear his background in engineering and business to help clients control costs. The projects on which he has worked have ranged from helping clients develop research labs to developing new business units.

Farming Data, Improving Production

Monday, December 02, 2019

Farming Data, Improving Production

or Arvind Murali Mohan (MS ’10, PhD ’13), the opportunity to use technology to help farmers compile previously siloed data into one central platform means the chance to help them even the playing field in an industry where so many inputs are beyond their control. As a co-founder of foris.io, a Silicon Valley-based precision agriculture startup that helps farmers with field management and crop performance, Mohan heads up research and development for the company.

Zhang Awarded Mao Yisheng Graduate Fellowship

Friday, November 22, 2019

Zhang Awarded Mao Yisheng Graduate Fellowship

PhD candidate Yilin Zhang was recently awarded the Mao Yisheng Graduate Fellowship. He is currently advised by professors Gregory Lowry (CEE) and Robert Tilton (ChemE) and is developing functional polymer structures for environmental applications, including temperature-responsive drug delivery in plants and mercury removal from water and liquid hydrocarbon.

Kurland to Give Keynote at Africa GIS 2019 Conference

Monday, November 18, 2019

Kurland to Give Keynote at Africa GIS 2019 Conference

Teaching professor Kristen Kurland will be a keynote speaker in Kigali, Rwanda at the Africa GIS 2019 conference. Her talk, Smart Cities and the Future of Urban Planning, discusses the increasing need for data, technology, and computational systems to improve many aspects of urban life. Her talk synthesizes past, present, and future projects that use 2D and 3D GIS and virtual reality collaborations to bring such projects to fruition.

Recent Alumni Participate in MIT Rising Stars Workshop

Monday, November 18, 2019

Recent Alumni Participate in MIT Rising Stars Workshop

Three recent CEE PhD graduates recently participated in MIT’s Rising Stars in Civil and Environmental Engineering workshop, a competitive program the brings 20 women together to prepare them for careers in academia and as leaders in civil and environmental engineering.

Research and Internship Propels Master's Student Vaidyanathan into His Professional Future

Monday, November 18, 2019

Research and Internship Propels Master's Student Vaidyanathan into His Professional Future

Vishal Vaidyanathan came to CEE to pursue a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Sustainability and Science after obtaining a BS in Chemical Engineering from Anna University in Chennai. He will graduate with his MS in December 2019 and start his career with Geosyntec Consultants a few weeks later, as a member of the Process Design Team.

Arora Awarded Ellegood Fellowship

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Arora Awarded Ellegood Fellowship

PhD candidate Abhishek Arora has been awarded the Julia and Michael Ellegood Strategic Doctoral Fellowship. Arora is advised by professor Amit Acharya and his research looks to understand stressed, dynamical, interactions in small collections of line defects comprising dislocations or cracks in two and three dimensions, and to study the emergent collective behavior of dislocations leading to patterning, e.g. cell formation, at small and large strains.

Ariss Awarded D'Appolonia Fellowship

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Ariss Awarded D'Appolonia Fellowship

Congratulations to PhD candidate Rami Ariss who was recently awarded the Dr. Elio D’Appolonia Graduate Fellowship. Ariss completed his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and masters in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Californi, Berkeley.

Thompson Recognized for Work as ASCE Student Chapter Advisor

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Thompson Recognized for Work as ASCE Student Chapter Advisor

Recently, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Board of Direction recognized CEE faculty member Jim Thompson for his exemplary work advising the Carnegie Mellon University ASCE Student Chapter.

Jyamfi Wins Best Research Poster

Thursday, November 07, 2019

Jyamfi Wins Best Research Poster

Congratulations to Masters student Kwaku Jyamfi who was awarded first place at the Energy Week research poster competition at Duke University. "I presented a solution to the problem of energy poverty in developing nations," explains Jyamfi. "With about 1 billion people without access to cheap and reliable electricity, Farm to Flame Energy addresses this by utilizing the waste chains of these underserved areas to generate electricity. We do it differently than others, with a patented combustion process that sets us part in emissions and energy efficiency."

Vijayashanthar Awarded Cohon Fellowship

Thursday, November 07, 2019

Vijayashanthar Awarded Cohon Fellowship

PhD candidate Vasi Vijayashanthar has recently been awarded a Jared and Maureen Cohon Graduate Fellowship in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research is focused broadly on strengthening understanding of the natural geochemical processes that affect lead dissolution, and to introduce innovative computational tools to mitigate and prevent public health risks from lead exposure.

New, Integrated CEE/CS Degree Program: Focus on Emerging Technologies

Monday, November 04, 2019

New, Integrated CEE/CS Degree Program: Focus on Emerging Technologies

This fall CEE launched a new, integrated degree program with the School of Computer Science. The Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Integrated Study in Computer Science was designed for civil and environmental engineers who are interested in learning more about emerging technologies.

Using Teamwork, Soil Mechanics in Bench Building Project

Friday, October 25, 2019

Using Teamwork, Soil Mechanics in Bench Building Project

CivE undergraduates Tessa Weeden ('20), Jessica Wang ('21), and Skylar McAuliffe ('22) recently participated in an on-campus project that tested their engineering abilities—as well as their teamwork skills. The women worked alongside 40 other students to create a bench, designed by architecture students in the Earthworks Course, out of earthen building materials.

The Climate Change Issue: CEE Continues to Advance Solutions for the Challenges Ahead [Part 2]

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The Climate Change Issue: CEE Continues to Advance Solutions for the Challenges Ahead [Part 2]

Extreme storms, increasing temperatures, drier deserts—our climate is changing, and so must our infrastructure design, construction, and management. Determining how to best adapt engineering practices in the face of these new climate patterns is a massive undertaking, but our CEE faculty and students are rising to the challenge.

A Journey Worth Remembering: The 1956 St. Lawrence Seaway Construction Tour

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

A Journey Worth Remembering: The 1956 St. Lawrence Seaway Construction Tour

Their senior courses at Carnegie Tech wouldn’t start for another week, but 19 members of the Civil Engineering class of 1957 had reunited early. Each one had brought a suitcase. They greeted each other, talking excitedly about the journey ahead, and, one after another, stacked their luggage in a growing pile in the covered back of a pickup truck.

The Climate Change Issue: CEE Continues to Advance Solutions for the Challenges Ahead [Part 1]

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

The Climate Change Issue: CEE Continues to Advance Solutions for the Challenges Ahead [Part 1]

Extreme storms, increasing temperatures, drier deserts—our climate is changing, and so must our infrastructure design, construction, and management. Determining how to best adapt engineering practices in the face of these new climate patterns is a massive undertaking, but our CEE faculty and students are rising to the challenge.

Alum Pingbo Tang Joins CEE as Associate Professor

Monday, October 21, 2019

Alum Pingbo Tang Joins CEE as Associate Professor

CEE is pleased to welcome Pingbo Tang as an Associate Professor. Tang earned his PhD in CEE in 2009. Tang, whose PhD dissertation explored the extraction of surveying goals from point clouds obtained from laser scanners to support bridge inspection, previously taught at Arizona State University and Western Michigan University.

Cousté Steps Into Role as Site Superintendent for DC Metro Extension

Friday, October 18, 2019

Cousté Steps Into Role as Site Superintendent for DC Metro Extension

Michelle Cousté (BS '15) is a site superintendent for Clark Construction on the Silver Line project, a 6-station, 11-mile extension to the DC metro.

Lopez-Cantu Uses NCAR Supercomputer to Assess Climate Impact on Infrastructure

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Lopez-Cantu Uses NCAR Supercomputer to Assess Climate Impact on Infrastructure

Ph.D. candidate Tania Lopez-Cantu is working on research to analyze potential changes in rainfall extremes at high spatial and temporal resolution for the United States. Her work is investigating how these changes impact local infrastructure systems.

Dzombak Named ASCE Distinguished Member

Friday, October 11, 2019

Dzombak Named ASCE Distinguished Member

Congratulations to Hamerschlag University Professor and Department Head Dave Dzombak who has been named an ASCE Distinguished Member for his outstanding education, leadership, and research contributions to water quality engineering, sustainable water resources, and energy-environment issues.

Leite Hosts Mars Industries Workshop to Crowdsource Undergrad Perspectives

Friday, October 11, 2019

Leite Hosts Mars Industries Workshop to Crowdsource Undergrad Perspectives

Fernanda Leite (PhD ‘09) has chosen CMU as one of three universities across the country to pilot the Construction Industry Institute (CII) workshop, “Project 2050: Mars Industries.” Billed as an opportunity to “imagine the industries of Mars,” the October 12th workshop is part of a CII-funded study that’s collecting crowdsourcing ideas from next-generation leaders.

Brown and Hegde Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Thursday, October 03, 2019

Brown and Hegde Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

CEE/EPP senior Taylor Brown and CEE Sharika Hegde were named as Andrew Carnegie Scholars for the 2019-2020 academic year.

CEE Team’s DR-Train is First-of-its-Kind SHM for Rail

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

CEE Team’s DR-Train is First-of-its-Kind SHM for Rail

Jingxiao Liu knew that a system was desperately needed to automatically assess the structural health monitoring (SHM) of rail infrastructure. Despite the $9.7 billion in capital that private freight rail industry puts into maintaining its network, there were nearly 1,1100 derailments in 2015. Just two years later, the Federal Highway Administration found that 7.7% of U.S. bridges were in poor condition.

Dayal Receives a 2019 MURI Award from DoD to Dig into the Labyrinth of Soil

Monday, September 30, 2019

Dayal Receives a 2019 MURI Award from DoD to Dig into the Labyrinth of Soil

Professor Kaushik Dayal has won a 2019 Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) award to examine soil behavior in these situations using multiscale modeling, funded by the Department of Defense (DoD). He is part of a team of researchers from five universities led by California Institute of Technology working on this problem. Dayal will be joined by two PhD students in the fall and they will receive $1 million over five years.

Weeden’s Global Internships Build Experience, Provide Growth Opportunities

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Weeden’s Global Internships Build Experience, Provide Growth Opportunities

Tessa Weeden’s (CEE 2020) willingness to take on new challenges have led her to an internship for the Alaska Center for Entergy and Power and a weekend-long soil mechanics bench-building project. But as she nears graduation, Weeden made the decision to expand her reach globally while gaining valuable hands-on experience through an internship at a remediation site in Grenzach-Wyhlen, Germany.

Breaking Ground: Slavsky Helps Clients Build for the Future

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Breaking Ground: Slavsky Helps Clients Build for the Future

Kseniya Slavsky (CEE MS, BS ’03) wears many different hats for her clients: engineer, financial analyst, manager, contract writer, negotiator. It is the variety in her workday, the opportunity to solve problems and the reality that, in the end, she can see the physical manifestation of her efforts, that makes her job so rewarding.

Destenie Nock, ‘Engineer for Social Good,’ Joins CEE Faculty

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Destenie Nock, ‘Engineer for Social Good,’ Joins CEE Faculty

Destenie Nock has joined the departments of Engineering & Public Policy (EPP) and Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) this fall. She will begin as a Presidential Postdoctoral Fellow in EPP with an adjunct-faculty appointment to CEE, before starting as a tenure-track assistant professor in both EPP and CEE in the 2020 academic year.

Sensing an Opportunity to Reduce Infection Rates

Monday, September 23, 2019

Sensing an Opportunity to Reduce Infection Rates

Throughout the summer, third-year CEE undergraduate student Sarah Hamilton has been working with PhD student Jonathon Fagert to research whether these vibration sensors can collect relevant data on a variety of sink and counter surfaces. The end-goal, if the research proves fruitful, is for the sensors to be installed in hospitals to help ensure hand-washing protocols are observed in an effective manner.

Study Abroad in Berlin Provides Urban Planning Insight

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Study Abroad in Berlin Provides Urban Planning Insight

Ryan Rusali’s summer program fulfilled his dream to travel within Germany—while gaining valuable life and educational experience through IES Abroad program. He took classes alongside students from across the United States and the courses were taught in English, allowing Rusali to immediately dive into his studies.

Using Connected Vehicles and Traffic Signals to Improve Transportation Safety

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

Using Connected Vehicles and Traffic Signals to Improve Transportation Safety

CEE graduate, Navin Katta (MS ’09) from Savari, Inc., develops hardware and software for vehicles to improve road safety.

Sensing changes: Research seeks to improve early diagnosis of cognitive decline by monitoring daily activity

Tuesday, September 03, 2019

Sensing changes: Research seeks to improve early diagnosis of cognitive decline by monitoring daily activity

CEE professors Mario Bergés and Hae Young Noh, ECE professor Pei Zhang, and Juleen Rodakwoski, University of Pittsburgh professor in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Services are part of an interdisciplinary team of researchers that use vibrations from sensors to monitor daily behavior for a non-intrusive way to monitor for the early, often nearly imperceptible, signs of cognitive decline, early treatment could be established to slow disease progression.

Carnegie Mellon Leads DOE Team Improving Rural Mobility

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Carnegie Mellon Leads DOE Team Improving Rural Mobility

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is funding a collaborative team lead by Carnegie Mellon’s Sean Qian as they attempt to change the landscape of rural transportation in Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Greene County.

Modeling to Predict Landslides

Friday, August 23, 2019

Modeling to Predict Landslides

Landslides in the United States annually claim between 25-50 lives and cause more than $3 billion in damage. CEE graduate student Asish Yadav Madala has been working with CEE professor Amit Acharya and Christopher Mertz, Principal Project Scientist at CMU’s Robotics Institute, on research into landslides and the potential for developing software that will enable authorities to detect future landslides.

Summer Internship at LANL Lands Peng a Mentor

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Summer Internship at LANL Lands Peng a Mentor

PhD candidate Jade Xiaoyao Peng spent her summer as an intern for the Department X Computational Physics Division of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Her work focused on extending the current phase field dislocation dynamics method (PFDD) library to include anisotropy, heterogeneity, and new materials. Jade also performed simulations to demonstrate the new features and strength of the library—which included many hours of coding and debugging.

Tracking Runoff: Webber Restarts Stormwater Monitoring at Hamerschlag Hall

Monday, August 19, 2019

Tracking Runoff: Webber Restarts Stormwater Monitoring at Hamerschlag Hall

Marissa Webber, a CEE master’s student, has taken an interest in finding ways to incorporate human systems for controlling stormwater runoff with natural systems. It is a challenge she observed growing up in Jamaica, seeing the effects of climate change with rising sea levels and increased storm intensities.

Internship: Getting Real-World Experience at Volvo Startup

Friday, August 16, 2019

Internship: Getting Real-World Experience at Volvo Startup

Ojas Vora just completed the first half of his dual degree, CEE / Technology Ventures (MSTV). This summer he’s working as a solution concept developer intern for Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. His projects include work on intelligent transportation systems, smart cities, electro-mobility, and connected solutions.

Internship: Hegde Gets Technical with Autonomous Vehicles

Friday, August 16, 2019

Internship: Hegde Gets Technical with Autonomous Vehicles

Sharika Hegde, rising CEE senior with a minor in Computer Science, spent her summer interning as a contractor at the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, just outside of Washington, D.C. She’s part of a team that’s focused on national connected and automated vehicle (CAV) research.

A (Climate Change) Tale of 115 Cities

Monday, August 12, 2019

A (Climate Change) Tale of 115 Cities

Climate change is happening, but the details of how can vary greatly, which makes planning for the future a challenge. A new, open dataset contains climate histories of more than 100 U.S. cities, showing the unique changes each city has been through, and hinting at what might lie ahead.

Summer Research: How Smartphones Can Make You More Energy Efficient

Monday, August 12, 2019

Summer Research: How Smartphones Can Make You More Energy Efficient

If a phone application allowed people to utilize a device already in their possession to monitor the energy efficiency in their house – especially given more extreme temperatures and increased utility costs – they could save hundreds of dollars in third-party inspections. Money could also be saved with early detection of a window or a door, for example, that are not retaining cold air when air conditioning is in use.

INTERNSHIP: Stress Analysis and Design Engineering of Boeing 767

Thursday, August 08, 2019

INTERNSHIP: Stress Analysis and Design Engineering of Boeing 767

Undergraduate Chinasa Onyenkpa (CEE/BME) spent her summer at the Boeing Everett Factory working as a structural engineering intern on the 767 tanker and freighter. She split her time focusing on stress analysis and design engineering.

Internship: Gaining Valuable Hands-On Experience as a Field Engineer

Monday, August 05, 2019

Internship: Gaining Valuable Hands-On Experience as a Field Engineer

Russell Orlick, a rising junior, is spending his summer working with Clark Foundations, learning the ins and outs of the construction industry. Clark Foundations, with locations across the country, has completed more than 100 of the country’s most sophisticated support of excavation systems. Through this experience, Russell has had the opportunity to participate in field engineering work, shadow a field engineer, and work with 3D modeling.

Amish Embrace Technology to Help Children

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Amish Embrace Technology to Help Children

CEE professor Hae Young Noh and her team, with Ohio' Nationwide Children's Hospital, are using sensors to collect data about the movements of Amish children who have muscular dystrophy

VanBriesen Named Vice Provost for Faculty

Friday, May 31, 2019

VanBriesen Named Vice Provost for Faculty

Jeanne VanBriesen has been appointed vice provost for faculty, effective July 1. VanBriesen is the Duquesne Light Company Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy, and director of the Center for Water Quality in Urban Environmental Systems.

Bringing Science to Communication, Ong Translates for the Future

Friday, April 26, 2019

Bringing Science to Communication, Ong Translates for the Future

When Siri is asked what the weather is doing in Kalamazoo, there is a pretty good chance Leneve Ong has helped deliver the answer. Ong, who earned her Masters of Science from CEE’s Advanced Infrastructure Program in 2011, is a data scientist who helps Apple Inc.’s Siri understand spoken queries and deliver correct responses.

Beyond the Surface: Bringing Beauty and Structure to Light

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Beyond the Surface: Bringing Beauty and Structure to Light

David Bott (CMU BArch ’97, BS CEE ’98), grew up fascinated with the idea of creating spaces, how things were designed and how they were built. While his career path may be slightly different than he had envisioned as a young man, there can be no doubt that he is creating a legacy of iconic and unique spaces.

2019 Engineering Sustainability Conference

Friday, April 19, 2019

2019 Engineering Sustainability Conference

CEE, in partnership with the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh and the Steinbrenner Institute for Environmental Education and Research, recently held the Engineering Sustainability 2019 conference at the D.L. Lawrence Convention Center, downtown. The conference, which takes place every two years, attracted hundreds of industry experts, university faculty, and students from across the country.

CEE Alumni Awards Showcase Graduates’ Successes

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

CEE Alumni Awards Showcase Graduates’ Successes

During reunion and Spring Carnival weekend, CEE presented awards to notable graduates who are making a difference in both the industry and the community. Dave Dzombak, Hamerschlag University Professor and CEE department head, handed out each award and spoke of the alums’ achievements and enduring connections to CEE.

Learning by Doing

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Learning by Doing

Courses that create the CEE design thread provides students with opportunities across all four years to gain hands-on engineering experience and to apply what they’re learning in the core courses to actual projects.

Service Inspires Educational Focus

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Service Inspires Educational Focus

CEE/EPP first-year student Rimsha Ahmed was one of 13 students – graduate and undergraduate – who traveled with CMU in Puerto Rico to observe, participate in educational opportunities and help with projects.

Qian Awarded Posner, Molloy, and Pietrandrea Career Development Chair in Civil Engineering

Monday, April 15, 2019

Qian Awarded Posner, Molloy, and Pietrandrea Career Development Chair in Civil Engineering

CEE Assistant Professor Zhen (Sean) Qian is named the inaugural Henry Posner, Anne Molloy, and Robert and Christine Pietrandrea Career Development Chair in Civil Engineering, an endowed term professorship created to support a faculty member in the early phases of their career.

Duplan Named CEE’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni

Tuesday, April 09, 2019

Duplan Named CEE’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni

Neno Duplan (CEE ’84) has earned many awards during his career, but few have had the personal impact of being chosen CEE’s 2019 Distinguished Alumni. Duplan says that when he learned of the commendation, he immediately felt honored. “I know how many great CMU alumni are out there, especially here in Silicon Valley.”

Hemming Welcomes Students for Real World Engineering Program

Monday, April 08, 2019

Hemming Welcomes Students for Real World Engineering Program

Dorian Hemming (CEE ’11) understands the value of professional networking. And to help the next generation of CEE grads transition into the workforce, he was excited to host CMU students Charyl Tan, Andrew Thompson, and Annie Hu in Washington, D.C.—and show them a day in the life of a civil and environmental engineer.

Wang Joins CEE Faculty

Friday, March 29, 2019

Wang Joins CEE Faculty

Wang brings an interdisciplinary background to the study of civil and environmental engineering, utilizing a foundation in physics to achieve a computational understanding of the small-scale movement of atoms. Wang says his goal is to use advanced computerized study of nanoscale transport to solve real-world problems.

Rusali's Team Creates “Best Prototype” in Rethink the Rink Competition

Monday, March 18, 2019

Rusali's Team Creates “Best Prototype” in Rethink the Rink Competition

“Rethink the Rink” is an initiative of The Pittsburgh Penguins, Covestro, and Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. 2019 marks the second year that students spent one week creating prototypes that were presented to high-level executives for the Penguins and Covestro, a world-leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials.

Undergrad Research Projects Impacts Pittsburgh

Wednesday, March 06, 2019

Undergrad Research Projects Impacts Pittsburgh

CEE undergraduate Megan Henriksen is part of a group working with Associate Research Professor Albert Presto, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Presto, a member of CMU’s Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies, and his team are collecting data on pollutants from more than thirty sensors placed throughout Pittsburgh. The CMU Real-Time Multi-Pollutant Sensors (RAMP) are measuring: carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter.

Sun Awarded 2018 Young Civil Engineer of the Year

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Sun Awarded 2018 Young Civil Engineer of the Year

Congratulations to Sylvia Yunlin Sun (MS '14) who was awarded the 2018 Young Civil Engineer of the Year award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Pittsburgh Section.

Rusali Awarded SAF Italo V. (Ody) Mackin Achievement Award

Friday, February 15, 2019

Rusali Awarded SAF Italo V. (Ody) Mackin Achievement Award

CEE sophomore Ryan Rusali was recently awarded the Italo V. (Ody) Mackin Achievement Award, presented by The Student Award Foundation (SAF) of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Pittsburgh Section. Rusali will receive the commendation during ASCE Pittsburgh’s annual Engineers’ Week awards banquet.

Dzombak Named ASCE Pittsburgh’s Civil Engineer of the Year

Friday, February 15, 2019

Dzombak Named ASCE Pittsburgh’s Civil Engineer of the Year

CEE is proud to announce that Professor Dave Dzombak has been named the 2019 ASCE Pittsburgh Section’s Civil Engineer of the Year. The prestigious award is presented to one local engineer yearly, in recognition of continual excellent work.

Samaras Named Professor of the Year by ASCE Pittsburgh

Friday, February 15, 2019

Samaras Named Professor of the Year by ASCE Pittsburgh

Professor Costa Samaras was recently named the 2019 ASCE Pittsburgh Section’s Professor of the Year. Samaras is known for his ability to get students excited about engineering.

Adams Earns 2019 A&WMA Lyman A. Ripperton Environmental Educator Award

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Adams Earns 2019 A&WMA Lyman A. Ripperton Environmental Educator Award

Professor Peter Adams was recently named the 2019 Lyman A. Ripperton Environmental Educator award winner by the Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA).

Lau Wins George Washington Prize

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Lau Wins George Washington Prize

CEE senior Noel Lau was awarded the George Washington Prize at the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania awards dinner on February 7. The honor is presented yearly to a College of Engineering senior who demonstrates qualities of academic excellence, service, and leadership.

Balta Elected to National Academy of Engineering

Thursday, February 07, 2019

Balta Elected to National Academy of Engineering

CEE alum Wayne Balta was recently elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE)—one of the highest distinctions that a professional engineer may receive.

Marszalik Connects Native Alaskan Villages to Critical Sanitation Infrastructure

Monday, January 28, 2019

Marszalik Connects Native Alaskan Villages to Critical Sanitation Infrastructure

When Agnes Marszalik (BS '13) decided to focus her job search on areas near mountains, she had no idea that she’d end up in an area reeling from the impacts of climate change. Working as an engineer for the Division of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, she sees first-hand that native communities are relocating—or planning to relocate—due to the changing environment.

Leading the Way on Corporate Environmental Sustainability

Monday, January 07, 2019

Leading the Way on Corporate Environmental Sustainability

As Vice President of Corporate Environmental Affairs and Product Safety at IBM, CEE alumn Wayne Balta now leads the environmental efforts he helped to start nearly 30 years ago.

Newby Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

Monday, December 17, 2018

Newby Awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

PhD candidate Alexandra Newby has recently been awarded a Ruth Furman Miller and David H. Miller Presidential Fellowship in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Adam Incorporates Strategy, Sustainability into Chase Center

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Adam Incorporates Strategy, Sustainability into Chase Center

When the NBA’s Golden State Warriors plays its first game in the brand new 18,000 seat Chase Center, CEE alum Véronique Adam (BS '15) will be cheering them on—not just as a fan, but as an engineer who helped to make the center a reality.

Battifarano and Grahn Awarded Eisenhower Fellowship

Monday, December 10, 2018

Battifarano and Grahn Awarded Eisenhower Fellowship

Matt Battifarano and Rick Grahn have both been awarded a Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Clement Awarded Fok Fellowship

Friday, December 07, 2018

Clement Awarded Fok Fellowship

PhD candidate Emma Clement has recently been awarded a Thomas and Maria Fok Presidential Fellowship.

Hordern Awarded Cohon Fellowship

Thursday, December 06, 2018

Hordern Awarded Cohon Fellowship

PhD candidate Sarah Hordern has recently been awarded a Jared and Maureen Cohon Graduate Fellowship in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Department of Education Funds Prestigious Fellowship Program in CEE

Wednesday, December 05, 2018

Department of Education Funds Prestigious Fellowship Program in CEE

This fall, the Department of Education recognized this expertise by awarding CEE with funding for the highly prestigious and competitive Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) fellowship program. The GAANN fellowship will provide a cohort of six PhD students in the Advanced Infrastructure System (AIS) PhD program with full tuition and a yearly stipend while they research innovative ways to modernize US transportation and water infrastructure.

Alum Turns Battery Acid into Fertilizer – While Exceeding EPA Standards

Friday, November 16, 2018

Alum Turns Battery Acid into Fertilizer – While Exceeding EPA Standards

When John (Jack) Richardson, P.E. (BS ’87) is currently working on a project to convert industrial battery acid into fertilizer, an initiative born out of the EPA’s industry mandates to reduce emissions.

Grahn Awarded Ellegood Fellowship

Friday, November 09, 2018

Grahn Awarded Ellegood Fellowship

PhD candidate Rick Grahn has been awarded the Julia and Michael Ellegood Strategic Doctoral Fellowship for this academic term.

Kutchko Named SPE Distinguished Lecturer

Thursday, November 08, 2018

Kutchko Named SPE Distinguished Lecturer

Alumna Barbara Kutchko (PhD ‘08) named a Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) distinguished lecturer.

Jiaan Wang Awarded Mao Yisheng Graduate Fellowship

Wednesday, November 07, 2018

Jiaan Wang Awarded Mao Yisheng Graduate Fellowship

PhD candidate Jiaan Wang was recently awarded the Mao Yisheng Graduate Fellowship.

Karimi Awarded D'Appolonia Fellowship

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Karimi Awarded D'Appolonia Fellowship

Congratulations to PhD candidate Mina Karimi who was recently awarded the Dr. Elio D’Appolonia Graduate Fellowship

Hancherick Returns to Campus as Project Engineer for ANSYS Hall

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Hancherick Returns to Campus as Project Engineer for ANSYS Hall

Carly Hancherick (CEE '14), is bringing her unique perspective to the project thanks to her familiarity with the school and campus. She’s working as the project engineer for the construction management team, Mosites Construction.

Redesigning the Environmental Engineering Research Space

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Redesigning the Environmental Engineering Research Space

To better accommodate today’s and tomorrow’s research—and the equipment it requires—the Environmental Engineering Labs are undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation, with construction starting in January 2019 and the new labs opening in August 2019.

Two CEE Students Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Monday, October 22, 2018

Two CEE Students Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Gabe Bamforth and Lauren Mueller have been named as Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Powerful Collaborations

Thursday, October 18, 2018

Powerful Collaborations

A look at how CEE faculty continues to innovate the use of field robotics in civil and environmental engineering in their research.

Good Named Siebel Scholar

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Good Named Siebel Scholar

PhD candidate Kelly Good was recently named as one of the Class of 2019 Siebel Scholars.

Internship: Focused on Safe Closing of Coal Ash Basins

Monday, August 20, 2018

Internship: Focused on Safe Closing of Coal Ash Basins

Undergraduate Simone Stein (CEE/EPP ’20) is spending her summer in Charlotte, North Carolina working with the Coal Combustion Products team at Duke Energy. She’s assisting the group, which was formed in 2014 after the Dan River coal ash spill, to implement the safe closing of North Carolina coal ash basins which are mandated by the state government.

Internship: Student’s Analysis Leads to Potential Cost and Energy Savings

Monday, August 20, 2018

Internship: Student’s Analysis Leads to Potential Cost and Energy Savings

Tessa Weeden (CEE ’20) is spending her summer far from Pittsburgh—as an intern at the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP). Her work focuses on making borough buildings more efficient to save both energy and money.

Internship Provides Insight into Water Industry Innovation

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Internship Provides Insight into Water Industry Innovation

Master’s degree candidate Liz Alexander (CEE 2019) is spending the summer interning for the nonprofit Current.

Internship: Restoring the George Summer Internship—Ensuring Safety and Adding Appeal

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Internship: Restoring the George Summer Internship—Ensuring Safety and Adding Appeal

CEE/EPP undergraduate Joseph Iacobellis is spending his summer working on “Restoring the George,” an initiative of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to maintain the structural health of the George Washington Bridge.

Internship: Intern Gains Mentors, Guidance, Job Offer After Graduation

Tuesday, August 07, 2018

Internship: Intern Gains Mentors, Guidance, Job Offer After Graduation

Masters student David DeSmet’s grew professionally through his internship at the Engineering Research and Decision Center at the Army Corps of Engineering, David has grown professionally. DeSmet was also offered the opportunity to continue working for the Army Corps of Engineering after he completes his degree in December 2018.

Internship: Helping Michigan Clean Water Nonprofit Review United Nations’ SDGs

Tuesday, August 07, 2018

Internship: Helping Michigan Clean Water Nonprofit Review United Nations’ SDGs

Roseanne Usnay (CEE ’19) is interning for the environmental program at the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in Flint, Michigan. The foundation provides grants for both clean water projects in the Great Lakes region and clean energy projects in South America and Africa. Roseanne is enrolled in the integrated BS/MS program at CEE and just completed her undergraduate studies.

Internship: Offshore Engineering Discovered at CMU Job Fair

Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Internship: Offshore Engineering Discovered at CMU Job Fair

Rising junior Paul Anderson dove deeper into his interest with offshore civil engineering this summer while interning at ExxonMobile. He was able to bring in some of the skills he learned at CEE to help develop tools and methods for increased efficiency.

Remembering Fran McMichael

Monday, July 30, 2018

Remembering Fran McMichael

Emeritus professor and former CEE department head, Dr. Fran McMichael had a significant impact on CMU as a teacher, mentor, colleague, and researcher.

MSTV/CEE Program Prepares Next Generation of Innovative Engineers

Friday, July 20, 2018

MSTV/CEE Program Prepares Next Generation of Innovative Engineers

Xulu Liu is a member of the first graduating class of MSTV/CEE students. She’s completed her CEE studies in Pittsburgh, MSTV studies in CMU’s Silicon Valley campus and an industry internship

Qian Awarded NSF CAREER Award

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Qian Awarded NSF CAREER Award

Sean Qian receives NSF award to combine big data and transportation system modeling to improve traffic flow and the way we create and operate transportation systems.

Dean named ASCE Distinguished Member

Wednesday, May 02, 2018

Dean named ASCE Distinguished Member

James H. Garrett, Jr. has been honored by ASCE with inclusion in its 2018 class of Distinguished Members.

Cohon Receives Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Tuesday, May 01, 2018

Cohon Receives Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Professor Bielak Celebrated at Retirement Event

Friday, April 27, 2018

Professor Bielak Celebrated at Retirement Event

Professor Jacobo Bielaks impact on his students, peers, and the industry was celebrated at Bielak’s retirement party at CMU Carnival.

ASCE Takes Second Place in Blitz Booth Carnival

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

ASCE Takes Second Place in Blitz Booth Carnival

The CMU ASCE chapter, for the second year, participated in booth for Carnival. This year their entry was awarded second place.

CEE Alumni Awards

Tuesday, April 24, 2018

CEE Alumni Awards

CEE alumni are honored for their achievements at CMU Carnival weekend.

Learning and Volunteering in Puerto Rico

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Learning and Volunteering in Puerto Rico

While many of her peers were celebrating Spring Break at the beach or another relaxing location, CEE/EPP student Ariana Sabbat was working to help the people of Puerto Rico recover from hurricane damage.

ASCE Chapter Awarded Letter of Recognition

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

ASCE Chapter Awarded Letter of Recognition

Our chapter was awarded a 2018 Letter of Recognition for Community Service as well as Honorable Mention for chapter activities.

Crossing Borders

Friday, April 13, 2018

Crossing Borders

Spending time in an unfamiliar country can teach us a lot—about others and ourselves. For CEE students, the opportunities to go abroad are vast, from spring break trips to summer programs to entire semesters. “Wherever they want to go, they can find a way to make it work with their studies,” says CEE Director of Undergraduate Programs Andrea Francioni Rooney.

Creating a Water Management Plan in Costa Rica

Friday, April 13, 2018

Creating a Water Management Plan in Costa Rica

PhD student Chelsea Kolb of Cloquet, Minnesota, recently returned from the city of Santa Cruz, located in the northern region of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. She spent 10 months in the region working alongside a hydrologist to study water quality and aquifer levels along the coastline.

Safety and Environmental Impacts in Petroleum Industry

Thursday, April 12, 2018

Safety and Environmental Impacts in Petroleum Industry

PhD student Eilis Rosenbaum, who is advised by Professor Kaushik Dayal, is researching foamed cement, which is used in wells all over the world, with the goal to improve safety practices in petroleum industry wells.

Building Bridges to Success

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Building Bridges to Success

Civil Engineering alumnus W. Logan Dickerson always imagined building bridges would be in his future. His father had founded a bridge construction business in 1929, and Dickerson knew from the start that he wanted to earn a degree that allowed him to follow in his father’s footsteps.

Rethinking the Rink: Sophomore Designs Safer Hockey Rink for Penguins

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Rethinking the Rink: Sophomore Designs Safer Hockey Rink for Penguins

To create a safer sporting environment for ice hockey players, 22 students from Carnegie Mellon University, including CEE Sophomore Sally Chen, were asked to create improved dasher board systems that minimize player injury during impact. The week-long Maker Space Rethink the Rink challenge took place in partnership with The Pittsburgh Penguins and Covestro, a world-leading supplier of high-tech polymer materials.

Berges named ASCE- Pittsburgh Section Professor of the Year

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Berges named ASCE- Pittsburgh Section Professor of the Year

Professor Mario Berges was recognized for his outstanding research, work in the classroom as well as a mentor for undergraduate and graduate students.

Rosenbaum Awarded Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship

Tuesday, February 06, 2018

Rosenbaum Awarded Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship

CEE PhD student Eilis Rosenbaum was recently awarded a Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship.

Wei Ma Awarded Liang Ji-Dan Fellowship

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Wei Ma Awarded Liang Ji-Dan Fellowship

PhD student, Wei Ma has recently been awarded a 2018 Liang Ji-Dan Fellowship. B

Bartholomew Awarded Smith Fellowship

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Bartholomew Awarded Smith Fellowship

CEE PhD student Tim Bartholomew was recently awarded a Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship

Lopez Named UCAR Next Generation Fellow

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Lopez Named UCAR Next Generation Fellow

CEE PhD student Tania Lopez has been named an UCAR Next Generation Fellow by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research.

Moving Upstream: PhD Student Works on National Water Model

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Moving Upstream: PhD Student Works on National Water Model

PhD student Kerim Dickson contributed to the national water model at prestigious summer institute

Wailong Awarded Mao Yisheng Graduate Fellowship

Thursday, November 09, 2017

Wailong Awarded Mao Yisheng Graduate Fellowship

PhD candidate Wailong Wang was recently awarded the Mao Yisheng Graduate Fellowship.

Xu Awarded Dowd Fellowship

Wednesday, November 08, 2017

Xu Awarded Dowd Fellowship

PhD student Susu Xu was selected as one of four 2017 Dowd Fellows by the College of Engineering.

Majditehran Awarded Ellegood Graduate Fellowship

Monday, November 06, 2017

Majditehran Awarded Ellegood Graduate Fellowship

Houriyeh Majditehran was recently awarded the Julia and Michael Ellegood CEE Strategic Graduate Fellowship.

Zhang Awarded D'Applonia Fellowship

Thursday, November 02, 2017

Zhang Awarded D'Applonia Fellowship

PhD Candidate Zhuoran Zhang was recently awarded the Dr. Elio D’Appolonia Graduate Fellowship.

Calculating Behavior: CEE Student Builds Mathematical Models to Inform Material Design

Friday, October 27, 2017

Calculating Behavior: CEE Student Builds Mathematical Models to Inform Material Design

Designing new materials is a complicated business, explains Chiqun Zhang. He would know—he’s spent most of the last five years studying material defects, modeling, and behavior at Carnegie Mellon, earning both a master’s degree and a PhD in the Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, as well as a second master’s degree in computer science.

Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions

Friday, October 27, 2017

Center for Air, Climate, and Energy Solutions

Founded in 2016 with $10 million in funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CACES is a five-year collaborative research center at Carnegie Mellon University with a focus on the impacts of air pollution, technology, climate change, and related policies on local air quality and health. Within Carnegie Mellon alone, the students and faculty in CACES represent six departments, including CEE, and over a dozen faculty from outside institutions are involved.

Lopez Awarded Cohon Fellowship

Monday, October 09, 2017

Lopez Awarded Cohon Fellowship

PhD candidate Tania Lopez has recently been named the 2017-2018 Jared and Maureen Cohon Graduate Fellow in Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Two CEE Students Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

Thursday, October 05, 2017

Two CEE Students Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

CEE seniors Julissa Cruz and Emmett Horton exemplify the qualities of an ACS Scholar by excelling at academics, having strong leadership abilities, and demonstrating a heart for community service.

Driven to Succeed: CEE Alum Excels in Construction Management for Tesla Motors Gigafactory

Friday, September 01, 2017

Driven to Succeed: CEE Alum Excels in Construction Management for Tesla Motors Gigafactory

When CEE alum Sophie Grodsinsky joined Tesla Motors as a Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Construction Engineer in 2016, she’d never worked a day in construction in her life but credits the interdisciplinary nature of CMU’s curriculum as preparing her to work with colleagues across such a wide variety of fields.

CEE Alum Paul Murphy Oversees Nation’s First Offshore Wind Farm

Thursday, August 03, 2017

CEE Alum Paul Murphy Oversees Nation’s First Offshore Wind Farm

As Vice President of Operations and Engineering at Deepwater Wind, CEE alum Paul Murphy has a job unlike any other in the United States.

Remembering Distinguished Alum, Dr. Melvin Ramey

Wednesday, August 02, 2017

Remembering Distinguished Alum, Dr. Melvin Ramey

Dr. Melvin R. Ramey, an esteemed Carnegie Mellon CEE alumnus, a passionate educator, and an accomplished researcher, passed away on June 28, 2017.

AEESP Honors Small with 2017 O’Melia Award

Thursday, June 22, 2017

AEESP Honors Small with 2017 O’Melia Award

Professor Mitch Small recently received the 2017 Charles R. O'Melia Distinguished Educator Award from the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP).

CMU Power Sector Carbon Index

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

CMU Power Sector Carbon Index

From 2005 to 2017, the CO2 emissions intensity from US electricity production has decreased nearly 24%, according to the latest update of the Carnegie Mellon Power Sector Carbon Index.

Christian Awarded Wimmer Faculty Fellowship

Wednesday, June 07, 2017

Christian Awarded Wimmer Faculty Fellowship

CEE Assistant Teaching Professor Sarah Christian was recently selected as one of five 2017- 2018 Wimmer Faculty Fellows at the Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation.

MS Student Awarded Prize at Annual Shale Innovation Contest

Wednesday, May 31, 2017

MS Student Awarded Prize at Annual Shale Innovation Contest

Masters student Nyla Khan was part of a team whose research recently won a $500 award at the 6th Annual Shale Gas Innovation Contest.

Honoring The Breaks They Were Given

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Honoring The Breaks They Were Given

Henry Posner III, Anne Molloy and Bob and Chris Pietrandrea have immortalized a 30-year friendship with an endowed professorship.

CEE at the Meeting of the Minds

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

CEE at the Meeting of the Minds

CEE students Rebecca Tien, Daniel Ha, and Roseanne Usnay presented a diverse array of projects last week alongside other undergraduate students at the Meeting of the Minds, CMU's undergraduate research symposium.

Her Heart is in the Work: CEE Student Angela Ng Receives Student Service Award

Tuesday, May 02, 2017

Her Heart is in the Work: CEE Student Angela Ng Receives Student Service Award

As a Civil and Environmental Engineering and Biomedical Engineering double major, Angela Ng's continuous passion for academics, community service, and leadership embodies her interpretation of Andrew Carnegie's vision for the Carnegie Mellon community.

Undergraduate Research: Being Part of a Team

Monday, April 17, 2017

Undergraduate Research: Being Part of a Team

Jonathan Ying joins CEE/EPP Professor Meagan Mauter's research team to develop models and tools to allow steam power plants to evaluate the options for complying with ELG guidelines.

Three CEE Faculty Awarded SEED Grants

Friday, April 14, 2017

Three CEE Faculty Awarded SEED Grants

Three CEE faculty were named as 2017 recipients of the Scott Institute's annual Seed Grants for Energy Research, which support CMU faculty research in the areas of energy, environment, and policy.

Small Honored with 2017 Lazarus Award

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Small Honored with 2017 Lazarus Award

Professor Mitch Small, the H.John Heinz, III Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy, has been honored with the Carnegie Mellon 2017 Barbara Lazarus Award for Graduate and Junior Faculty Mentoring.

Pozzi Receives NSF CAREER Award for Infrastructure Management Research

Monday, March 27, 2017

Pozzi Receives NSF CAREER Award for Infrastructure Management Research

Through his research, CEE Assistant Professor Matteo Pozzi aims to develop algorithms that help infrastructure managers make smarter decisions and ultimately reduce uncertainty, risk, and management cost. To help him address this challenge, The National Science Foundation has selected Pozzi for the National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, a prestigious five-year grant given to junior faculty for research and education.

Celebrating National Engineers Week at Explore Engineering Event

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Celebrating National Engineers Week at Explore Engineering Event

CEE graduate and undergraduate students gathered alongside students from other departments in Scott Hall Sunday to celebrate the start of National Engineers Week at the first-ever "Explore Engineering!" event sponsored by the College of Engineering.

Noh Awarded NSF Career Award

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Noh Awarded NSF Career Award

Assistant Professor Hae Young Noh was recently selected for a Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award from the National Science Foundation. The award is one of the most prestigious for junior faculty researchers in science and engineering.

Chatterjee Awarded Smith Fellowship

Thursday, February 02, 2017

Chatterjee Awarded Smith Fellowship

CEE PhD student Sabyasachi Chatterjee was recently awarded a Bradford and Diane Smith Graduate Fellowship.

Mauter Awarded Dean's Early Career Fellowship

Wednesday, February 01, 2017

Mauter Awarded Dean's Early Career Fellowship

Assistant Professor Meagan Mauter, jointly appointed in both Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy, was recently awarded a Dean's Early Career Fellowship from the College of Engineering.

CEE/BME Alumna Corinne Clinch Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 List

Monday, January 30, 2017

CEE/BME Alumna Corinne Clinch Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 List

Corinne Clinch (CEE/BMA BS '14) has been named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in the Social Entrepreneurs category.

Pi Awarded Bertucci Fellowship

Friday, January 27, 2017

Pi Awarded Bertucci Fellowship

PhD graduate student, Xidong Pi was recently named as one of two CEE students who were awarded a John and Claire Bertucci Fellowship to support his graduate work.

Connecting Power Plants and Drinking Water Safety

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Connecting Power Plants and Drinking Water Safety

Connecting the impact of power plants on drinking water - PhD student Kelly Good and Professor Jeanne VanBriesen study bromide levels in local rivers.

Mirshekari Awarded Bertucci Fellowship

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Mirshekari Awarded Bertucci Fellowship

PhD graduate student, Mostafa Mirshekari was recently named as one of two CEE students who were awarded a John and Claire Bertucci Fellowship to support their graduate studies.

Recognizing Professor Samaras: Inaugural Recipient of the EPP Policy Impact Award

Bouabdellaoui Volunteers to Bring STEM Ingenuity to Tweens

Gold Organizes Habitat for Humanity Spring Break Service Trips

Brown Blends Engineering & Creativity in Phipps Fashion Project

2022-2023 CEE Student External Awards

Tang and Weiss Test Infrastructure Scenarios Using Digital Twins

2023 CEE Graduation Awards

Janicke Wins Judith A. Resnik Award

Akinci and Lowry Named University Professors

Asch Awarded National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship

2023 CEE Alumni Awards

Xing Awarded Robert E. Uhrig Graduate Scholarship

Hidden Ice Melt in the Himalaya

Hendrickson announced as 2023 recipient of the ASCE James Laurie Prize

Wice Accepted into SAME Academy of Fellows

Remembering Irving Oppenheim (1948-2023)

Lederman Consults for Client, Climate, and Water Challenges

Sampson Provides Growth Opportunities for Women & Minority-Owned Businesses

Two CEE Professors Elected as 2022 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Martinez Keeps Airport Projects Flying Forward

Team Projects Two Out of Three Glaciers Could Be Lost By 2100

Alumni in Service: Bringing Clean Water to Honduras Community

Alumni’s Projects Enhance Baha Mar’s Destination Status

Tang Awarded Dowd Fellowship to Develop Simulations

Sanghavi Volunteers with EWB to Supply Clean Water, Infrastructure

Frederick’s UN Internship Focused on Preservation, Sustainability

Peng Receives Commendation for Excellence at Thrill Design Invitational

Gioffre’s Volunteerism Delivers STEM to Kids

Kulkarni and Karve Marry Education, Life at CEE

The Rise of Digital Twins

The Rise of Digital Twins

The Rise of Digital Twins

Li Spins Success in Engineering, Table Tennis

Analyzing Waste Pit Contaminants

Andrade and Grzybowski Named Andrew Carnegie Scholars

DEI Hackathon Challenges Students to Develop Solutions

Flanigan Named Wimmer Faculty Fellow

Mixing Engineering, Architecture, and Wooden Coasters

New Master's Program: AI Engineering in CEE

Kagdi Named HECC Fellow

Wells Named Steinbrenner Institute and Heinz Presidential Fellow

Gaining Mentorship, Experience in Summer Internships

Acharya Named Simons Foundation Pivot Fellow

Nock Awarded Sloan Foundation Grant

Senchur Steps into CEE Alumni Role

Summer Research: Plant Nanotechnology REU

Alumnus Inducted into National Academy of Construction

Summer Research: Energy Inequities in Energy Transitions

Rodrigues and Samaras Suggest Drones for Efficient Last-Mile Deliveries

New Department Head Burcu Akinci Sets a Path for the Future

CEE Students Explore the Future in 3D with Mega City 2070

Fethiye Ozis Helps to Organize ASEE’s Annual Conference

Dzombak Retires After 35 Years of Service

Understanding Active Matter Unlocks New Material Properties

Fakhreddine Joins CEE as Assistant Professor

Small Retires After 40 Years of Service

Oppenheim Retires After 50 Years of Service

CMU Takes First Place at NASA Aeronautics Competition

Remembering Tung Au

Yuan Presents Tang-Led Project at UTC Conference

Building Better Water Infrastructure Across the US

Thompson’s First Lecture

CEE Updates Mission, Vision, and Values Statements

Real-world Engineering Solutions Exhibited in New Autonomous Infrastructure Systems Lab

Alumni Awards Showcase Graduates’ Successes

CMU and Fujitsu Collaborate to Develop ‘Social Digital Twin’ Technology for Smart Cities

Mentoring Program Matches Undergrads with CEE Alums

Burcu Akinci Named Head of CEE

Yam’s Global Education Leads to Singapore’s Ministry of Transport

New Scholarship Fund Honors Accomplished Alums DiGioia and Gray

Bram “Rethinks the Rink” for Hockey Player Safety

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

The Evolution of CEE: Preparing the Next Generation of Engineers and Problem Solvers

Kramer Awarded American Bridge Leadership Award

Kurz Joins CPDC to Guide Student Career Success

Choi Awarded Smith Graduate Fellowship

Guarda Awarded TCS Presidential Fellowship

Naghibzadeh Awarded Bushnell Fellowship