Four CEE faculty named endowed chairs

Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering announced the selection of eight new endowed chairs, one of the highest recognitions that can be awarded to faculty. Four are professors in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and largely influential figures in our department, university, and engineering field. These recipients are listed below.

Amit Acharya

Paul P. Christiano Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

A member of our Mechanics, Materials, and Computing focus area, Amit Acharya’s expertise lies in continuum mechanics, theoretical materials science, and applied mathematics. His research looks at how structural imperfections, or defects, in crystalline materials interact and evolve. Currently, he focuses on theoretical and computational defect mechanics in crystalline, liquid crystalline, and metallic glass systems, coarse-graining of nonlinear time-dependent systems, and the interplay of differential geometry and structural mechanics in the design and actuation of thin sheets.

Acharya’s accomplishments recently awarded him the The Simons Foundation Pivot Fellowship, a program that encourages researchers to learn a new discipline. As part of the inaugural class, Acharya spent a year with a mentor studying mathematical physics, hoping to develop the mathematical background to establish a new branch of mathematical gauge theory that is directly adapted to studying the dynamics and collective behavior of topological defects called dislocations and disclinations in nonlinear elastic solids. 

Kaushik Dayal

Walter J. Blenko, Sr. Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Kaushik Dayal is a professor of civil and environmental engineering with courtesy appointments in the Departments of Mechanical and Materials Science Engineering. His research focuses on theoretical and computational multiscale methods applied to materials science, with an emphasis on bridging atomic and continuum scales. Dayal’s work investigates the functional behavior of materials, their response to non-equilibrium conditions, and the role of electromagnetic effects. His research spans various applications, including environmental geomechanics, advanced manufacturing, and materials in extreme conditions, contributing valuable insights into the mechanics of dynamic fracture, granular materials, and multiphase systems.

Dayal also explores multifunctional and transforming materials, such as metamaterials and materials activated by electricity or light. These materials have promising applications in fields like soft robotics, energy storage, and biomechanics. His approach leverages mechanics to understand physical phenomena across diverse domains, from geophysics to biology, aiming to develop innovative solutions for sensing, actuation, and other advanced technologies. 

Sean Qian

H.J. Heinz III Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Sean Qian is a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, jointly appointed in the Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. He directs the Mobility Data Analytics Center (MAC), where his work focuses on integrating and optimizing civil infrastructure systems. Qian's research addresses the challenges of managing aging and overcrowded infrastructure, utilizing AI, network flow, and economics to develop solutions that enhance the resilience and sustainability of transportation networks. His efforts at MAC center around leveraging large-scale mobility data to improve multi-modal transportation systems and inform key decision-makers, such as legislators, planners, and engineers.

In addition to his academic roles, Qian is the founder of TraffiQure Technologies, a CMU technology spinoff that commercializes AI/ML technologies for infrastructure and mobility services. His research has received support from prestigious agencies like the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, as well as private sector partners including IBM, Honda R&D, and Fujitsu. Qian also serves as an associate editor for several prominent transportation journals and has earned accolades such as the NSF CAREER Award and the Greenshields Prize from the Transportation Research Board.

Costa Samaras

Trustee Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

In addition to his CEE professorship, Costa Samaras is the Director of CMU’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation and affiliated faculty in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy. His research focuses on advancing clean, climate-safe, equitable, and secure energy and infrastructure systems. With over two decades of experience, he examines the intersection of technology, policy, and energy systems to inform decisions that enhance climate resilience and national security while promoting sustainability and equity.

In addition to his academic leadership, Samaras has held prominent policy roles, including serving in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy from 2021-2024 as the Principal Assistant Director for Energy and Chief Advisor for the Clean Energy Transition. He has contributed to national and global research initiatives, including the 4th National Climate Assessment and the Global Energy Assessment, and has published widely on topics such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, and decarbonization policy. Recognized for his work, he was named the 2018 Professor of the Year by the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers and holds a U.S. patent for an automated vehicle charging system.

The college also extended special recognition to Burcu Akinci and Greg Lowry for releasing their existing professorships to be passed onto others. Subsequently, Akinci and Lowry were named Hamerschlag University Professors, an honor dedicated to Arthur Arton Hamerschlag, the electrical and mechanical engineer who served as the first president of CMU.

Burcu Akinci

Hamerschlag University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Brucu Akinci is the Head of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. A renowned expert in construction and infrastructure management, Akinci’s research focuses on modeling and reasoning about information-rich histories of buildings and infrastructure systems. Her work investigates the integration of building information models with advanced data capture technologies, such as 3D imaging, embedded sensors, and radio-frequency identification systems. These efforts aim to streamline construction processes and enable proactive and predictive management of infrastructure through the development of digital twins.

Akinci is a member of the National Academies of Construction and an American Society of Civil Engineers and American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow. Over the course of her career, she has received numerous accolades, including the ASCE Peurifoy Award and the IAARC Tucker-Hasegawa Award, and holds multiple patents. In addition to her research, she has co-founded LeanFM Technologies, a startup focused on facility management innovation. 

 

Greg Lowry

Hamerschlag University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Greg Lowry is a professor of civil and environmental engineering, as well as Deputy Director of the NSF/EPA Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology. His research focuses on nanomaterials, environmental geochemistry, and developing technologies for sustainable agriculture, environmental remediation, and energy production. Lowry's current work includes creating nanomaterials for efficient agrochemical delivery, developing groundwater and soil remediation technologies, and designing autonomous robotic systems for environmental monitoring.

He has received numerous accolades, including the Walter L. Huber Civil Engineering Research Award from ASCE, the Science Award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, and the Malcolm Pirnie/AEESP Frontiers in Research Award. He is a Fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors. Lowry also serves as an executive and associate editor for the ACS Journal of Environmental Science & Technology.