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Sep 10

Global skylines, CEE roots

When Xavier Hairston-Khan (CEE’10) is traveling the world to build some of society’s most iconic structures, he always comes back to what the M.S. in civil and environmental engineering program taught him to guide his work today.

Aug 30

The battle for curb space Opens in new window

Civil Engineering researchers examine how new mobility systems are transforming city curbs into critical infrastructure and develop a framework to model usage and inform future policies.

Research paper Opens in new window

Aug 09

Mapping Alaska’s glaciers from above

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon, in collaboration with the National Park Service, use helicopter-borne ice penetrating radar surveys to assess the ice thickness and bedrock elevation of glaciers in Alaska’s Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the U.S.

Aug 06

Alum takes on toxic chemicals at leading women’s health organization

Inspired by many influential women mentors and her CMU education, Amy Dale (CEE'15) is tackling environmental risk factors for breast cancer at the nonprofit research organization, Silent Spring Institute.

Jun 13

Engineering students awarded Fulbright Scholarships Opens in new window

Six students and alumni from the College of Engineering will research and study abroad on Fulbright program scholarships.

Jun 10

Pandit joins elite cohort of GreenFin24 Emerging Leaders

Navishka Pandit (MS '22) has been selected as an emerging sustainable finance leader in North America through the competitive GreenFin24 Emerging Leaders Program, which supports BIPOC sustainability professionals dedicated to solving the climate crisis.

Jun 06

How medical models can transform agriculture Opens in new window

At the intersection of plants and nanomedicine perhaps lies a solution to current unsustainable agricultural practices and meeting increasing global food demands.

Research paper Opens in new window

Jun 03

Two CEE students named Fulbright Scholars

Katie Hart and Ben Therrien have been awarded Fulbright scholarships for the 2024-25 cycle. Hart will pursue a master’s degree in environmental engineering and public policy in Germany, while Therrien will conduct research on agricultural nanotechnology across the European Union, focusing on risk communication and policy.

May 24

Toward improving rural mobility Opens in new window

Researchers designed and piloted the rural access mobility platform to improve rural mobility services that are inefficient, unaffordable, inaccessible, and unsustainable.

May 21

Advancing microreactor technology efficiencies through digital twins

The adoption of Digital Twins in microreactor technology is improving efficiency and reliability. Westinghouse Electric Company and Carnegie Mellon University are collaborating to embed sensors in eVinci® microreactors, enhancing performance monitoring and maintenance.

May 16

Undergraduates present research at Meeting of the Minds 2024 Opens in new window

Engineering undergraduate students had a wonderful showing at Meeting of the Minds, displaying posters, giving presentations, and demonstrating projects they have worked on this past academic year.

May 10

EWB Zimbabwe project wins TechSpark Best Design Award

The Engineers Without Borders (EWB) group at CMU has received the TechSpark Engineering Exposition’s Best Design Award for their biogas digester project in Zimbabwe, utilizing manure for biogas and fertilizer, reducing reliance on harmful firewood. This award honors the team’s rigorous engineering analysis and collaborative efforts currently led by CEE senior Judy (Shiyu) Zhu.

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May 09

Comfort vs. cash: energy behavior changes during COVID-19 Opens in new window

The pandemic altered how individuals consumed energy in their homes, and in some areas the changes adversely affected energy poverty.

May 06

Unlock the power of digital twins through new online certificate

The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University is empowering practicing engineers with AI skills to lead and innovate in their organizations.

May 03

Engineering innovation at Meeting of the Minds

At this year’s Meeting of the Minds, five CEE undergraduates presented their research, covering topics such as urban rainwater harvesting, nanoscale citrus greening prevention, and equity in Alaskan water quality, with projects ranging from developing sustainable solutions like gravity-fed hydroponic systems to exploring nanocarriers for plant resilience, alongside a successful capstone project emphasizing sustainable design for a carnival booth.

Apr 26

Rounce receives inaugural Firn Award

CEE Assistant Professor David Rounce received the International Glaciology Society’s inaugural Firn Award for his pioneering research on debris-covered glaciers and glacier evolution modeling.

Apr 25

CEE students behind the wheel at CMU's buggy races

CEE students Ivania Carranza and Winona Wang took to the course and drove buggy at Spring Carnival. From Carranza's rookie aspirations to Wang's seasoned leadership, they demonstrated dedication and camaraderie as they push boundaries.

Apr 23

Shaping future STEM leaders: Green awarded DoD SMART Scholarship

Junior Harrison Green has been awarded the prestigious SMART Scholarship, providing full tuition coverage, mentorship, and post-graduate employment with the Department of Defense. This opportunity enables students like Green to gain hands-on experience and contribute to national security initiatives, further enhancing the nation's STEM workforce.

Apr 22

Shyam's award-winning paper on equity challenges in civil engineering

Shria Shyam's award-winning paper examines the integration of machine learning in civil engineering, highlighting concerns about perpetuating historical biases.

Apr 19

Arcade adventures: building the ASCE Roller Coaster Tycoon Booth

ASCE's Roller Coaster Tycoon Booth stole the show at Spring Carnival, winning both the People's Choice Award and first place in the Blitz category. Led by CEE juniors Mia Constantin and Samuel Chen, along with senior Justin Peng, the ASCE team overcame challenges ranging from warped materials to rain leaks in constructing an immersive arcade experience.

Apr 18

CEE's push in CMU's buggy tradition

The annual Buggy Sweepstakes at CMU's Spring Carnival is more than a race—it celebrates tradition and teamwork. Several CEE students pushed sleek, aerodynamic buggies around a challenging track, forging lasting bonds amidst the thrill of competition.

Apr 17

Honoring our educators Opens in new window

Six members from the College of Engineering were recognized at CMU’s annual Celebration of Education Awards.

Apr 16

2024 CMU Teaching Innovation Award to Jerry Wang for “Participation Shoutouts!” activity

Jerry Wang receives the 2024 CMU Teaching Innovation Award for his "Participation Shoutouts!" activity, fostering gratitude and community among students at Carnegie Mellon University, enhancing both academic performance and well-being.

Apr 15

Inaugural alumni awards celebrate success and service Opens in new window

On April 11, distinguished guests from across the university and alumni communities, gathered in Scaife Hall to honor eight individuals whose leadership, creativity, and volunteerism underscore what can be achieved with an engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

Apr 11

Revolutionizing engineering with AI and digital twins

CEE hosts its inaugural Spring Industry Day with speakers and panels discussing how cutting-edge technologies are reshaping the future of our field.

Apr 10

Investing in tomorrow's engineers: two students receive Menard-DFI scholarship

Aurora Fuchs and Justin Peng have been awarded prestigious scholarships from the Menard-DFI Educational Trust in recognition of their exceptional achievements and dedication to engineering.

Apr 09

CEE honors alumni accomplishments with awards

During the 2024 Spring Carnival at Carnegie Mellon University, the civil and environmental engineering department (CEE) awarded alumni Seth Pearlman, Amelia Harris, Todd Wilson, Natalie Pekney, Frank Frisby, and Daymanuel Sampson for their career accomplishments.

Apr 02

Studying heterogeneous materials under extreme conditions Opens in new window

The Department of Defense awards a team of researchers funding to develop energy-absorbing, structure-preserving materials that are more resilient under extreme loads.

Mar 20

Honoring the memory of Jerry Cohon Opens in new window

Heartfelt messages, memories, and reflections have flooded the halls of Carnegie Mellon as many mourn and honor the memory of Jerry Cohon, a profound and enduring figure at the university and beyond.

Mar 19

Connecting futures: the power of mentorship in education and careers

Craig Boman (BS ‘15, MS ’16) served as a mentor to Ashima Sharma (CEE ‘22) during her time at CMU, talking with her through video calls since the two lived across the country from each other. Recently, when Boman visited CMU and found out that Sharma was on campus, the mentor and mentee finally met in person.

Mar 12

Electrification of transit buses in the United States reduces greenhouse gas emissions

Sofia Martinez, a Ph.D. student in CEE, found that transitioning the entire U.S. transit bus fleet to battery electric buses would mitigate between 33% and 65% of existing bus emissions—even when accounting for the emissions associated with the electricity used to charge the buses and the impacts from manufacturing the batteries.

Mar 05

Enhancing aquifer systems Opens in new window

New knowledge of enhanced aquifer recharge—the replenishing of groundwater reserves with water from other sources—could provide water to communities affected by extreme heat and drought.

Mar 05

Classroom to community: designing Little Free Libraries in CEE project course

CEE's Katherine Flanigan works with Facilities and Lab Engineer Brian Belowich to help CEE students construct Little Free Libraries housing various products, including books, plants, and tools to monitor the local environment.

Mar 05

Akindele receives Fok Fellowship

Medinat Akindele, a CEE Ph.D. student, was recently awarded a Thomas and Maria Fok Presidential Fellowship. Under the mentorship of Professor Peter Adams, Akindele is spearheading the development of accessible and globally applicable air quality models to evaluate the health ramifications of air pollution.

Feb 26

Peng receives ASCE Award

Senior Justin Peng has received the prestigious and very competitive 2023 ASCE Achievement Award from the student foundation during the ASCE Pittsburgh Section Engineers Week and Awards Banquet.

Feb 19

Transforming infrastructure through digital twins

A collaboration between Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Fujitsu, a global leader in technology solutions and services, is advancing digital twin technologies in southwestern Pennsylvania to address the recent challenges posed by aging infrastructure.

Feb 15

Londono awarded Miller Presidential Fellowship

Esteban Londono, a doctoral candidate, has recently earned the prestigious Ruth Furman Miller and David H. Miller Presidential Fellowship within the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is currently applying his research to develop models for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in simulated wastewater data to facilitate early outbreak detection.

Feb 13

From Dubai to Pittsburgh: customized curriculum elevates alum’s career trajectory

Steve Lobo (MS ’23) was a member of the utility engineering team involved in the design of Dubai’s freight rail network, Etihad Rail, before completing his master's degree with CEE. He now works with SmithGroup’s Pittsburgh office, where he’s part of the performance, analytics, and climate impact team (PACT).

Feb 12

Kouskiya awarded Fok Presidential Fellowship

Uditnarayan Kouskiya, a Ph.D. candidate, has been awarded the Thomas and Maria Fok Presidential Fellowship. Under the guidance of Professor Amit Acharya, Kouskiya is currently delving into the study of microscopic defects' motion within materials, with a keen focus on computational modeling of the equations dictating their movement by employing mathematical duality concepts.

Feb 09

NAE inducts Arpad Horvath and Seth Pearlman for outstanding contributions

CEE alumni Arpad Horvath and Seth Pearlman have been elected into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE), one of the highest honors in the engineering profession.

Feb 08

CEE at COP28: energy justice and glacier projections

At the 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), CEE professors Destenie Nock and David Rounce discussed topics such as energy efficiency, climate mitigation, mountain glaciers, and global temperature rise.

Jan 23

Finding comfort through machine learning Opens in new window

A recent study leverages information provided by building occupants when answering multiple related questions about their thermal comfort to find the real “comfort zone” for most people in a building.

Jan 10

Integrating the built, natural, and information environments Opens in new window

Students in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department Junior Projects course worked with a team of local professionals to develop plans to transform the four-block span of Craig Street between Fifth and Forbes Avenues into a great college town street.

Jan 04

Best Design at TechSpark: “Mixed Use Valley Paths” urban mobility innovation

The Mixed Use Valley Paths team, comprised of CEE students Ava Badie, Andrea Dominguez, Julane Johnson, Justin Peng, and Abby Stech, collaborated with other student groups to revamp mobility along Washington Boulevard. The team earned the Best Design award at the College of Engineering's TechSpark Engineering Exposition.

Jan 04

Predicting climate-induced transportation risks: CEE-Morgan State collaboration

CEE's Sean Qian and his doctoral students are collaborating with Morgan State University (MSU) researchers to predict the impacts of climate change on transportation systems. The work not only creates an early-warning notification system that detects impending infrastructure problems, but also allows Qian’s students to learn from MSU faculty and researchers who are world-class leaders in hazard modeling.

Jan 03

Carnegie Mellon alumni fund climate adaptation research Opens in new window

Generous commitment from Yeming and Aaron Rankin will support research in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Scott Institute.

Jan 02

Remembering Anthony M. DiGioia Jr. (1934-2023)

Anthony M. (Tony) DiGioia Jr., (BS ‘56, MS ‘57, PhD ‘60), an esteemed alumnus, adjunct professor, and revered civil engineer, passed away, leaving a profound legacy in the field. Born in 1934 in Pittsburgh, his journey from humble beginnings above his father's tailor shop to global engineering eminence epitomized the American dream.

Media Mentions

Carnegie Mellon University

Congratulations to our Andy Award Nominees

Congratulations to the College of Engineering Andy Award Nominees. Cheer them on at the event on Tuesday, October 15 in McConomy Auditorium.

Carnegie Mellon University

CMU’s Safety21 leads inaugural Future of Transportation Summit

Transportation safety experts from CMU’s Safety21 partnered with the DOT’s University Transportation Centers to lead the inaugural Future of Transportation Summit in Washington D.C. from August 13th-15th. CMU faculty showcased their research and innovations with the goal of improving transportation safety.

Faculty award winners announced

Congratulations to the 2024 faculty award winners who represent six departments across the College of Engineering. The recipients were recognized for their achievements as researchers and educators.

Carnegie Mellon University

Seven Engineering faculty awarded grants from Scott Institute

Seven faculty from the College of Engineering received project funding from this year’s Scott Institute Seed Grants.

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