Page 14 - CEGE Magazine Fall 2024

UNIVERSITY & DEPARTMENT
DR. REBECCA CUNNINGHAM officially
took office July 1 as the 18th President
of the University of Minnesota System.
“I could not be more excited to join
this thriving and passionate University
community,” said Cunningham. She was
inaugurated on September 18.
THE UMN SYSTEM ranks fifth in US in
sustainability impact (Times Higher Ed
Impact Rankings). UMN tied for fifth in
the US overall and was ranked in the top
10 percent worldwide. Notably, UMN
ranked among the top five in the US for
its work related to clean water, climate
action, zero hunger, and health and
well-being.
For the third year in a row UMN is
included on Forbes' 2024 Best Employers
by State list. Forbes surveyed employees
working for US companies with at least
500 employees.
CSE’s renewed Chemistry Undergrad-
uate Teaching Lab Building (a.k.a.
Fraser Hall) bonds old and new. Some
members of the CEGE PROFESSIONAL
ADVISORY BOARD got a behind-the-
scenes tour of the construction, which is
slated to open fall 2025. The refurbish-
ment preserves much of the old building
and incorporates innovative features that
will shape the future of chemical educa-
tion. Every undergraduate in CEGE will
take classes in this new building.
FACULTY
WILLIAM ARNOLD and his collabo-
rator FENG XIAO (University of Missouri
Columbia) received a $462,750 grant
from the NSF in support of their project
“ERASE-PFAS: Collaborative Research:
Transformation Mechanisms and Prod-
ucts of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances During
Chemical Disinfection Processes.” Xiao,
the lead investigator, completed his
Ph.D. in CEGE with JOHN GULLIVER and
MATT SIMCIK.
SEBASTIAN BEHRENS and
ANDY ERICKSON were selected as
2024 IonE Fellows and BOYA XIONG
was selected as a 2024 IonE Associate
by UMN’s Institute on the Environment.
These prestigious recognitions are testa-
ment to the outstanding work of these
researchers and their commitment to a
future where people and planet prosper
together.
Professor Emeritus
STEVEN CROUCH,
member of the
National Academy
of Engineers,
and Research
Professor SOFIA
MOGILEVSKAYA
have published a
new book, A First
Course in Boundary
Element Methods. This textbook delves
into the theory and practical application
of boundary integral equation techniques,
focusing on their numerical solution for
boundary value problems within poten-
tial theory and linear elasticity. Tailored
for beginning graduate students, this
textbook offers detailed analytical and
numerical derivations for isotropic
and anisotropic materials, prioritizing
simplicity in presentation while progres-
sively advancing towards more intricate
mathematical concepts, particularly
focusing on two-dimensional prob-
lems within potential theory and linear
elasticity.
ARDESHIR EBTEHAJ is again making
progress in understanding ice covered
areas on earth using satellite data.
Ebtehaj received a new $500,000 grant
from NASA, and he became a science
team member of the Soil Moisture Active/
Passive (SMAP) Satellite mission. The
project is a collaborative effort between
UMN and the University of Alaska
Fairbanks. The project aims to expand
understanding of the arctic lake-ice
phenology and methane emissions using
satellite data.
XUE FENG was selected to receive the
Deb Swackhamer Early Career Award,
honoring Swakhamer’s commitment to
early career scientists and her example
of authentic leadership. This award spot-
lights future leaders in the understanding,
management, and care of our water
resources. The award will be presented
at the 2024 MN Water Resources
Conference in October.
CEGENEWS
MWRF supports water research and training
for the next generation of water experts. That
takes resources, and your gift makes a big
difference. Organizations, private compa-
nies, and individuals can double their giving
impact. All philanthropic commitments
received by Dec. 31, 2024, for MWRF will
be matched dollar for dollar up to the first
$25,000. For more information, contact
Shannon Wolkerstorfer (University of MN College of Science and Engineering
External Relations, swolkers@umn.edu, 612-669-7282).
Back row: Past advisory board members Dennis
Martenson of Donahue Associates and Michael
Heuer, the geotechnical engineer of record on
the project for Braun Intertec, and current board
member Sean Swartz of Braun Intertec.
Front row: CEGE Department Head Paige Novak,
Shannon Wolkerstorfer from CSE External
Relations, and incoming board member Jean
Wallace, Deputy Commissioner and Chief
Engineer, MnDOT.
14 CEGE | CSE.UMN.EDU/CEGE