Page 15 - CEGE Magazine Fall 2024

JOHN GULLIVER and ANDY ERICKSON
are working with WSB and technical
advisor Derek Ashe from the City of Maple
Grove to assess the effectiveness of
pond sediment removal for phosphorus
management in stormwater ponds.
QIZHI HE participated in the 16th World
Congress on Computational Mechanics in
July. He delivered a short course, “Mani-
fold Learning and Data-driven Computing
for Nonlinear Solid Mechanics,” and
an hour-long lab session. The course
discussed reduced-order modeling,
physics-constrained data-driven
modeling, and the coupling of neural
operators with FEM solvers using differ-
entiable programming, with a focus on
nonlinear mechanics problems (hyper-
elasticity, viscoplasticity, etc.). He also
presented the recent work of his research
group on differentiable neural-integrated
meshfree method for inelasticity modeling.
RAYMOND HOZALSKI was appointed to
the EPA Science Advisory Board Microbial
and Disinfection Byproduct (MDBP) Revi-
sions Review Panel. The MDBP Revisions
Review Panel will be reviewing the draft
analyses to support EPA’s revisions of the
MDBP National Primary Drinking Water
rules.
RAY HOZALSKI presented a webcast
with colleague Cynthia Hallé, Civil
and Environmental Engineering at the
Norwegian University of Science and
Technology, and his former Ph.D. student
MIKE WAAK, who is now a researcher
in Norway. Demonstrating the Effec-
tiveness of Flushing for Reducing the
Levels of Legionella in Service Lines and
Premise Plumbing is hosted on the Water
Research Foundation Website.
As part of his sabbatical, ALIREZA KHANI
worked with Maricopa Association of
Governments in Phoenix, Arizona, as
a Transportation Modeling Associate.
He led the development of a regional
bicycle travel model for the Phoenix
region. He reported the experience was
extremely valuable in understanding
the needs, priorities, data, and work-
flow and in addressing their timely need
of modeling and promoting sustainable
travel modes. Khani gratefully acknowl-
edges his colleagues and collaborators
Vladimir Livshits, Arup Dutta, Haidong
Zhu, Daehyun You, Lavanya Vallabhaneni,
Petya Maneva, and other staff.
MICHAEL LEVIN
was promoted
to Associate
Professor with
tenure. Levin
came to UMN
in 2017 after
completing
his Ph.D. at the University of Texas at
Austin. Levin specializes in modeling
transportation networks, centering his
work at the intersection of transportation
engineering, operations research, and
computer science. He adapts operations
research methodologies for transportation
problems and uses data structures and
algorithms to implement models and solu-
tions in software. Levin is also a well-liked
instructor, teaching courses in transporta-
tion engineering.
PAIGE NOVAK’S research into energy
generation from brewery waste water was
again in the news. She was interviewed
and WILLIAM ARNOLD was mentioned
in the Mpls. St. Paul Magazine story,
“Craft Brewing and Carbon Neutrality.”
The story appeared in the August issue.
Novak’s research into brewery waste-
water is important because “each pint of
beer created also creates seven pints of
wastewater.”
The Institute on the Environment
announced 12 IonE Impact Goal grants
for high-impact sustainability projects with
a total disbursement of $1.94M. Most
projects extend 1–2 years and include
community engagement, working with
partners across Minnesota to over-
come a specific sustainability challenge.
PAIGE NOVAK is part of the team,
“Bacteria-Coated Corncob Bioreactors to
Mitigate Nitrate Pollution from Agricultural
Drainage and Urban Stormwater."
VAUGHAN VOLLER was recognized for his
work with the University of Montenegro on
September 13. Prof. Dr. Vladimir BožoviĆ,
rector of the university, ceremoniously
awarded him the prestigious title of
“Honorary Professor” (Professor honoris
causa) and expressed his gratitude for
Voller’s long-standing collaboration and
outstanding contribution to elevating the
international reputation of the University
of Montenegro through the develop-
ment of scientific research. Voller is one
of the world’s leading experts in the
field of numerical modeling of thermal
and hydrothermal processes, indus-
trial metal processing, bioengineering,
and environmental protection. Voller has
been working with Prof. Igor Vusanovic
(Mechanical Engineering) and his students
for over 15 years. They have been
working on the development and appli-
cation of numerical methods for solving
phase change problems with application
in materials processing and energy related
fields. On his last visit, Voller gave a talk
on Modeling Coastal Sediment Transport
at the Montenegrin Academy of Science
addressing concerns around beach
erosion under climate change scenarios.
WILLIAM ARNOLD is now a Fellow of the
Association of Environmental Engineering
and Science Professors (AEESP).
Arnold’s research has unraveled the
fundamental chemistry of organic pollutant
transformation in aquatic environments. His
innovative research has led to the banning
of triclosan in Minnesota, the development
of new treatment technologies, and stronger
predictive models, all of which safeguard
public and ecological health. Most
recently, Arnold’s research has contributed to the development of new methods
for quantifying and treating or retaining poly- and per-fluorinated compounds. In
addition to Arnold’s research, his service to AEESP includes service on six different
AEESP committees (chairing two) and on the Board of Directors, ultimately serving
as President 2021-2022. Going forward, he will continue to promote and advise
the organization, which he describes as his “home…where I can be an educator, a
researcher, and a learner.” The official ceremony was held June 18, 2024.
University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering | DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND GEO- ENGINEERING 15