Page 2 - CEGE Magazine Fall 2024

© Copyright 2024 Regents of the
University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.
CEGE Magazine is published twice
a year by the Department of Civil,
Environmental, and Geo- Engineering
College of Science and Engineering
University of Minnesota
500 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Merry Rendahl, editor.
Layout by Printing Services.
The University of Minnesota is an equal
opportunity educator and employer.
Cover art: Image of Judy Yang’s
research, Clay-carbon protection
and release revealed through 4D
imaging. Image: Bacteria aggregates
with diagram by Nick Neary.
Dear Alumni and Friends,
The work of engineering for society is big,
important, complex, interesting, and fun! It is
an honor to engage in this work with you, our
alumni and supporters.
One important aspect of our preparation of
engineers is the advanced preparation that they
get through our graduate programs. Our graduate programs have a great reputation.
Environmental Engineering is ranked #9 in the nation, Civil Engineering consistently
ranks in the top 20, and our Geomechanical Engineering program, though smaller,
enjoys a long and excellent reputation.
The graduate student experience can be extremely challenging. Experiments fail,
models crash, and deadlines come whether you want them to or not. In CEGE, we
strive to make this sometimes intense period of one’s life truly joyful and enjoyable,
knowing that beyond the exceptional education, it is the relationships formed in this
department that will support practicing engineers, researchers, teachers, and cities
and towns long into the future.
Underlying our graduate teaching programs is excellent research by our faculty. The
geoengineering group is abuzz with activity around the Department of Energy Center
for Geo-processes in Mineral Carbon Storage where they research carbon capture
through mineralizing carbon into mafic rock. Our structures group has reinvigorated
research in the MAST Laboratory, a well-known site for testing large structural
elements. We have recently hired new faculty in the transportation group, and they are
bringing in research on new areas such as the impacts of automated and connected
vehicles, transit, and ride sharing. We are continuing to invest in our faculty with a plan
for two new hires.
When our graduate and undergraduate students leave here, they—and I include you
all—continue to contribute to our society and give back to all of us by making our
everyday life better.
It is a pleasure and an honor to do this work and to share it with you. Thank you for
your support.
With gratitude,
Paige Novak
Department Head
Joseph T. and Rose S. Ling Chair in Environmental Engineering
St. Paul City Councilmember Saura
Jost, PE 3
A glimpse of graduate student
research experiences in CEGE 5
Small substances, large impacts:
Judy Yang's Environmental
Research 9
Warren Distinguished Lecture
Series 11
780˚ View of Grad Life in CEGE 12
News 14
Scholarships and Awards 18
Leading Students Through Data to
Solutions 20
Message from the
Department Head
Fall 2024
CEGECollege of Science and Engineering
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND GEO- ENGINEERING
Connect with us:
cse.umn.edu/cege
2 CEGE | CSE.UMN.EDU/CEGE