Student News

Top 10 ranking for Environmental Engineering Graduate program

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 15:43:11 +0000

Top 10 ranking for Environmental Engineering Graduate program Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 06/18/2024 - 09:43

The �鶹ӰԺ is among the top 25 engineering graduate programs in the U.S., according to U.S. News and World Report’s Best Graduate Schools rankings for 2025.

When compared with its public university peers, the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s graduate program was ranked No. 12. The college was ranked No. 23 overall when compared to both public and private universities.

Dean Keith Molenaar said he was proud to see CU Engineering programs continue to be recognized by peers and the national media.

“We are home to leading scholars across disciplines and over 1,000 PhD students. Our rankings reflect our strengths in both established programs like aerospace and in new, growing programs like biomedical engineering,” he said. “We are a comprehensive research college, and that is going to continue to allow our graduates to pursue sustainable solutions to pressing societal challenges.”

In the engineering specialty rankings, three CU Engineering degree programs were also in the top 10 among public institutions, with an additional four in the top 20:

Aerospace engineering sciences: No. 5
Environmental engineering: No. 7
Civil engineering: No. 9
Chemical engineering: No. 11
Computer engineering: No. 16
Electrical engineering: No. 17
Mechanical engineering: No. 17
Biomedical engineering: No. 23
Biological engineering: No. 25
Materials science and engineering: No. 29.

As of fall 2023, more than 1,300 students were pursuing master’s in engineering and applied science at CU �鶹ӰԺ.

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Flickr Album: Environmental Engineering Graduation 2024

Anonymous — Tue, 21 May 2024 14:53:03 +0000

Flickr Album: Environmental Engineering Graduation 2024 Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 05/21/2024 - 08:53

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Environmental Engineering Graduation 2024

Anonymous — Mon, 06 May 2024 14:54:26 +0000

Environmental Engineering Graduation 2024 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 05/06/2024 - 08:54

The May 2024 Environmental Engineering Ceremony will be held:

Thursday, May 9, 2024
4pm - 7pm
JSC Biotechnology Building's West Lawn

The ceremony will be held in-person, in a large white tent on the JSC Biotechnology Building's West Lawn.

It is for graduating EVEN BS, MS, and PhD students along with their friends and family. Graduating students will walk across the stage, shake hands with the department chair, and receive a diploma cover. Official diplomas will be mailed at the end of June. Refreshments and dessert items will be served following the ceremony.

Student Arrival Time - 30-45 minutes before the ceremony.

Family and Guest Arrival Time - At least 15 minutes before the start time of the EVEN ceremony.

No ticket or reservation is required for family and friends of graduating students attending this ceremony. Parking is free.

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Growing Society of Women Engineers chapter opens new opportunities for students

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 20:51:21 +0000

Growing Society of Women Engineers chapter opens new opportunities for students Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/08/2023 - 14:51

Samiha Singh (EnvEngr’23) was met with a decision during her first year at CU �鶹ӰԺ that changed the trajectory of her undergraduate career. It was between completing physics homework or applying to serve on the leadership board of CU �鶹ӰԺ’s Society of Women Engineers (SWE) chapter.

Singh landed a board position after submitting her application during a night shift as a resident assistant. Last year, she led the organization during her last year at CU �鶹ӰԺ and reflected on the impact of SWE on her journey. Needless to say, waiting on finishing that physics assignment paid off in the long run.

“I had no idea the connections and opportunities Society of Women Engineers would bring to me. I was lucky to get mentorship through so many people especially from the professional Rocky Mountain Section of SWE,” said Singh.

SWE focuses on “building an inclusive community of strong female engineers and other minorities, while remaining open to all who support these groups in STEM”. Their CU �鶹ӰԺ student chapter is one of nine affinity-based student societies supported by the BOLD Center within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

Last year, the college provided a scholarship to 229 incoming first-year students who committed to joining SWE, increasing the group’s membership by about 50% from the year prior. Singh led some structural changes as membership increased by adding an outreach director to provide more opportunities for K-12 students, as well as a director of community engagement to maintain a close-knit community with members.

“SWE has hundreds of members, so I really wanted to create a more intentional space for meaningful connections to happen,” Singh said. “We hold ‘meet your major’ events, so you can meet other students within your major and this past spring semester, we actually had women faculty come and join us as well.”

Singh also got to attend national conferences in Houston and Seattle along with other members, which inspired her as a women leader in STEM.

“It’s a really cool opportunity if you attend. People were being offered interviews and jobs on the spot. I met women giving talks on topics you typically wouldn’t get in the classroom like ‘what does it mean to be a minority in engineering’, ‘how do you advocate for yourself’,” she said. “Seeing women who are successful in their careers and hearing their advice has helped myself and others gain more confidence and carry that confidence into other aspects of our lives.”

As incoming SWE president, Kyra Anderson (MechEngr’23) hopes to build on the growth and success of the society while bringing new ideas to the table.

“I’m getting committees started to get more incoming students involved earlier on and more mentorship opportunities for us. I’m really excited. There's not a lot of places where there’s all women engineers to engage with, so SWE is a great space for us,” said Anderson.

Along with their leadership board, she organized about 60 events last year and will bring her experiences leading those social, K-12 outreach and professional development events to the forefront even more.

“My junior year, I was director of Girl Scout outreach. We got to do fun activities with Girl Scout troops and taught them about STEM. We built little paper wind turbines with them and we had fun doing that.” And relevant for Anderson, she hopes to work in renewable or wind energy after she completes the mechanical engineering graduate program at CU �鶹ӰԺ.

The national conference inspired the society to bring ideas back to SWE at CU. Professionals from the Rocky Mountain Section gave conference-style talks about being a woman in engineering and imposter syndrome, so members could gain wisdom for those not able to travel. They hope to continue this programming into this coming year.

Going into this fall semester, “I hope to continue making SWE a welcoming community,” said Anderson, “and make sure everyone feels like they have a place where they belong.”

Top photo: SWE hosts a networking event with professional engineers. Middle Photo: Members at the national conference in Houston. Bottom photo: End of the year banquet with graduating SWE members.

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Environmental Engineering Class of 2023 Awards

Anonymous — Fri, 12 May 2023 19:37:51 +0000

Environmental Engineering Class of 2023 Awards Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/12/2023 - 13:37

Jeff Zehnder

See more Photos from Graduation in our Flickr Gallery

Congratulations to the Environmental Engineering Class of 2023! As part of our annual graduation ceremony, we recognized a select group of students with special awards for their achievements.

Colorado Engineering Council Silver Medal Award Finalist

Elizabeth Rose Wallace

Community Impact Award

Emily Marie Saldana

Community Impact Award

Samiha Singh

Global Engagement Award

Sophie Dolores Castillo

Outstanding Student

Sophie Elizabeth Woods

Perseverance Award

Lukas Rives Tiefel

Research Award

Kiersten Juliet Maxwell

Faculty Appreciation Award

Professor Joseph Ryan

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Flickr Gallery: Environmental Engineering Graduation 2023

Anonymous — Fri, 12 May 2023 17:29:05 +0000

Flickr Gallery: Environmental Engineering Graduation 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 05/12/2023 - 11:29

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Two environmental engineering students earn major NSF fellowships

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 21:49:11 +0000

Two environmental engineering students earn major NSF fellowships Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/27/2023 - 15:49

Jeff Zehnder

The National Science Foundation has bestowed two prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards to �鶹ӰԺ environmental engineering graduate students.

These top awards recognize and support outstanding grad students from across the country in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.

PhD student Kylie Boenisch-Oakes and master's student Annamarie Guth have each received the honor for 2023. Awardees receive a $37,000 annual stipend and cost of education allowance for the next three years as well as professional development opportunities.

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CU �鶹ӰԺ team takes top engineering prize in 2023 Solar Decathlon with community housing project

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 18:51:23 +0000

CU �鶹ӰԺ team takes top engineering prize in 2023 Solar Decathlon with community housing project Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 04/25/2023 - 12:51

An affordable, net-zero energy home designed by CU �鶹ӰԺ students was honored Sunday as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2023 Solar Decathlon Build Challenge. The home — which is still being constructed and features a unique hydrogen energy system — is part of a partnership between the university, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity and the City of �鶹ӰԺ as part of the ongoing Ponderosa Community Stabilization Project.

The CU �鶹ӰԺ team took first place in the durability and resilience category and third place in the engineering category on the project, which will build a low-carbon footprint home out of sustainable materials in �鶹ӰԺ this summer. The team was also recognized in the Advanced Technology category.

This is the university’s fifth time participating in the Solar Decathlon, and the 2023 entry features a first-of-its-kind residential energy system that produces, stores and uses green hydrogen power in addition to other sustainable technologies. When finished this fall, the home will serve as an anchor for the re-developed Ponderosa Community, which was damaged by catastrophic flooding in 2013 and is being rebuilt into an affordable, energy-efficient community north of �鶹ӰԺ.

Co-Project Lead Weston McEvoy said the effort features work by students from the College of Engineering and Applied Science, as well as the Program in Environmental Design and others. He said about 15 students worked on the design of the home — known as The Canopy — this year, while about 20 others will work with volunteers from Habitat for Humanity to physically build it in the coming months.

“The recognition from the competition is great, and now we are looking forward to getting out there and actually building this amazing home for not only the future owners but also for the community around it, which can use our work as a model for sustainability and efficient building practices going forward,” said McEvoy, who is a junior in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering.

Almost every aspect of the single-family home is designed with carbon emissions and sustainability in mind. High-quality materials like insulation were selected not only for their ability to improve heating and cooling efficiency but also because they would last for decades. These materials also lowered the amount of embodied carbon emissions from construction.

Combine those efforts with smart home technology for better owner control, solar panels to capture energy from Colorado’s ever-present sun and a thermal battery that provides on-demand domestic hot water, and you have a structure that is incredibly self-sufficient, practical and resilient in the face of natural disasters and climate change.

2023 Solar Decathlon Team

Heather Walker, mechanical engineering
Kira Goo, mechanical engineering
Grace Ohlsen, computer science
Kate MacKeigan, architectural engineering
Crystal Gonzalez, architectural engineering
Charlotte Russell, architectural engineering
Nicholas Arvidson, environmental design

Wes McEvoy, electrical, computer, and energy engineering
Jarod Concha, civil engineering (MS)
Rachel Fenn, architectural engineering (MS)
Kyle Biega, architectural engineering (MS)
Paul Neumann, architectural engineering (MS)
Kyle Biega, graduate advisor
Jay Arehart, faculty lead
Jennifer Scheib, faculty advisor

The Canopy will also be Colorado's first grid-connected hydrogen-powered home. This means that during the day, solar panels will produce electricity for the home’s needs with excess power directed to an electrolyzer that converts water into hydrogen. That hydrogen can be safely stored for five to 10 days before being used to power the home at night or in the case of a power grid failure. Excess power from the solar panels can also be sent back to the grid to offset the fossil fuels being used.

Paul Neumann is a graduate student in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and serves as a project co-lead and engineering lead. He said that too often discussions about ways to reduce carbon emissions focused on personal vehicles rather than the homes where people spend a huge portion of their lives.

“This home can operate inside and outside of the grid with the hydrogen system, and there is no need for intensive lithium ion batteries,” he said. “That means the home will save 4.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide by being energy independent each year. That is the equivalent of getting a 24 mpg gas car off the road.”

Neumann added that the project was a unique and potentially powerful experience for students on the team as it combines engineering principles, hands-on building activity and cross-community engagement around climate change.

“We have talked to so many students from different backgrounds about this project and they are all so interested in ways they can become involved,” he said. “A lot of them want to do something around climate change. This kind of work is a great venue for that no matter your specific discipline or where you are at with your education.”

Framing and early construction activity on the home is ongoing, and the team hopes to finish and publicly showcase their work in fall 2023. McEvoy said the project aims to ultimately demonstrate the balance between affordability and innovation needed for the next 10 years of construction in Colorado and beyond.

“Our goal is to show that net-zero, sustainable housing can be affordable,” McEvoy said. “Our project shows how we can increase the lifespan of the home while also lowering energy and repair costs to the owner through these newly applied systems.”

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Cross-campus open house will feature interdisciplinary climate change research, kick off U.N. Summit events

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 23:50:31 +0000

Cross-campus open house will feature interdisciplinary climate change research, kick off U.N. Summit events Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/28/2022 - 16:50

The College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Arts and Sciences and the Leeds School of Business are teaming up to highlight CU �鶹ӰԺ-led research to address climate change from 3-5 p.m. on Nov. 30 in the Olson Atrium of the Rustandy Building. The event comes ahead of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit on campus and acts as a kickoff to several days of panels, workshops and activities.

The in-person Research and Innovation for Climate Change Open House will highlight interdisciplinary solutions and research to address climate change from all three colleges and schools. Visitors can view detailed scientific poster presentations or learn more about the various centers and programs working in this research area on campus. There will also be several hands-on displays and plenty of opportunities for networking – no matter your background or college affiliation.

College of Engineering and Applied Science Dean Keith Molenaar said the event is open to everyone on CU �鶹ӰԺ’s campus – including students, staff and faculty – as well as industry and nonprofit partners in the �鶹ӰԺ community.

“We plan to have about 20 displays during the open house, which will demonstrate how the different researchers and topics connect and overlap” he said. “There is so much impactful work going on in this area across campus. This event will not only showcase the extraordinary work, but it will also provide a valuable opportunity to discuss these pressing problems that we are facing together.”

Leeds School of Business Acting Dean Yonca Ertimur said the Rustandy Building was the ideal space for this event.

“The Rustandy Building represents a new era of collaboration on the CU �鶹ӰԺ campus because of its ability to facilitate the breakdown of traditional disciplinary boundaries,” she said. “I am thrilled that we can host such a dynamic and important event in that space and I look forward to many more in the coming months and years as we continue to work together across colleges and disciplines to address these problems.”

College of Arts and Science Dean Glen Krutz said registration for the event is not required and that visitors are encouraged to drop in and out as their schedules permit.

“We are hoping for great discussion in a friendly and interactive atmosphere. This event is a chance to network with climate-change researchers you know and ones you may want to know better after meeting them and hearing about their work,” he said.

If you have questions, please email Bill Doe in the CU Engineering Research Support Office.

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CU �鶹ӰԺ researchers develop highly accurate sensor for E. coli risk detection

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 18:34:47 +0000

CU �鶹ӰԺ researchers develop highly accurate sensor for E. coli risk detection Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/12/2022 - 12:34

Researchers at CU �鶹ӰԺ have developed and validated a new sensor for E. coli risk detection that features an impressive 83% accuracy rate when detecting contamination in surface waters.

The findings were recently published in Water Research and could improve detection of a variety of contaminants quickly and effectively in water systems around the globe and in America.

Emily Bedell (PhDEnvEngr’22) is the lead author on the paper from the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering. She said about two billion people worldwide use a drinking water source that has some level of fecal matter in it and can cause health issues ranging from diarrhea to stunted growth – especially in young children.

“�鶹ӰԺ 60% of all diarrheal deaths are related to water quality, globally,” she said. “This is a real problem, but current methods for finding poop in drinking water are expensive, have high barriers to entry like extensive training requirements or can take about 24 hours to provide results. We have invented a sensor combined with a machine learning model that uses fluorescence to show fecal contamination spikes in real-time.”

Both the sensor and machine learning model combination have been approved for a patent by the U.S. Patent Office.

Bedell said fluorescence works by shining a UV LED light source on a water sample and measuring the amount of light that is absorbed and re-emitted at a higher wavelength. That information can quickly show potential contamination, but it is sensitive to many environmental and physical factors such as sample temperature, which cause noise in the data and make it difficult to interpret.

“We use machine learning techniques to cut through that noise to better detect anomalies,” Bedell said.

Fast and accurate assessment of water quality is a growing need – not only in low-income countries, but in situations like the Flint, Michigan water crisis where citizens were exposed to dangerous levels of lead from poor government policies.

Professor Evan Thomas, director of the Mortenson Center, is a co-author on the paper. He said climate change is also a factor in this discussion as more frequent power outages may impact treatment facility operations and severe weather could contaminate critical water sources.

“We are going to need more data on water quality, and we need it to be widely available,” he said. “Taking measurements once a day will not be enough to ensure we are receiving water that doesn’t have either biological or chemical contaminants that can harm us in both the short and long term.”

Bedell is now employed as an engineer for Virridy in �鶹ӰԺ and is working on advancing the technology further. Ideally it will function in partnership with a larger home treatment system for those utilizing a private well – where water quality is not regulated by the EPA – for their drinking water.

“That sensor will be a miniaturized version of the design built in this paper and will be installed on a house’s main water line coming from the well,” she said. “The sensor’s data will be sent through the user’s WiFi to an online database where the machine learning model will be applied to predict risk level and send the information to a mobile app that will alert the user if contamination is detected.”

Bedell said she has always been interested in the intersections of engineering, the environment and social equity and this research project really brought those aspects together during her time with the Mortenson Center.

“Water quality research hits on all those points in so many ways. With more data we can explicitly point out how and when communities are being harmed through environmental injustices so that the policies and practices put in place that caused the harm can be addressed,” she said.

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