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Joseph V. Sinfield

Professor of Civil Engineering and Director, Institute for Innovation Science

Purdue University
Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering
550 Stadium Mall Drive
West Lafayette, IN 47907-2051

Office: HAMP G231
Phone: (765) 496-2742
Email: jvs@purdue.edu

Websites

Specialty Area(s)

Affiliation(s)

Education
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997
M.S.C.E., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994
B.S.C.E., Bucknell University, 1992

Research Interests

    Sensing in civil and geoenvironmental engineering:
  • Raman and fluorescence spectroscopy for geoenvironmental sensing
  • Understanding nitrogen cycle inefficiencies in the soil and water environment using in-situ sensing techniques
  • Assessing biodegradation potential and progress for monitored natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents in groundwater
  • Economic and technical benefits of real-time rolling resistance measurement for haul road vehicles
  • Prevention of sensor bio-fouling during in-situ freshwater analyses
  • Examination of subsurface pavement drainage conduits using GPR
  • Assessment of high molecular weight organic compounds by LED-induced fluorescence
  • Pore fluid engineering for liquefaction remediation
    Innovation and business management:
  • Managing the inherent uncertainty of developing new innovations and encouraging their adoption
  • Evaluation of case-based teaching methods as a means to develop entrepreneurial skills and mindset among engineering students
  • Company level liquidity assessment and financial decision making for construction contractors
  • Strategic development of high-performance teams in large-scale construction projects
  • Developing a process to manage identify, prioritize, and adopt new technologies in departments of transportation
  • Business model innovation

Selected Research Projects

  • National Science Foundation - Geoenvironmental Influences on Raman Spectroscopic Monitoring of Chlorinated Solvents (PI) - January 2010 - December 2011
  • National Science Foundation - Engineering the Pore Fluid of Sands with Highly Plastic Nanoparticles for Liquefaction Prevention (co-PI with A. Bobet, M. Santagata, C. Johnston) - August 2009 - July 2011
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, MIT Sea Grant Program - Enabling high- and low-molecular weight AUV-based chemical analysis: Complementing mass spectrometry with multichannel time-resolved fluorometry aboard the NEREUS/Odyssey vehicle (co-PI with H. Hemond [MIT]) - February 2009 - January 2011
  • Joint Transportation Research Program (INDOT/FHWA) - Non-destructive Evaluation of the Condition of Subsurface Drainage in Pavements Using GPR (PI) - January 2010 - December 2011
  • Joint Transportation Research Program (INDOT/FHWA) - Refine Process to Identify, Evaluate, and Adopt New Technologies and Identify New Proven Technologies for Indiana (PI) - January 2008 - August 2010
  • Purdue Engineer of 2020 Curriculum Development Grant - Seeking "The Innovator's DNA" in Engineering Students (with D. Beaudoin and J. Jones) - Summer 2010
  • Purdue Engineer of 2020 Curriculum Development Grant - Incorporating Entrepreneurial Lessons from the Kentlands Development Case into CE51200 - The Comprehensive Urban Planning Process (with J. Fricker) - Summer 2010

Teaching Activity
CE597U/A: Introduction to Instrumentation and Sensor Design


CE597B: Entrepreneurship and Business Strategy in Engineering


CE521: Construction Business Management


CE221: Construction Estimates and Plans


CE399: Oral and Written Communications for Civil Engineers

Honors & Awards
2010     National Academy of Engineering-U.S. Frontiers of Engineering Invitee

2009     3M Innovation Influencer

2009     Keynote - Headstrong Innovation Forum (Tokyo, Japan)

2008     Keynote - Utility Executives Leadership Institute (Santa Fe, NM)

2007     Keynote - Utility Executives Leadership Institute (Pinehurst, NC)

2006     Keynote - Business Innovation Factory (Providence, RI)

2006     Keynote - Lab Products Association (Baltimore, MD)

2005     Keynote - Near Field Communication Forum (Dallas, TX)

Selected Publications

  • Sinfield, J.V., Fagerman, D., and Colic, O., "Evaluation of Sensing Technologies for On-the-Go Detection of Macro-Nutrients in Cultivated Soils," Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, v, 70, n. 1, 1-18, 2010.
  • Sinfield, J.V., Colic, O., Fagerman, D., and Monwuba, C., "A Low-cost Time-resolved Raman Spectroscopic Sensing System Enabling Fluorescence Suppression," Applied Spectroscopy, v. 63, n. 2, 201-210, 2010.
  • Sinfield, J.V., Hemond, H.F., Germaine, J.T., Johnson, B., and Bloch, B., "Contaminant Detection, Identification, and Quantification Using a Microchip Laser Fluorescence Sensor," ASCE Journal of Environmental Engineering, v.133, n. 3, 346-351, 2007.
  • Dunston, P.S., Sinfield, J.V., Lee, T.Y., "Technology Development Decision Economics for Real-time Rolling Resistance Monitoring of Haul Roads," ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, v. 133, n. 5, 393-402, 2007.
  • Anthony, S.D., Johnson, M.W., Sinfield, J.V., "Institutionalizing Innovation," Sloan Management Review, v. 49, n. 2, 45-50, Winter 2008.
  • Anthony, S.D., Johnson, M.W., Sinfield, J.V., Altman, E.J., The Innovator's Guide to Growth - Putting Disruptive Innovation to Work, Harvard Business Press, 2008, 299 p. (translated into Japanese (October 2008), Mandarin (December 2008), and Polish (March 2010)).